Imagine you're about to give a speech in front of your whole class. Your heart starts pounding, and suddenly it feels like everyone can hear your thoughts. That's stage fright, it happens when people feel very nervous about performing in front of others.
It all begins with the fight-or-flight response, which is how our body gets ready to face danger. When you're on stage, your brain thinks you're in a tough situation, so it sends out signals that make your heart beat faster and your hands shake. Some people feel this more than others because their brains react differently.
Examples
- A boy gets so nervous before his class presentation that he forgets all the words he memorized.
- A teacher’s voice becomes shaky as they start their lecture, because they’re afraid of making a mistake.
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See also
- Why Do People Feel ‘Anxious’ in Crowded Places?
- Why Do People Often Believe in Conspiracy Theories?
- Why Do We Yawn When We're Tired?
- Why Do Some People Hear Music in Their Heads?
- Why Do People Get Stressed Out by the Same Things Over and Over?
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Categories: Psychology · anxiety,public speaking,performance anxiety