Performance Anxiety: When the Fear of Failing Takes Over

Ever felt your heart race, your hands sweat, or your mind go blank right before an important meeting, exam, or presentation?

That’s performance anxiety: a common and very human response when the pressure to do well feels overwhelming.

Psychologically, it's the fear of not meeting expectations (others' or your own). It can show up in school, at work, in sports, even in romantic or sexual situations.

Your brain perceives the situation as a threat, activating your fight-or-flight system, even if you’re just walking into a Zoom meeting.

Here’s what can help:

1. Prepare, but don't over-prepare: perfectionism fuels anxiety.

   
   

2. Focus on the process, not the outcome: staying present helps.

   
   

3. Challenge your inner critic: you’re not your performance.

   
   

4. Breathe: slow breathing calms the nervous system.

   
   

Performance anxiety doesn't mean you're not capable. It often means you care.

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