One type of anxiety that is a huge problem for singers and artists is performance anxiety. To overcome performance anxiety you have to acknowledge where it comes from and find ways to turn your nerves and adrenaline into positive forces. It’s important to identify the source of fear, in order to deal with it successfully.

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. Naming the fear enables you to go after the problem and beat 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. You can duplicate that feeling by running in place until you’re out of breath and then sing your song. Being out of breath while you practice helps you get used to singing phrases where you desperately want to just exhale and not sing. Breathlessness is similar to what happens when anxiety strikes during the performance. Every time you take the breath, you can feel it falling into your body. It is important to understand that even when the heart is pounding, you can sing. 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. Whether it’s butterflies, shaky knees, a sudden dry mouth, the urge to run, shaky hands, nausea or many other issues, any one of them can surface.

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.You should expect to be nervous and jittery because this will allow you to sing through the nerves. 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.