Performance anxiety: knowing how to overcome it

Let’s talk about performance anxiety. A test, a job interview, a sports competition or a public presentation: while for some people these may represent simple everyday actions, for others they become a source of great stress and anxiety, what is known as performance anxiety

Although the term ‘performance anxiety’ often tends to identify that anxiety related to sexual performance, in reality the stimuli that can trigger it are numerous and occur in different areas, not exclusively sexual.

Performance anxiety can emerge in various contexts from which it takes its name

We will therefore speak of relational, work, sports, school and sexual performance anxiety, all of which have in common the fear of failing in a given task, of not reaching the set goal and are characterised by the presence of failure-oriented thoughts.

Why does anxiety manifest itself?

We could call it ‘fear of fear’. In fact, unlike fear, which is closely connected with the instinct to flee from a danger, anxiety represents the symptom of the repression of this instinct, which leads to the alteration of the relationship with reality.

Paolo Quattrini, director of the Florence Gestalt Institute, describes it well when he states that: “it is the sign of an inner escape, not translated on the physical plane, a hidden escape, which must not be noticed, an escape that is not allowed”.

In a way, one could say that the person instead of responding to fear with a force that opposes it, for example with anger, which in turn would develop determination towards the desired goal, reacts by developing more fear.

In the mind of the sufferer of performance anxiety, self-sabotage, failure-oriented thinking sets in and what is referred to in psychology as ‘the self-fulfilling prophecy’ occurs.

All the actions performed produce exactly what was feared, triggering a sort of vicious circle reinforced by the accumulation of defeats that, over time, undermine self-esteem and self-confidence.

Symptoms of performance anxiety

The most common symptoms of anxiety are stress, insomnia and irritability that tend to intensify as the test to be faced approaches.

These symptoms, prolonged over time, can also lead to panic attacks.

The consequences of performance anxiety can therefore negatively affect the normal course of daily life.

The case of sexual performance anxiety is different, where sufferers can also develop desire disorders, anorgasmia or, in male subjects, premature ejaculation and erectile dysfunction.

How to combat performance anxiety

Psychological therapy to overcome the anxiety that can generate performance of any kind involves work aimed at developing a greater awareness of the mechanisms that the person triggers whenever he or she is faced with anxiogenic stimuli in order to open up the possibility of new behavioural modes.

Together with the psychotherapist, the person is helped to develop that awareness of the so-called ‘fear of fear’ that leads him or her to transform anxiety into fear of contact with something specific, i.e. with the real threat from which escape is attempted and from which it is instead possible to defend oneself.

Read Also

Emergency Live Even More…Live: Download The New Free App Of Your Newspaper For IOS And Android

Anxiety And Nutrition: Omega-3 Reduce The Disorder

Anxiety And Allergy Symptoms: What Link Does Stress Determine?

Panic Attacks: Do Psychotropic Drugs Solve The Problem?

Panic Attacks: Symptoms, Causes And Treatment

First Aid: How To Deal With Panic Attacks

Panic Attack Disorder: Feeling Of Imminent Death And Anguish

Panic Attacks: Symptoms And Treatment Of The Most Common Anxiety Disorder

Anxiety And Allergy Symptoms: What Link Does Stress Determine?

Eco-Anxiety: The Effects Of Climate Change On Mental Health

Separation Anxiety: Symptoms And Treatment

Anxiety, When Does A Normal Reaction To Stress Become Pathological?

Anxiety: The Seven Warning Signs

Physical And Mental Health: What Are Stress-Related Problems?

Cortisol, The Stress Hormone

Gaslighting: What Is It And How To Recognise It?

Eco Anxiety Or Climate Anxiety: What It Is And How To Recognize It

Stress And Sympathy: What Link?

Pathological Anxiety And Panic Attacks: A Common Disorder

Panic Attack Patient: How To Manage Panic Attacks?

Depression: Symptoms, Causes And Treatment

Cyclothymia: Symptoms And Treatment Of Cyclothymic Disorder

Dysthymia: Symptoms And Treatment

Bipolar Disorder (Bipolarism): Symptoms And Treatment

Bipolar Disorders And Manic Depressive Syndrome: Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Medication, Psychotherapy

Everything You Need To Know About Bipolar Disorder

Drugs To Treat Bipolar Disorder

What Triggers Bipolar Disorder? What Are The Causes And What Are The Symptoms?

Depression, Symptoms And Treatment

Narcissistic Personality Disorder: Identifying, Diagnosing And Treating A Narcissist

Intermittent Explosive Disorder (IED): What It Is And How To Treat It

Baby Blues, What It Is And Why It Is Different From Postpartum Depression

Depression In The Elderly: Causes, Symptoms And Treatment

6 Ways To Emotionally Support Someone With Depression

Defusing Among First Responders: How To Manage The Sense Of Guilt?

Paranoid Personality Disorder: General Framework

The Developmental Trajectories Of Paranoid Personality Disorder (PDD)

Reactive Depression: What It Is, Symptoms And Treatments For Situational Depression

Facebook, Social Media Addiction And Narcissistic Personality Traits

Social And Exclusion Phobia: What Is FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out)?

Gaslighting: What Is It And How To Recognise It?

Nomophobia, An Unrecognised Mental Disorder: Smartphone Addiction

The Panic Attack And Its Characteristics

Psychosis Is Not Psychopathy: Differences In Symptoms, Diagnosis And Treatment

Metropolitan Police Launches A Video Campaign To Raise Awareness Of Domestic Abuse

Metropolitan Police Launches A Video Campaign To Raise Awareness Of Domestic Abuse

World Women’s Day Must Face Some Disturbing Reality. First Of All, Sexual Abuse In Pacific Regions

Child Abuse And Maltreatment: How To Diagnose, How To Intervene

Child Abuse: What It Is, How To Recognise It And How To Intervene. Overview Of Child Maltreatment

Does Your Child Suffer From Autism? The First Signs To Understand Him And How To Deal With Him

Rescuer Safety: Rates Of PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) In Firefighters

PTSD Alone Didn’t Increase Heart Disease Risk In Veterans With Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: Definition, Symptoms, Diagnosis And Treatment

PTSD: First responders find themselves into Daniel artworks

Dealing With PTSD After A Terroristic Attack: How To Treat A Post Traumatic Stress Disorder?

Surviving death – A doctor revived after attempting suicide

Higher risk of stroke for veterans with mental health disorders

Pharmacological Treatment Of Anxiety: The Flip Side Of Benzodiazepines

When The Other Vanishes: ‘Ghosting’ In The Ended Relationship

Manias And Fixations Towards Food: Cibophobia, The Fear Of Food

Uncontrolled Eating: What Is BED (Binge Eating Disorder)

Eating Disorders In Children: Is It The Family’s Fault?

Eating Disorders: The Correlation Between Stress And Obesity

Food And Children, Watch Out For Self-Weaning. And Choose Quality Food: ‘It’s An Investment In The Future’

Mindful Eating: The Importance Of A Conscious Diet

Gaslighting: What Is It And How To Recognise It?

Emotional Abuse, Gaslighting: What It Is And How To Stop It

Metropolitan Police Launches A Video Campaign To Raise Awareness Of Domestic Abuse

Metropolitan Police Launches A Video Campaign To Raise Awareness Of Domestic Abuse

World Women’s Day Must Face Some Disturbing Reality. First Of All, Sexual Abuse In Pacific Regions

Source

Medicitalia

You might also like