5 Ways to Work With Not Against, Your Anxiety
AUDIO VERSION
Anxiety is scary. Not only if you want to be the world’s best actor or actress, but in general. It can give you panic attacks and cause you to freeze and forget your lines when you need to be on point the most. If you want to make it in the entertainment world, you’ll need to come up with strategies to manage your anxiety. Here are a few tips for doing just that.
Here’s the first way to work, not against, your anxiety.
Despite some of the self-talk you may be doing, it can be difficult to overcome anxiety, especially when you’re put right on the spot. Of course, acting requires you to become comfortable with being put on the spot, so you’ll need to come up with ways to manage your nerves and not go into freeze mode whenever you’re in front of a casting director or camera. One of the best ways to do this is to master some breathing techniques. There are a ton of these available online and it’s important that you tackle those that seem best for you. Take a look at what’s out there and see which seem the most interesting. Then, you can determine what exercises seem the most fun.
Here’s the second way to work, not against, your anxiety.
Another way to overcome your anxiety is to socialize more. Yes, it’s true. Just getting out with friends and family can help you overcome any reluctance to express confidence in front of others. The more social you are, the easier it becomes. Schedule some time to meet up with those you care about and reassure yourself that you can be okay sharing how you feel. This will help you learn to let go of some of the anxiety that comes with auditioning and playing your role to its fullest.
Here’s the third way to work, not against, your anxiety.
Anxiety will probably, from time to time, cause you to freeze on the spot. This can be particularly frustrating, especially if you’re in front on a CD or in the middle of a scene. To help ensure this doesn’t happen, try to stay in the here-and-now. Remind yourself of the ground beneath your feet and practice other grounding techniques that will help you stay focused on the task at hand. Bringing all your awareness to your breath is a known technique for instantly becoming calm and more relaxed in the moment. This practice is called Mindfulness. Again, you can find many other techniques online.
Here’s the fourth way to work, not against, your anxiety.
Don’t overthink everything. Yes, this seems next to impossible when you are in the middle of something that will make or break your opportunity to step into a role, but this is possible. The more you overthink it and give yourself anxiety, the harder it can be to feel centered and ready to give it your all. Use the above techniques to focus more on what you’re doing and get out of your own head!
Here’s the fifth way to work, not against, your anxiety.
Just be yourself. A lot of times, there seems to feel like there is overwhelming pressure to be someone else. This is what acting is all about, right? At the end of the day, you are who you are, though, and you’ll need to stay true to this to make this career work. So, don’t forget who you are and keep this in mind, first and foremost.
Anxiety can be overwhelming if you don’t have the tools to keep it at bay. Remember to breathe, stay focused and be who you are. Even though you’re playing a part, at the end of the day, this is what it’s all about!
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