What are the tips to deal with singing anxiety?
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This blog answers: What are the tips to deal with singing anxiety? What are some other ways to manage singing anxiety? What are the therapy options for singing anxiety?
What are the tips to deal with singing anxiety?
Some tips to deal with singing anxiety are:
Do your research
To overcome one’s singing anxiety individuals must do their research. This might include finding out about an event venue, researching people in charge of their gig, and knowing about other people involved in their performance.
When individuals do their research, they are more aware of the course of events which helps to reduce their anxiety about singing.
Listen to music
Individuals experiencing singing anxiety can also listen to music. Listening to music does not refer to the music that they are asked to perform rather a piece of music that helps them calm down and brings about a soothing effect.
Researchers believe that listening to music can help them feel less anxious and more positive about themselves and their surroundings.
Self-care
Individuals who experience singing anxiety must make sure that they take good care of themselves. This particularly involves taking care of their throat.
There are many things that singers or other individuals who have an interest in singing must focus on to take good care of their throat as it is predominantly used while singing.
Apart from the vocals individuals must also make sure they’re taking a good diet and getting sufficient sleep to maintain a good equilibrium in their biological cycles.
Practice mindfulness or meditation
Though practicing mindfulness and meditation each time might have immediate therapeutic effects its effects are more lasting when individuals practice it daily. It helps individuals to stay calm and focused on their activities.
Those individuals who experience singing anxiety must practice mindfulness to be calmer and experience lower levels of stress and anxiety.
Be early
Individuals experiencing singing anxiety must not underestimate the benefits of being early. For many, it might seem to be a factor that does not have an impact on their anxiousness however they would be surprised when they are early for any singing-related event.
Keep extras
Individuals who experience anxiety about singing must try keeping their required and important resources in abundance. This might involve an extra pair of headphones, music sheets, water bottles, etc.
When people keep extra resources the possibility of experiencing anxiety due to the displacement of any of them is very less thus narrowing the possibility of anxiety due to the inability to place their required items.
Do not pack the day
When individuals have some important event to attend it is always good to keep the day light. This means to keep unnecessary commitments, or any other important commitments lined up on the same day.
This way the individual can provide full attention and concentration to one event which also helps to decrease their levels of anxiety about the others.
Make a list
Many individuals might experience a sense of anxiety before singing due to the feeling of missing out on something important.
In such cases, individuals can make notes of all the requirements such that they can tick them off and comfort themselves with the idea of having everything in control.
Take deep breaths
Individuals might experience singing anxiety because they get very anxious before singing due to the possible judgments and criticisms that they might receive from others.
In such situations, individuals must catch a moment and take deep breaths.
Deep breathing exercises help individuals to calm down within a short period and also focus on their singing leading to optimal performance.
Seek help
Individuals who experience irrational amounts of singing must consider seeking help from senior artists or even professionals in that matter. Talking about their emotions and concerns can help bring about ways to solve them and lower the levels of anxiety.
Take feedback seriously
Many individuals might experience singing anxiety due to the possible criticism or judgment that they might receive from others.
To avoid anxiousness about the critical feedback individuals must get into the habit of getting feedback on their performance regularly such that they get conditioned to all kinds of feedback and take them as resources required to strengthen their performance.
What are some other ways to manage singing anxiety?
Identify and acknowledge the triggers
The most significant strategy that can be used to control one’s anxiety is by identifying and acknowledging those triggers.
Being able to recognize what makes an individual anxious makes them better equipped to take action.
Set realistic goals
When an individual is feeling overwhelmed, setting goals and targets keeping in mind priorities can help resolve overwhelming feelings of fear or panic.
Setting goals provides structure and routine to an individual’s life reducing space for uncertainty which can be a major trigger for anxiety in many cases.
Lifestyle changes
An individual’s lifestyle plays a major role in their experience of anxiety. An unhealthy and busy lifestyle usually leads to unhealthy eating, lack of exercise, lack of adequate sleep.
A combination of a well-set diet, exercise, and sleep can help to regulate an individual’s mood and equip them with a favorable coping mechanism.
These coping mechanisms in turn help to get control over once anxiety concerns in a more adaptable manner.
lack of proper diet, sleep, and exercise can make an individual sluggish, dependent, moody and vulnerable to anxiety attacks.
Making journal entries
Last but not least having a journal to write down how a person is feeling and thinking when they are anxious helps them to reflect upon their thoughts and feelings.
Putting down one’s thoughts and feelings onto a paper helps to provide a sense of temporary relief.
In the case of journal entry, a person does not even have to fear being judged by another person regarding their thoughts and feelings.
What are the therapy options for singing anxiety?
Cognitive-behavioural therapy
Cognitive-behavioural therapy helps an individual to control their anxiety by using strategies like relaxation and breathing. It works on the principles of replacing negative thoughts with positive ones.
Exposure therapy
Exposure therapy is a kind of therapy in which an individual is exposed to a particular stimulus that they usually fear or are anxious about in a graded order.
As and when the individual gets comfortable with the situation or stimulus introduced or exposed to them with each session, individuals get more comfortable with a real-life situation that might have otherwise been a source for triggering anxiety.
Group therapy
It is based on the principle that when an individual interacts with other people who are suffering from the same fears they might not feel left alone or isolated. Group therapy usually involves a group of individuals who are experiencing similar symptoms and problems.
Medication
Anxiety can also be treated with the help of medication prescribed by a health care professional.
Though medication alone cannot help in reducing persistent anxiety it can help in restoring a sense of control and bring temporary relief.
Online therapy
In cases where reaching out physically to a professional is impossible or discomforting an individual can opt to seek help through the online medium.
In this, the therapy sessions are carried out one-to-one over a video or audio call. Some individuals also prefer interacting with the therapist through text as well due to various reasons. One of the most common is the fear of being judged by the therapist or some personal hesitation.
Online therapy can help individuals to regulate some aspects of their anxiety that aids individuals in carrying out a stress-free life over time
Conclusion
Experiencing singing anxiety might be very normal however might require an individual to seek help to get past it as it might hamper many opportunities related to their passion.
Frequently asked questions: What are the tips to deal with singing anxiety?
How do I overcome my singing anxiety?
Some ways to overcome individuals singing anxiety are:
- Practice singing regularly
- Use positive affirmations
- Reassure yourself about your performance
- Adopt strategies to reduce stress
- Practice mindfulness and meditation.
Can singing reduce your anxiety?
Research indicates that singing can help reduce some levels of stress in individuals. However, this differs among individuals depending on the nature of stress. Many just researchers also refer to singing as a natural antidepressant.
What is the fear of singing called?
The fear of singing is called acousticophobia.
Why do I get nervous while singing?
Individuals might experience nervousness while singing due to various reasons such as a lack of confidence in their performance, lack of proper resources, or a lack of proper experience and exposure.
How does singing affect mental health?
Singing is considered to be a psychological activity that helps to increase positivity, and reduce stress and fatigue among individuals. it is also believed that singing helps to improve social support.
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