Need Help Strong fear of public performances

[aokorn]

I dont mind a public of garbage as long as they stay in thier place

You're a joker!

My personal opinion is that those who come to listen to classical guitar deserve my respect. And I want to give them the best I can.

 

[aokorn]

Propanalol my friend

Thank you for your feedback.

I don't think propranolol (or any other beta blocker) is enough. I speak from experience. Beta blockers do reduce physical tremors (shaking, sweating, etc.), but they do not reduce the fear and panic of performing.
As I wrote above (#12), I have already tried bromazepam (3mg) and I have to say that it is very encouraging...

 

[MedicinalUser247]

If it were me I'd take 0.5mg.s of Xanax and 40mg.s Propranolol.

 

[golego55]

Thank you rentedbythehour for sharing your experience. I understand the message behind it.

I firmly decided to take half of the Bromazepam just half an hour before the show. So far, it looks like I will have three gigs in three months. That's three 3mg tablets. I bought 20 6mg tablets. By the time I would theoretically use them up, they will have expired.

Added to that, I have improved a lot recently in the quality of my guitar playing. I have time and I play every day for at least two hours. Sometimes up to six hours. I think I still have reserves and I'm looking forward to the 'journey'.

It would be a real shame to waste this opportunity that nature has given me.

 

[ks1]

What he says.
Don’t take a benzo and enjoy your performance. This is rad.
Do try out propranolol

 

[aokorn]

I've made quite a few public guitar appearances in my life so far. During this time I have got to know myself to the point where I can now conclude that my performances are not and will never be relaxed and reflect my true mastery of the classical guitar. I would venture to estimate that at that time, at most, one third of my total knowledge was visible. Two thirds are victims of my nervousness. It is quite frustrating. With the help of the benzo, this percentage is much lower. About one quarter less than my real knowledge. Very encouraging and worth using.

Of course, there is a risk because of the possibility of 'misusing' benzo for other purposes. We know that we humans are stressed on an almost daily basis, and what better way to fight than to reach for a pill and put ourselves in a good mood?

Many people have already started with one pill. In the past, so have I.

So I'm going to try to get through that one day of gig-headache and then get on with life unmasked.

 

[JohnnyVodka]

Do they really? Is that the accepted wisdom?

Just wondering as I've known of a fair few people who have used propranolol successfully as and when required - but I'm relatively unaware of all things betablocker tbh (except that they tend to help with the physical effects of anxiety over the mental ones)

It depends what it's been taken for. If it's for anxiety, then you can take them as required. But for other issues (like high blood pressure) you need to take them regularly on a schedule.

 

[ageingpartyfiend]

It depends what it's been taken for. If it's for anxiety, then you can take them as required. But for other issues (like high blood pressure) you need to take them regularly on a schedule.

makes sense thanks - was wondering as have known a few peopl take them as and when required for anxiety with good results

I've made quite a few public guitar appearances in my life so far. During this time I have got to know myself to the point where I can now conclude that my performances are not and will never be relaxed and reflect my true mastery of the classical guitar. I would venture to estimate that at that time, at most, one third of my total knowledge was visible. Two thirds are victims of my nervousness. It is quite frustrating. With the help of the benzo, this percentage is much lower. About one quarter less than my real knowledge. Very encouraging and worth using.

Of course, there is a risk because of the possibility of 'misusing' benzo for other purposes. We know that we humans are stressed on an almost daily basis, and what better way to fight than to reach for a pill and put ourselves in a good mood?

Many people have already started with one pill. In the past, so have I.

So I'm going to try to get through that one day of gig-headache and then get on with life unmasked.

Check out some extended breath (outbreath longer than inbreath for a while) techniques before performing - have known plenty people that this has helped bigtime in similar circumstances

 

[aokorn]

Check out some extended breath (outbreath longer than inbreath for a while) techniques before performing - have known plenty people that this has helped bigtime in similar circumstances

I have also tried something in this direction. But to be honest, it hasn't helped much. I think it comes more under Far Eastern esotericism, which doesn't 'click' with me.

 

[ageingpartyfiend]

I have also tried something in this direction. But to be honest, it hasn't helped much. I think it comes more under Far Eastern esotericism, which doesn't 'click' with me.

Nothing to do with eastern esotericism tbh, it's to do with the ratio of oxygen/carbon dioxide in bloodstream and effect on sympathetic/parasympathetic nervous system and some of the techs literally cannot fail to relax you somewhat, without drugs, in four minutes.

But each to their own of course

 

[stardust.hero]

A combo of a benzo and a beta blocker. Benzo for mental anxiety, beta blocker blocks physical anxiety symptoms by stopping adrenaline. You can get beta blockers easily from any primary care.

 

[aokorn]

A combo of a benzo and a beta blocker. Benzo for mental anxiety, beta blocker blocks physical anxiety symptoms by stopping adrenaline. You can get beta blockers easily from any primary care.

As I have already written, I already take benzodiazepines. Bisoprolol 10mg. It was prescribed for high blood pressure and I take it regularly.

With benzos, it's complicated. I have sent an email to the doctor and outlined the problem. I know he read the email but did not reply to me.
Apparently he does not consider my problem important or worthy of consideration.

So I decided and looked into the internet to help in my own way. And was successful in doing so.

 

[Señor Moreno]

I have no experience with it, but have heard good things about phenibut for those situations, maybe people with first hand experiences could chime in and tell you how much and when to dose and what to expect.
Just an idea, tho

 

[aokorn]

I have no experience with it, but have heard good things about phenibut for those situations, maybe people with first hand experiences could chime in and tell you how much and when to dose and what to expect.
Just an idea, tho

I have done some research here on Bluelight on phenibut. It looks like this is one rather heavy thing. Of course, it might hit the point. But Bromazepam is not bad either.

I am at risk when it comes to drugs... I know that from my past on opioids. I don't want to complicate my life.

 

[mainmemberactor]

I don't turn to drugs for every challenge any more but I did well on propanolol ,but deep and mindful breathing,knowing people aren't as critical as we get the mindset for them to be,know that when you get into the groove,you will revel in adulation

or if you have the time to accept people may be as critical as you expect them to be, you can reason why they may be that way and the suffering they may have to accompany that, love breaks through and increased empathy in my public experiences gets rid of these feelings eventually, i would say only 1 in 5 of my public performances in the last year do i feel 50% that way still, when a few years ago it was 100% of the time. Note I did spend a lot of time in self loving contemplation of instances and letting the subconscious cringe come up and flow and let it go, instead of bottling it down or having denial or ignorant it to not be a possibliity, of which are also tactics but i have excellent public performances so i would say my method is pretty good (at least for me)

 

[Jnowhere]

You're a joker!

My personal opinion is that those who come to listen to classical guitar deserve my respect. And I want to give them the best I can.

Yeah, classical guitar and any substance that could possibly cause a compromise in coordination, is not a good idea.

A public performance ( I am assuming, a solo performance) is going to be a much scarier than public speaking.

I used to listen to a classical music station a lot. I really liked classical guitar and realize that a benzo( unless you are use to them) could cause issues of missing notes and panicking and getting lost.

Then trying to recover could cause a panic attack or just a sub par performance and not noticing or caring.

 

[aokorn]

Well, it happened. Yesterday I did a solo performance in front of a not-so-large audience, of which I didn't actually know anyone. I still don't know if that's an advantage or not. It was a gathering to celebrate the 70th anniversary of a former colleague of mine. He wanted the "Spanish romance" and then I added "Cavatina" from the film The Deer Hunter.

The place where the event was held was not very big, which is an advantage with classical guitar (if there is no sound system). People could hear every single note - otherwise I play with artificial nails and quite strongly.

Of course, half an hour earlier I had taken 3mg Bromazepam. It's really amazing how quickly the pill takes effect...after ten minutes I was feeling the effect. To break the ice before the actual playing, I did one little spoken introduction to both songs. The playing went smoothly, with a few mistakes, but I don't think they spoiled the overall effect. But I have to say that playing it was not the same as playing by myself during practice. But better than playing without 'help'.

It's really amazing how for every problem that exists in this world, scientists have invented a remedy that seems to objectively help. Even if it is the fear of public performance...