Performance Anxiety

Does your heart pound, your face turn red, or your mind go blank when you speak in front of people? When you have an appointment with a client or have a performance, do you get light-headed or feel as if you are going to pass out?

There are people who experience severe psychological or physical distress when faced with these types of situations. Some agonize for weeks or even months in advance. Others experience full panic attacks at the very thought of taking center stage.

While it has been commonly assumed that performance anxiety is rare, its actually one of the most commonly documented disorders among all social phobias. According to a recent Gallup poll, about 40% of adults in the nation experience some degree of stage fright.