Understanding & Conquering Stage Fright

Stage fright — technically called glossophobia — affects an estimated 75 percent of people to some degree. When you stand before an audience, your brain's amygdala interprets the scrutiny of many eyes as a potential threat, triggering a fight-or-flight response. Your heart races, palms sweat, and throat tightens. Understanding that this reaction is a normal, ancient survival mechanism — not a personal weakness — is the first step toward managing it. Even seasoned performers experience nervous energy; the difference is they have learned to channel it.