How You Can Overcome Stage Fright with Hypnotherapy
Do you struggle with stage fright? Have you been really frustrated lately by it holding you back? Maybe you have been wanting to perform at an open mic and you haven’t because of it. Maybe you feel totally fine when singing in front of people, but the second you have to talk to them, it’s over. Or you could be a seasoned musician who still gets an upset stomach before heading on stage. Or your stage fright has been so severe it has been keeping you from performing or speaking publicly for years.
Trust me, I get it.
My first experience with stage fright was in sixth grade. I ran to be the class VP and while reading my speech in front of the class, my paper was shaking like a leaf in my hands. I couldn’t even think about what I was saying. All I could think about was how I wanted the speech to be over. Kids made fun of me for it and I was very embarrassed. I remember in college having to introduce myself to a new class and the agony I felt as my turn was coming up was enough to almost kill me. My heart would be beating out of my chest and I felt like I was going to pass out. By the time it was my turn, I would be such a mess I could barely even speak. It felt like my head was on fire and buzzing. I wanted it to be over so bad so I would say as little as possible. I always felt like this cost me friendships because I didn’t give a good first impression. I’ve also spent most of my adult life as a musician, getting severe stomach cramps and anxiety before getting on stage.
Common symptoms of stage fright include:
Sweating
Upset stomach
Nausea
Trembling hands, lips, knees and voice
Cold hands
Dry mouth
Altered heart rate
Headaches
Vision changes
If this sounds like something you’ve experienced before, you are not alone. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, around 73% of people experience stage fright. But this does not have to happen to you anymore. You do not have to be held back anymore by this. You can get past this.
So, what can you do to overcome stage fright?
I’m glad you asked! Common advice for stage fright includes practicing a lot and visualizing everything going well. What if you have been doing this and it hasn’t worked? What if you tried everything? Are you sure you’ve tried everything? Here’s a little secret:
Your subconscious mind always thinks it is helping you out.
Having stage fright is an active choice your subconscious is making. No matter how many times you consciously imagine things going right, your subconscious might think it is protecting you from a serious threat by keeping you off stage (thanks, but not thanks, am I right?). You know better and you know consciously that performing or speaking in front of people is not a real threat! So how do you fix this disconnect? One way is with hypnotherapy and by tapping into the subconscious mind to make changes to whatever belief is keeping you off stage.
You can overcome performance anxiety with hypnotherapy.
Yes, I’m serious and stay with me here for a moment. Yes, I’m talking about hypnosis. But no, not the kind that you see on a stage show in Las Vegas for entertainment. Hypnosis is a real option for people struggling with social anxiety, which is what stage fright is a sub-type of. With hypnotherapy, stage fright can be overcome and you can get back on stage! A study published by The Journal of Clinical Psychology showed that hypnotherapy reduced performance anxiety for musicians significantly. The results were immediate and also held up 6 months later [1]. Check out my blog post for “10 Ways Hypnotherapy Helps Musicians” to learn more ways hypnosis can help musicians and performers.
So what is hypnotherapy?
Hypnotherapy is using hypnosis to tap into the subconscious mind to make changes to any habits and beliefs that are holding you back. We tap into the subconscious mind by accessing the theta brainwave state through relaxation. Once you are in the theta brain wave state you become very creative, more intuitive and open to suggestions and learning. In this state is where your hypnotherapist will guide you through yourself, searching for the hidden reasons for why you have stage fright and will help you remove and/or transform them. Hypnotherapy is completely safe and very effective. In fact, according to a study published by American Health Magazine, there was a 93% improvement for people with 6 sessions of hypnotherapy. To give that number some perspective, the same study showed that with Psychoanalysis, an average of 600 sessions yielded a 38% improvement. This shows how rapid of a solution hypnotherapy can be.
What does hypnotherapy feel like? Do I lose control?
For the majority of people, being hypnotized is a pleasant experience. Not only are you completely relaxed physically, your mind is relaxed as well. Most people feel like they took a refreshing nap when they are done with their session. It feels very similar to meditation and when you “get in the zone.” Contrary to popular belief, hypnosis is not mind control. Your hypnotherapist can not make you do or say anything you wouldn’t do or say otherwise and you can choose to emerge anytime you’d like. In fact, I choose to argue that hypnotherapy gives you more control of yourself, since you are finally taking the reins of your subconscious actions and aligning them more with your goals in life.
So how do I begin?
You can begin here. I used hypnotherapy to relieve myself of stage fright and you can too. I am no longer the same shaky paper girl from sixth grade. Or the buzzy-headed-heart-beating-out-of-my-chest girl from college. I go on stage feeling calm, confident and empowered. This was one of the many reasons I fell in love with hypnotherapy and became a certified hypnotherapist myself. As a professional touring musician, singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, I know the in’s and out’s of everything musicians and performers go through. I know what you are going through because I’ve been through it myself. Now I love helping others get to the other side of their issues with hypnotherapy. That being said, I’d be happy to talk to you about your options for overcoming stage fright. I offer free 20 minute consultation calls to answer any of your questions. Or if you want to dive right in and book a session, I’m currently accepting new clients. Most of my sessions are done online via Zoom with people from all over the world. I teach you how to do self-hypnosis during your first session so you have an incredibly powerful tool to use for the rest of your life. All my prices are transparent so you don’t have to be guessing how much everything costs. I try to be as accessible as possible so everyone gets a chance to overcome their issues. See below for how to book your free 20 minute consultation call, book a session, or read my FAQ’s.
“I have had two hypnotherapy sessions with Melissa. She even taught me how to use hypnotherapy when I am alone, the gift that keeps on giving! This experience really helped me uncover and process long held beliefs and emotions. I went into this looking to improve self esteem. After two sessions I feel sooo much better. I knew that trauma was “stuck” in my body, but I never knew how to “get it out”. Just amazing that a couple of chats with Melissa could help release years of emotional scar tissue. Talking about our problems can feel vulnerable and scary, but Melissa really allows a safe space where you feel respected and heard..now I can’t wait for my next session! I’m SO happy I gave it a try.”
Interested in learning more?
Find more information on how hypntherapy can help musicians here:
10 Ways Hypnotherapy Helps Musicians
You can also check out FAQ’s for more information on hypnosis and what to expect during a session. Feel free to read reviews from others who have had sessions with me as well.
About Melissa Lucciola, CHt. -
Melissa Lucciola, CHt is an IACT and Grace Method Certified Hypnotherapist. She is also a long time professional touring musician, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist dedicated to using hypnotherapy to help others along her path. She has used hypnotherapy for herself to overcome extreme pain, social anxiety, performance anxiety, phone addiction and more.
Citations:
[1] - Brooker, E. Music performance anxiety: A clinical outcome study into the effects of cognitive hypotherapy and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing in advanced pianists. Psychology of Music. 2018, Pages 107-124, Journal of Clinical Psychology