“Our doubts are traitors, and make us lose the good we often might win by fearing to attempt.” ~ W. Shakespeare

L.C.S.W., A.C.S.W., Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Rochester, NY

Whether you are an athlete, a performing artist, a student, someone needing to speak publicly, there may be times when you don’t perform optimally. Even after hours or days of training and preparation you find yourself unable to demonstrate all of the knowledge and skills you have during that big moment.

Do you find yourself answering yes to one or more of the following statements?

• I am confident of my ability, but under pressure I struggle.
• When I play or perform the fear of failure often sabotages my performance.
• I practice hard and am really good at what I do, but my critical inner voice often destroys my confidence.
• I find it difficult to focus on staying in the present moment and stopping my mind from drifting.
• I worry about letting others down as well as myself.

Anxiety has a negative impact and can often show up in ways that affect performances levels, levels of confidence, work, and people skills. Overtime individuals begin to avoid things that they fear will cause anxiety such as major performances, social outings, and dating. Eliminating social aspects or letting anxiety take over your role as a performer does not have to be the solution.

A person who feels anxious will find that:

• Their heart rate is faster than normal
• Their chest feels tight
• They breathe rapidly
• They feel that they cannot get a deep enough breath
• Their hands will tremble
• They do not think properly
• They worry continuously
• They notice muscle tremors or tension
• Their mouth is dry

It is important to note that anxiety does not imply the presence of a psychological issue, although this might be true for some, and if so, you can be successfully helped. This would require determining the type of anxiety being experienced and then creating an effective response.

My approach to anxiety treatment is very unique in that I work with individuals to learn to move from a reactive response to more reflective responses by learning to diminish psychological arousal and emotional flooding. My goal is to help you to feel and perform better so that you can achieve your goals. Whether you are a musician, a performer, an athlete, or a working professional I can help you to reduce your anxiety and perform at your best. Contact me today for a free 20 minute phone consultation at (585) 262-4070.