One type of anxiety that is a huge problem for singers and artists is performance anxiety. You might be surprised to hear that performance anxiety can actually help your performance. The trick is to be prepared for it and not to let it get the better of you. After you pinpoint the source of your fear, you can take charge of it.

These are some of the most common fears: cracking during a performance, making a fool of yourself in front of friends, forgetting words, constantly worrying about success or failure, rejection, and the list goes on. Once you can name your fear you can take steps to overcome it. After you find the source, move forward and find a solution to eliminate it and not just the symptom.

When you have an adrenaline rush in the body, it results in a racing heart. Running in place until you’re out of breath is one way to duplicate the effect of an adrenaline rush – then practice singing while your heart races. Being out of breath while you practice helps you get used to singing phrases where you desperately want to just exhale and not sing. When you endure breathlessness it’s similar to the issues that occur during your anxiety attack in the middle of a performance. Your breaths will feel like they are falling into your body. As it falls in your body, realize that you can sing even when your heart is pounding. It’s just not easy.

It might help to know that you’re not alone and that thousands of singers deal with anxiety before performing as well. Everyone experiences anxiety differently but there are several common symptoms that can surface such as; shaky hands, nausea, butterflies in the stomach, sweaty armpits, the urge to cry, nausea.  an almost an endless list.

Most singers assume they should be calm and collective before a performance, but for most people it’s just not the case and believing they should be only increases the anxiety.If you expect the nervous feelings, you’ll be in a much better position to sing through them. In fact, you can use the fight-or-flight excitement of adrenaline coursing through your body to enhance your performance. In the end, if you accept your nerves and take advantage of your adrenaline it will be much easier to push past the anxiety and become a better performer.

For more great information on improving your live singing performance and confidence when singing , be sure to check out this learn to sing website.