Performance Anxiety Blog

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What Are the Yips, and How Do Athletes Tame Them? The yips are sudden, involuntary muscle jerks or freezes that strike during a familiar skill, like a golf putt or a free throw. They’re not a flaw in your mechanics. They’re performance anxiety taking over your fine motor control. You tame them by changing your relationship with the fear, not

Dr. Fish joined Shaun Enright on his podcast, Drop the Stress Not the Ball to unpack why you can’t keep performance anxiety out — and why you shouldn’t try. Shaun’s show digs into the mental side of staying calm under pressure without sacrificing performance, which made it the perfect place to go deep about performance anxiety and mindfulness. They cover

Quick answer: Flow state and performance anxiety interact in a predictable way: nerves pull attention off the task, and flow lives inside the task. Flow arrives when you stop fighting your nerves and start engaging with what is in front of you. Accept the jitters, engage fully with your next note, sentence, or stride, then detach from the imagined verdict.

Quick Answer: Performance anxiety in the digital age is rising because social media has turned everyday professional life into a series of high-visibility moments, training your brain’s internal bodyguard of performance anxiety to step into protect you more often. The solution is not silencing the bodyguard but learning to mindfully accept it and return attention to the task. What Is

Stage fright is one of humanity’s most common fears, shared by countless performers—even the most famous ones. This post dives into 7 powerful songs that perfectly capture the tension and vulnerability of being in the spotlight.

See how Stage Fright Hits Comedy Legends like Stiller and Meara, proving your nerves are normal. Start managing high-stakes pressure today.

Uncover the real cause of your anxiety with the deep danger exercise for performance anxiety and learn how to try it yourself.

If you’ve ever felt your heart pounding before a big moment—whether stepping onto a stage, speaking up at a meeting, or walking into a competition—you are not alone. That wave of anxiety you feel? It’s not a flaw in your character or a sign that you’re not cut out for the spotlight. It’s a very human reaction—and it usually comes

Speech fright in presidential debates shapes how candidates perform under pressure. Discover how it has affected Trump, Harris, and others, and what it reveals to voters.

Speech fright, stage fright, and competition anxiety all stem from performance anxiety. Discover how mindfulness can help you overcome them today.

Most people think nerves mean they lack confidence—but the real problem is how we relate to anxiety when the spotlight’s on. This post unpacks three common mistakes that keep performance anxiety in control—and shows how mindful acceptance offers a proven, liberating way forward. Whether you’re speaking, performing, or just trying to show up fully, you’ll learn how to stop fighting fear and start finding flow.

The yips refers to “extreme nervousness causing a golfer to miss easy putts.” More broadly applied, such sports-based performance anxiety can also lead to a pitcher making wild throws, a quarterback sailing the the ball, and the like. Pirates pitcher Steve Blass can certainly speak to the problem. He suffered such a severe case of the yips in the 1970s

Bennett, 81, says he is still traumatised by his experience when he stumbled over the lines in a stage production of A Chip In The Sugar, one of his popular Talking Heads monologues. Source: Alan Bennett has suffered from stage fright since he forgot his own monologues | Daily Mail Online

Even elite performers experience stage fright—just ask Shohei Ohtani. Before stepping up to bat at Tokyo Dome, he admitted feeling nervous under the intense, silent focus of 42,000 fans. This pressure isn’t unique to athletes—musicians, actors, and dancers face the same overwhelming scrutiny on stage. Even jazz musicians at Tokyo’s Blue Note have been spooked by Japan’s ultra-focused, silent audiences. So how do top performers handle it? Learn proven techniques to manage nerves, shift focus, and turn pressure into peak performance—just like Ohtani. 🎭🎶⚾ #StageFright #PerformanceAnxiety #ThrivingUnderPressure

Even Shohei Ohtani gets stage fright—so what does that mean for the rest of us? Before stepping up to bat at Tokyo Dome, Ohtani admitted to feeling nervous under the intense, silent focus of 42,000 fans. This kind of pressure isn’t just for athletes—it affects public speakers, performers, and even jazz musicians at Tokyo’s Blue Note, where audiences listen in complete silence. Learn how to overcome performance anxiety, channel nerves into confidence, and thrive under pressure—just like Ohtani. 🎤⚾ #StageFright #PublicSpeaking #PerformanceAnxiety

Stage fright, also known as performance anxiety, is a common experience. Even seasoned performers can feel it. This post will explain the science behind stage fright, focusing on what happens in the brain. Understanding these processes can help us better manage and support those who face this challenge. What Is Stage Fright? Stage fright is the intense fear or anxiety

Stage fright—also known as performance anxiety—has been part of the performing arts for ages. Even seasoned actors, musicians, and public speakers can experience it. This phenomenon causes intense fear and nervousness before or during a performance. Here, we explore the history of stage fright, notable instances, and its impact on performing arts. Ancient Beginnings: Stage Fright in Ancient Greece and

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The Olympic Games in Rio should have provided Australian swimmers with lots of opportunities for glory. Going into the Games, there was even talk of them winning up to ten gold medals. The actual take turned out to be just a fraction of that. Backstroke king Mitch Larkin took home one silver medal rather than two gold, freestyle star Cate

It was to be a triumphant moment as a solo artist fo former One Direction member Zayn Malik, but stage fright got in the way He had returned to the UK to appear at the Summertime Ball at Wembley Stadium along with Ariana Grande and Little Mix. At the last minute, though, nerves got the better of him, and he

A recent article in the Personal Tech section of the New York Times reviews a number of smartphone apps that supposedly help people deal with their stage fright. While the apps considered are interesting, none really get to the heart of the problem with stage fright and are of limited help. Article link

Donna Vickroy writes about her battle with speech fright in a recent online article for the Chicago Tribune. The piece underscores just how intrusive performance anxiety can be when Vickroy is confronted with giving a eulogy at her aunt’s funeral. It also reinforces a common misconception about nervousness being the source of excitement. Back in the B.C. days The most

The yips finds Ernie Els. Millions have watched The epic meltdown in the day since it has happened. Four-time major champion Ernies Els wound up six putting from under three feet for a nine on the opening par four at the Masters. How could this possibly happen to such a successful veteran golfer? In an interview after his round for