Let me describe what happens in performance anxiety, fear of speaking in public and in stage fright. Perhaps you will recognize some of this from your own experience. As human beings, we have a very sensitive central nervous system, especially along the spinal column where we have several energy centers where nerves bundle together to create nerve ganglia. When we become the center of attention, powerful sensations and feelings get stirred in the Central Nervous System. The body is flooded with feelings, sensation and emotional intensity that can feel uncomfortable, maybe even out of control.
We who have stage fright do not know how to contain and express that much emotional energy or passion. It often overwhelms us. It seems so out of control that we turn it against ourselves and shut ourselves down. To shut down the intensity, we shift energy and attention into our heads so we can avoid the bodily-felt sensations that are so uncomfortable. We literally “go into our heads”. From the neck down, we tighten the body in order to freeze the flow of feelings. If the body gets tight enough, it will start to shake to try to re-establish flow of life force into the body parts that are too tense.
When this “going into the head” happens, there is an inner split of attention. The inner split is caused because the mind is judging the body and feelings as bad and wrong. The mind wants to stay in control and look perfect, so the mental part of our human nature withdraws from the physical and emotional aspects. We feel split off from ourselves. In the split, we are no longer whole and integrated. This creates a kind of out of body experience. We sort of leave the body – in the sense that our attention can’t stay present in the body below the neck. We feel spacey, ungrounded, not present.
In this dis-integrated state, we can’t think clearly. We can’t be effective. There is so much static inside our bodies that it distracts us from thinking clearly and from delivering the message, singing the song or sharing our ideas. That is it. That is what happens in stage fright, fear of public speaking and performance anxiety. In an upcoming post, I will discuss the antidote to stage fright.
This was a very helpful and vivid account of what stage fright is. Though I have not experience stage fright to that extent, I have experienced it. Inerestingly for me it hasnt been the stage where this occurs (I was once a ballet/modern dancer) but in the classroom when being called on. I would freeze up and I could not make my mind work correctly. I felt utterly humiliated afterwards. It helps to know that this is a common phenomena.
I got your link from Ter Scott at http://instantpublicspeaker.blogspot.com
I really enjoyed reading the article. It surely helps when thinking that we all go through this when we have to give a speech or even just stand in front of a crowd and answer even one question. I have always hated standing up to speak but never thought of it as an actual thing that everyone goes through.
I was linked through the website http://instantpublicspeaker.blogspot.com/ to come and read your information.
Again, it truly helped put things into perspective.
Kari A.
I always thought that my stae fright was a mental thing, and never really attributed it to a physical condition at all. Looking back after reading this article I have realised that in other cases of an enhightened anxiety resulting from different situations, it is the same feeling I go through when getting stage fright, so it makes sense.
I was directed here from my instructors blog @ http://instantpublicspeaker.blogspot.com/
Thank You!!!
I like that this is actually a normal body function and can affect how we deliver our message. I got your site from http://instantpublicspeaker.blogspot.com/
I really related to your comment about when you have the split between mind and body how it makes one feel as if they have done something bad or wrong. I have had that feeling each time I have gotten up in front of a group of people.
I received your link from Ter Scott at: http://instantpublicspeaker.blogspot.com/
Back when I was in school I became so nervous when forced to speak in front of the other students and staff I would panic and lose my voice. What was so hard about it was nobody believed me. The teachers and students thought I was doing this to get out of giving speeches. This caused a lot of stress for me at such a vulnerable time of my life. As I have gotten older it has becomes easier but, I still at times depending on the situation can lose my voice.
This is so exciting for me to learn for now I know there is a scientific reason for why I lost my voice and not that it is all in my head. I believe now knowing this I will be able to get over this stage fright as it is called for now I have a reason to go forward for I too was starting to believe it was all in my head in which in a sense it is.
I recieved your link from Ter Scott at: http://instantpublicspeaker.blogspot.com/
Uh, there’s a spelling mistake in your post title.
Hi Sadie
Thanks so much! That was a BIG mistake wasn’t it!
Love Sandra Zimmer
Hello Sandra,
Im glad that I now know the reasons as to why I get these silly jitters when it comes to “public speaking”. My knees usually shake, my legs feel weak, my head spins, and my voice cracks when I have had to talk to a group of people. I never thought of it as I am using my emotional energy against myself. Knowing this, I am going to find my “emotional energy” and actually use it to my benefit rather than letting it get the best of me. Thank you for a great post!!
I got your link from Ter Scott-
http://instantpublicspeaker.blogspot.com/
While reading this topic in your blog I could almost physically feel all of the symptoms you were describing and I was only reading it. I have never really had to do any public speaking, so this is all very new to me. I am taking a class at Duluth Business University in Oral Communications. I am going to do my best to take all of the symptoms you listed and work through them so I can be an effective speaker if necessary.
I was referred to your blog by Ter Scott at- http://instantpublicspeaker.blogspot.com
Thanks.
It’s good to know that these reactions to public speaking are a normal symptom that most people feel when presenting. From my experiences these reactions tend to go away after a short time and my speech really takes off after that.
I was sent to this link via my instructor Ter Scott @
http://instantpublicspeaker.blogspot.com/
I am so glad to know its not just me. I thought the reactions I have when I have to speak in front of a crowd weren’ t common. Knowing this, I think it will help me.
I was sent to this link by Ter Scott http://instantpublicspeaker.blogspot.com/
Robin, that is my hope that my struggling with this will help others. Thanks!
Hey Ken, you must be able to convert your tension into connection pretty quickly, so you feel good a fter a few minutes. Bravo!
Hi Therese, I’d love to know what happens for you!
You sound like me! I used to shake uncontrollably! Let me know how it goes for you please!
I get so nervous when giving speeches and I honestly don’t know what I can do to make it better. I think that this article is very interesting, knowing what happens to your body when getting stage fright. Thank you for sharing this article. I got this link from Ter Scott http://instantpublicspeaker.blogspot.com
Thank you for this blog, this is very interesting. I never really thought about the feelings you have of stage fright going to your head. I have been in front of an audience and have had these feelings. I agree that the split distracts us and makes it hard to deliver the message. It’s almost feels like you know what you want to say but can’t get it out.
I got your link from Ter Scott at http://instantpublicspeaker.blogspot.com/
Wow! I had know idea that the physical symptoms that I felt when having to do any kind of public speaking were triggered from an actual physical reaction. Now that I know that, I can use the physical cues and hopefully be able to turn them into a more positve reaction.
I received your link from Ter Scott at
http://instantpublicspeaker.blogspot.com
I have experienced the worst symptoms of anxiety when having to do any type of public speaking. I agree that the split between mind and body is a complete distraction and can make it difficult, if not impossible for some people, do deliver a speech effectively.
I received your link from Ter Scott at http://instantpublicspeaker.blogspot.com
I was reminded that nearly everytime I do something I haven’t done before, it is usually preceded by some anxiety. If I let fear control me I would never have done some of the things I have been able to do. I downhill ski, I have swam with dolphins, I have gone on ziplines, snorkeled in the ocean where the water is over my head, and recently, I went in a helicopter. These are all things that have wonderful memories for me. Learning how to speak takes practice. We only get better by doing it.
Linked from: Ter Scott,
http://instantpublicspeaker.blogspot.com/
Thank you for this article. It is nice to finally know why these things happen when I attempt public speaking. I could never understand why my face would turn red, my hands would shake and my voice sounded so hollow, when I was concentrating on not having those reactions. I believe having the knowledge that this happens to many and what is happening, will allow me to relax and focus on my speech and not my bodies reaction. Thanks again!
I got your link from Ter Scott-
http://instantpublicspeaker.blogspot.com/
It is true for me that when I give a speech, I psych myself out and I get all tense and I sometimes start to fiddle with my fingers or the note cards.
DeeAnna Patnaude
Oral communications Online DBU 2012
Link from Ter Scott