Ever wondered if there was a pill, or some sort of fast solution to help you deal with the performance anxiety and stage fright you feel before going on stage or in front of an audience to perform? In this video we find out if a stage fright pill really exists, how it works and see if you should try a stage fright pill before your next big performance!
Full Video Transcript
Narrator (00:00):
Anyone who's had to deal with the nerves and fearful anxiety that hit you during the run-up to a performance in front of an audience, like a speech or an audition or a musician's first show on stage, there is a high chance that they would've thought, "I wonder if there's something I can take to help me manage this anxiety?"
That magic pill that they're pondering, the stage fright pill that we could all make use of before high anxiety situations does exist in different forms today. And in this video we're going to cover the different stage fright pills that do exist and see which one works best for performance anxiety and stage fright management. You don't want to miss this one.
(00:44):
What is stage fright? Stage fright is the specific type of fear we experience before and during a performance. It typically makes us fear that a performance will be a failure even if we're well prepared and have done the work to make sure that it will be a solid performance. So the fear might be tied to the potential humiliation or rejection that might result from a failed performance. And although performance anxiety and stage fright can exist around any type of task, it is usually more prevalent among people that have to perform under pressure. So stage fright is common for musical performers, actors, public speakers, and professional athletes. It is totally natural to experience a little bit of nervousness before one has to perform or speak in front of an audience. Some performers even use it to increase their mental focus and intensity on stage, but for others, performance anxiety and stage fright can be debilitating to the point of panic attacks.
(01:42):
Or worse, the ability to perform can be severely impacted and in rare cases may lead to an end of a performance career. Stage fright symptoms. Being the center of attention and having all eyes on you can be really stressful. Your body reacts to this situation in much the same way as it would if you were being attacked. The body's fight or flight mechanism kicks in, which is why symptoms of stage fright are similar to symptoms that occur when you are in real danger. Some of those symptoms are racing pulse and rapid breathing, dry mouth and tight throat, trembling hands, knees, lips and voice, sweaty and cold hands nausea and an uneasy feeling in your stomach, vision changes.
Beta blockers: The real stage fright pills. For certain people, there is only one stage fright pill that they'll acknowledge, and that's a class of drugs called beta blockers, short for beta adrenergic blocking agents. The main function of beta blockers is to block the release of adrenaline and other stress hormones in the body.
(02:51):
This makes it a great tool for doctors to use for heart and cardiac related health conditions like high blood pressure, angina, which is a specific form of chest pain and irregular heart rhythm, also called arrhythmia. But not only useful for heart related health conditions, beta blockers have long been used off script, meaning for a purpose other than they were originally designed for, to help nervous and anxious performers stay calm before and during stressful events.
The physical symptoms of stage fright occur because of the adrenaline pumping through the bloodstream and the heart working with greater force during or before being in the spotlight. So if a beta blocker pill can block the release of stress hormones, including adrenaline, then it can prevent the heart from going into overdrive, keep blood pressure steady and successfully keep stage fright symptoms at bay. Propranolol is the most popular and commonly prescribed beta blocker medication in the US, and Metoprolol is the second most popular.
(03:53):
We have videos about both propranolol and metoprolol on the channel, so check those out. If you're looking for more information on the differences and similarities between the different types of beta blockers when used for stage fright purposes, there's also other less popular beta blocker types such as Acebutolol Carvedilol Atenolol and Bisoprolol. All have their slight differences but functionally work the same.
Can beta blockers really stop stage fright? As long as you only use beta blockers occasionally, offsetting the dependence risk, Beta blockers really do work well to combat stage fright and performance anxiety symptoms and are generally considered safe with minimal risk of side effects. Be aware that problems can arise with beta blockers if you begin to depend on them to even be able to perform. At that point, It may mean that you are completely dependent on beta blockers without improving and chipping away at your natural ability to manage stress and anxiety throughout your life, which is necessary to perform successfully throughout your career or life without burning out.
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Sudden withdrawal from beta blockers after regular usage may also cause other health problems such as high blood pressure. So make sure you consult a medical professional when doing so.
Does a natural stage fright pill exist? If some of the side effects and risks of beta blockers don't sound appealing to you, then you may start seeking out a natural alternative to beta blockers, one that doesn't require a prescription, but that also strengthens your mind and body to be less susceptible to stress while making you better equipped to handle a stress response with a natural stage fright pill. Instead of artificially blocking the release of adrenaline with beta blockers, perhaps it would help you release less adrenaline in the first place and therefore experience less stage fright. Well, the best natural beta blocker alternative out there at the moment is the brain boosting anxiety supplement PerformZen. PerformZen uses natural ingredients like GABA, l-theanine and others to reduce stress and help you remain calm under pressure.
(06:05):
It also contains other ingredients like magnesium and vitamin B6 that work together to increase mental focus. So with PerformZen, you get the best of both worlds. On the one hand, you feel calm and relaxed, and on the other hand, you're better focused so you can concentrate and deliver a great speech or performance without stage fright. To find out all about PerformZen, check out our website using the link in the description or Google PerformZen and we are the first result.
The hunt is over? A stage fright pill does exist, right? Stage fright is no joke. It can hold you back from pursuing your passion as a performer, like a musician, actor, or a comedian. Stage fright can impact your career as an athlete if you repeatedly let anxiety get the better of you during clutch moments. And if you're always feeling anxious at parties or in social settings, that could be detrimental to your social life.
(07:05):
But the good news is that you don't have to let stage fright control your life. There are stage fright pills that exist today in the form of beta blockers and natural supplements like PerformZen. And if you are considering beta blockers, you should know that although it can provide temporary relief to stage fright issues, it is not a long-term solution. Not to mention there could be side effects and you may need a prescription. If you want an easier all-natural alternative, then definitely check out our supplement PerformZen, link in the description. And if you want to learn about more strategies and solutions for overcoming anxiety, click that subscribe button to make sure you see all of the new videos we will be releasing in the next few weeks. You can also check out these other videos on our channel. Good luck fighting stage fright, and as always, break a leg.
