It’s not uncommon to feel butterflies before you have to give a presentation or step up on stage. Maybe you even feel a little nervous in the bedroom when you’re trying to be intimate with your partner. 

However, there’s a difference between those fleeting, fluttering nerves and the effects of performance anxiety. 

Performance anxiety refers to a state of fear and panic at the thought of performing. It could be in front of a large crowd, co-workers, or even your spouse. 

The fear can be so debilitating that it causes you to freeze in the moment. However, your thoughts leading up to the performance can even be worse. You might deal with negative self-talk, low confidence, and struggling with worst-case scenarios. 

If you deal with performance anxiety, chances are you’re willing to try just about anything to fight back against it. 

Hypnosis can help. 

The Signs of Performance Anxiety

It’s easy for some people to brush off this type of anxiety as nerves. However, there are a few tell-tale signs that you’re dealing with something more. Some of the most common symptoms of performance anxiety include

• Sweaty hands

• Increased heart rate

• Nausea

• An overwhelming desire to back out of the “performance” situation

Unfortunately, for so many people with performance anxiety, their worst fears come true. It’s easy to psych yourself up so much with worry that your “fight or flight” response kicks in, and you either end up leaving a performance situation or fumbling through it. That creates a vicious cycle that will fuel your fears further in the future. 

Why Is Hypnosis Effective?

There are many different management options for performance anxiety, including different types of talk therapy. 

However, hypnosis can be incredibly effective because it can change how your brain thinks about performance-based situations. 

When you’re in a state of hypnosis, your mind and body are fully relaxed. You can separate the idea of performing from the fear it typically causes. 

For starters, hypnosis can help you understand the root cause of your performance anxiety. Maybe it’s something that stems from childhood. Or, maybe you had a bad experience in front of an audience before. 

Whatever the case, getting to that underlying cause is the first step in overcoming your fear. 

From there, hypnosis will help you to build confidence. It accesses the area of your brain that holds tightly to behaviors and patterns. As it helps you see those behaviors from a different perspective, you can prepare yourself by gaining performance “skills” to put into practice when you’re in specific situations. 

The Benefits of Hypnotherapy for Performance Anxiety

No matter what symptoms of performance anxiety you struggle with, hypnotherapy is likely to benefit you. It can help to reduce the physical symptoms of your anxiety while allowing you to let go of negative triggering events. It also will boost resiliency when your performances don’t go exactly according to plan. 

Most importantly, hypnosis can replace any negative coping strategies you’ve tried to deal with your performance anxiety. It’s not uncommon for people with this type of anxiety to turn to drugs, drinking, or other unhealthy habits that could cause long-term issues. 

If you’re interested in learning more about hypnosis for performance anxiety, please contact me. Whether you want to get on stage without fear or you just want to be able to deliver a presentation at work effectively, you don’t have to be a prisoner to your anxiety forever. 

Chances are, hypnosis is different from any stereotypes you might have seen over the years. Let’s set up an appointment to determine if it’s the best option for you and to overcome your anxiety.