Afraid of the Spotlight?

As you stand behind that red curtain, your heart is pounding fast, your knees are wobbly, your palms are sweating, your feet seemed to be glued on the platform on which you're standing, and you suddenly feel sick.

The curtains open, and you are blinded by the bright lights. You've forgotten your lines. You try again, but nothing is coming out of your mouth. These are manifestations of performance anxiety.

Stage Fright, also known as topophobia, is defined as a fear of speaking or performing in public. Whether you are preparing for your first public speech, your first stage play or your first recital, stage fright is one of the most common problems of performers.

This meltdown often occurs when anticipating a performance in public. Self – consciousness is one of the causes of stage fright. Other causes include fear of not being able to satisfy an audience, and fear of delivering a poor performance. For experienced speakers or performers, past performance problems can cause anxiety, as can fear of failure to meet the expectations of an audience.

Whatever the cause may be, stage fright can be eliminated or cured. There are ways to minimize the symptoms of stage fright, or eliminate this crippling fear altogether. There are various methods and strategies you can use to overcome stage fright. One helpful website about overcoming stage fright is: http://www.stagefrighthelp.com/

Do not let stage fright hinder you from achieving your lifelong dream. Start overcoming it now!