Anxiety is a universal and evolutionary emotion that we all experience. Anxiety experienced at an optimal level has a function of both motivating us and protecting us from dangers and threats. Unfortunately, however, in some cases, the anxiety we experience can go far beyond this optimal level and/or be much more intense than the actual threat.
One of the most common areas of anxiety we encounter is performance anxiety. As its name suggests, performance anxiety represents the anxiety felt towards a certain activity. For example, making a presentation in front of a group, giving a speech, having a job interview, taking an important exam, performing in dance and music are all situations that can cause some degree of stress and anxiety in all of us. However, in an individual experiencing performance anxiety, the intensity of the anxiety is much more intense than the level that will positively affect the person’s success and provide motivation. Individuals experiencing performance anxiety feel a considerable amount of tension due to being evaluated by others, and they experience this tension and anxiety at both cognitive, physiological and behavioral levels.
When considered at a cognitive level, we see that performance anxiety is linked to negative, dysfunctional cognitions. Thoughts and beliefs such as ‘I am inadequate, I cannot do it, I will fail, people will not like my performance, I will be disgraced’ can cause a person’s anxiety to increase and have a detrimental effect on performance.
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On a physiological level, these people often complain of anxiety-related physical complaints such as sweating, flushing, increased heart rate, rapid breathing, tremors, and gastrointestinal problems. Such physical complaints can cause both significant discomfort and fear that others will notice and embarrass them.
In the behavioral dimension of performance anxiety, the mostly dysfunctional behavioral patterns that people exhibit in order to cope with this anxiety can be remarkable. In particular, individuals who think that they cannot cope with anxiety may tend to escape and/or avoid situations that will cause anxiety. In the case of avoidance, the person tries to stay as far away from the situation in which they will perform as possible. Sometimes, especially if escape-avoidance is not possible, they may try to exhibit their performance by taking some precautions.
Performance anxiety is frequently observed in individuals and professional groups that are in the public eye. Intense performance anxiety can also have a detrimental effect on a person’s mental processes such as focus, attention, and memory, and can result in a decrease in performance. This can lead to professional problems and negative feelings such as unhappiness, depression, and inadequacy. In short, it can have a detrimental effect on an individual’s functionality and quality of life. For this reason, it is very important for someone experiencing performance anxiety to consult a professional who is an expert in the field without wasting time.
