Anxiety in Performance: Classifications, Instigators, and Methods for Control
Performance anxiety can be a common and overwhelming experience in various situations, such as giving a speech, participating in sports events, taking exams, making love, or even before a job interview or a date. This article aims to provide an overview of performance anxiety, its causes, symptoms, and potential treatments.
One form of performance anxiety is Glossophobia, a social phobia related to public speaking. It can also be a factor in social anxiety disorder. Another type is Athletic Performance Anxiety (APA), which affects athletes and can have a direct, noticeable impact on their athletic performance.
Performance anxiety is a sudden, intense panic that occurs when one feels the need to perform. It can manifest in various physical signs, such as tremors, dizziness, headache, dry mouth, chest pains, shallow breathing, high blood pressure, accelerated heart rate, nausea or stomach cramps, tunnel vision or blurred vision, bladder control problems, clamminess or excessive sweating, and irregularities in heart rate. In men, anxiety management (SPA) can lead to erectile dysfunction and premature ejaculation. In women, it can cause a major decrease in libido.
SPA, or Sexual Performance Anxiety, occurs when the prospect of sexual activity causes nervousness and sweating. It affects 9 to 25 percent of men and 6 to 16 percent of women. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) might be effective for treating SPA, as well as for treating sexual performance anxiety.
Research suggests that studying can reduce test-taking anxiety, and recommended treatment methods for reducing performance anxiety in athletes include psychological approaches such as CBT, relaxation techniques, mindfulness training, stress management, and building resilience to improve mental toughness and coping strategies. Additionally, some approaches may involve controlled exposure to stressful situations to desensitize anxiety responses and training in positive self-talk and visualization.
Isolating triggers of performance anxiety provides insight for making deliberate changes. For example, interview anxiety can be overwhelming or debilitating before job interviews, dates, or meet-the-parents lunches. Severe test-taking anxiety can prevent one from taking important exams such as a driver's test or citizenship exam.
If performance anxiety is interfering with one's life, seeking help from a therapist or doctor is recommended. Treatment can help reduce the impact of performance anxiety and improve one's ability to perform in high-pressure situations.
It's important to note that performance anxiety has yet to be recognized as a diagnosable condition. However, the impact it can have on one's life and wellbeing should not be underestimated. Performance anxiety can induce psychogenic erectile dysfunction (ED) in men, and it can cause major life setbacks and feels more like a panic attack than just stomach butterflies.
In conclusion, performance anxiety is a common experience that can affect various aspects of one's life. Understanding its causes, symptoms, and potential treatments can help individuals manage and reduce its impact, leading to improved performance and overall wellbeing.
