Stage fright
As a performer I can understand how emotionally debilitating it can be not to be able to do what you love best.
Hypnosis is an extremely effective way to counteract the negative effects of stage fright. Furthermore, it can be used to encourage personal empowerment, nurture self acceptance and build confidence.
What is stage fright?
During stage fright irrational thoughts trigger maladaptive physiological responses such as sweating, trembling, abnormal breathing and blushing, these in turn trigger emotional responses such as panic, nervousness and fear.
This becomes a vicious circle.
When this situation occurs, you may feel that you have no control over these responses; that these responses ‘take over’, leaving you helpless.
This does not need to be the case.
What causes this response to occur?
During ‘stage fright’ the sympathetic nervous system (part of the autonomic nervous system) is activated putting the body into ‘fight or flight’ mode.
The first thing to remember is that the ‘thought triggers’ for these maladaptive responses are irrational and exist only in imagination. They are negative suggestions held within the unconscious mind that cannot be controlled by rational consciousness.
How can hypnosis help?
Hypnosis provides access to the unconscious mind.
In a state of intense relaxation and concentration the unconscious mind is able to focus on the positive suggestions given by the therapist.
These subliminal messages are surprisingly powerful and can override any existing negative beliefs held in the unconscious.
The result?
The negative beliefs are overridden and replaced with positive beliefs. As a result here is no negative trigger to the sympathetic nervous system. Therefore ‘Fight or flight’ ceases to be the conditioned response.
‘Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, magic, and power in it. Begin it now.’
Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe
