A Different Way to Look at Performance Anxiety

(This blog was originally posted on September 15, 2016)

Photo by Rick Hustead

Performance anxiety, or the fear of performing some task or behavior in front of other people, is a common phenomenon. Indeed, a majority of my hypnotherapy practice centers on helping clients overcome performance anxiety to some extent. Whether the person wants to increase confidence to speak or play an instrument in public, or overcome a “nervous stomach” before taking the field at a big game or horse show, performance anxiety is the culprit. Many people who come in to quit a tobacco habit or lose weight are initially surprised to learn that smoking/chewing tobacco or over-eating are replacement behaviors their subconscious mind uses to repress or stuff down this anxiety

What if the source of your performance anxiety has less to do with the specific activity you are about to do and is more about being evaluated for that performance? In her book titled The Power of the Herd, A Nonpredatory Approach to Social Intelligence, Leadership, and Innovation¹, Linda Kohanov theorizes that the source of this stress has more to do with the evaluation than the task. The Eponaquest LLC founder calls this phenomenon “evaluation apprehension,” and describes various physiological symptoms of anxiety that we associate with performance anxiety including increased blood pressure and pulse/heart-rate and rapid speech pattern. Above all else is that overwhelming fear that everyone in the room is hyper-critical of and negatively rating everything we do. She even explains that the most deleterious effect of evaluation apprehension is the way it inhibits our desire to learn or try something new for fear of receiving this negative response from others. 

When I read Kohanov’s take on performance anxiety, her concept of evaluation apprehension being the cause of this phenomenon really resonated with me. For example, it seems incongruous to hear that our favorite actor or dancer experiences severe “stage fright” before each performance despite having received the highest accolades for his or her work. What do they have to be afraid of when they have won every award there is for what they do? And yet, time and again they insist how much easier and preferable it is to do the work than to see the movie or a video of the performance, hear or read reviews about it later.

Her recognition of the “fear of the unknown” as a source of a person’s anxiety to try something new also dovetails with the Theory of Mind² that John Kappas, Ph.D., referenced in so much of his hypnotherapy work. According to the Hypnosis Motivation Institute founder, the subconscious part of the mind is uncomfortable about and resistant to doing new or different things even when the conscious mind (logic, reason, will-power/free-will and reasoning) says that it’s okay to do so. This resistance comes from the “knowns” (familiar stimuli) and that subconscious mental script we all carry around to protect us from real and perceived threats. If you have a subconscious mental script that keeps reinforcing the message that everyone really is judging and evaluating you—and you believe that this judgment is negative—of course you will avoid that situation at all costs. Since the subconscious mind works on expectation and imagination, over time, we learn to expect others to respond to and interact with us in a particular way based on that previous experience. 

With that in mind, I would suggest looking at the phenomenon of performance anxiety in the context of “evaluation apprehension.” In fact, I really already do that in my hypnotherapy practice as I teach clients various breathing techniques to increase their relaxation and imagery exercises so they can focus on all the things that can and will go right during the task. I also encourage clients to use memories of positive experiences/outcomes in similar situations to increase their self-confidence and self-esteem. Ultimately, when we are confident and relaxed doing the behavior, it is easier and even enjoyable to do the task and not even think about, let alone worry, what other people may think about our performance.

1.        Kohanov, Linda. The Power of the Herd: A Nonpredatory Approach to Social Intelligence, Leadership, and Innovation. New World Library: Novato, California. 2013. pp. 188-189

2.        Kappas, Ph.D., John G. Professional Hypnotism Manual: A Practical Approach for Modern Times (4^th Edition). Panorama Publishing Company: Tarzana, CA. 2001. pp. 10-13

Sara R. Fogan, C.Ht. is a certified hypnotherapist based in Southern California. She graduated with honors from the Hypnosis Motivation Institute in 2005. For more information about Calminsense Hypnotherapy® and to set up an appointment, please visit http://www.calminsensehypnotherapy.com/.

© 2017

Building Self-Esteem from a Negative Life-Script

(This blog was originally posted on May 2, 2016)

Photo by Rick Hustead

If a client has a limited mental script, it is important to use hypnotic suggestions to help create a new mental self-image. This individual would also benefit from learning about the Mental Bank Concept and using the Mental Bank ledger to reinforce those suggestions, advised John Kappas, Ph.D., founder of the Hypnosis Motivation Institute.

To start this process, explain the Theory of Mind and emphasize that any previous negative scripts or self-image (behaviors) can be re-learned, Dr. Kappas suggested. Remind the client that somewhere in the person’s background, the individual picked up or learned the unwanted behavior. Since all behavior (except reaction to fear of falling and reaction to fear of loud noises) is learned, the person can unlearn this unwanted behavior as well. It is also important to reassure the individual that he or she will match the potential positive changes or outcomes with the person’s capability to effect the desired change. “From this day forward, you are more valuable. You are successful, happy doing what you want to do,” the hypnotherapist said.

It is important for the client to be able to incorporate the self-image of success, happiness and prosperity as the basic foundation for his or her mental-bank goals. Therefore, while the individual is in hypnosis, the hypnotherapist should emphasize that the person’s confidence, self-confidence and self-esteem continue to steadily increase. “A new script will take you to new places. You’ll feel better about yourself, and your confidence will begin to grow,” Dr. Kappas said.

Sara R. Fogan, C.Ht. is a certified hypnotherapist based in Southern California. She graduated with honors from the Hypnosis Motivation Institute in 2005. For more information about Calminsense Hypnotherapy® and to set up an appointment, please visit http://www.calminsensehypnotherapy.com/.

© 2017

Caught Up in "Zoo"

(This blog was originally posted on September 8, 2016)

Photo by Rick Hustead

In 2015, James Patterson’s best-selling novel, Zoo, was brought to life as a prime-time television series courtesy of CBS. I had read and (mostly) enjoyed the novel. I was skeptical about how it would fare on television; specifically, would the producers and writer stay true to the original premise of the book whereby animals around the world started attacking and killing all the humans. In the book (spoiler alert), the animals’ pheromones trigger the assaults; the TV series featured a chemical in various pet foods that was to blame for this aberrant behavior. Both story-lines have an animals-finally-take-their-revenge theme. Sometimes it even feels good (Schadenfreude) to see/read how the “bad guys” get their comeuppance in the jaws of an African lion or a carriage horse runs away with the CEO of said pet-food company on board with his date. But, of course, a lot of innocent lives are lost in all this mayhem and the question remains: Can our hero/heroes save the day and the world by finding a cure for whatever is afflicting Earth’s fauna?

In my opinion, the television version of Zoo “jumped the shark” early this season as more and more outrageous (or, are they?) plot twists and characters that never existed in the book started showing up. To summarize: CBS’s version has animal/human hybrids (think werewolf-like creatures) with super-human strength—apparently this creature is the next stage of evolution of the bizarre virus/chemical that has infected the animals on our humble planet. Even the animals are afraid of these human-animal hybrids.) Then we find out that a genetic mutation is what actually has caused the behavior and monstrous transformations—and another character intentionally infected his son and wife with something that seems to have triggered this response. Or is it a cure? Meanwhile, a pride of saber-toothed cats still exists on a remote island whose blood would (theoretically) yield a cure to suppress this gene. But, can our intrepid heroes just get hold of that sample in time to save the world and evade that pack of hyena/wolf/ambiguous-scaly lizard-hybrids that are also stalking them. There are many more subplots going on and some of them are too complicated to explain in this blog. I started watching the series out of skeptical curiosity last year and was thoroughly fed up by the season finale on Tuesday night.

Eventually, very little of what went on in the series made sense; yet it made perfect sense in the context of being an entertaining yet slightly nonsensical, pseudo-scientific program. And no matter how hard I tried to resist getting “involved” with all that silliness, somehow, the more outrageous the plot became, the more interested (and hooked) I got, too. Fortunately, my training and experience as a hypnotherapist enabled me to see right through all of the hypnotic modalities the script-writers employed to engage viewers, which I also allowed myself to fall for. Here is my list of all the gimmicks that made Zoo such an addictive show for me:

·         All of the cast are attractive, which makes their incredible plight somehow “believable” and even credible in the context of this program. Also, their backstories and personalities are interesting enough to engage viewers and inspire a variety of emotions about their plight so that we can become emotionally invested in what happens to them.

·         The characters are all (conveniently) some kind of expert in his or her professional field and can talk their way into any government meeting/conference, laboratory or black-tie fete whenever needed. They use plenty of scientific terms and language that sounds legitimate enough to viewers that the theoretical models even make temporary sense. Indeed, all that technical jargon just rolls out of their mouths like they were placing an order at McDonald’s.

·         They even dress “appropriately” for their roles. One of the biologist/animal experts is always wearing a long oilskin coat, the government agent flashes relevant credentials whenever needed and, the Army Ranger totes a semi-automatic rifle or pistol everywhere she goes. The intrepid reporter who uncovered the animal-food conspiracy typically has some kind of computer or electronic device on her so she can hack into any kind of web-site or security system. Finally, the group of malevolent military personnel and scientists intent on taking over the world are all clad in uniforms that boast an impressive number of stripes and insignia, or white lab coats to intimidate and suggest authority.

·         There is always plenty of action—conflicts between the humans—or animal attacks/threats of animal attacks to keep viewers engaged with the story and wondering what will happen next to provide a significant sensory overload. Whether lovers are quarreling, the military is plotting world-wide domination, sons are negotiating with long-lost, absentee fathers or hostages are fending off attacks by ravenous polar bears, something is always going on.

Zoo featured all of the ingredients that make a fun hour or two of escape from reality. I, for one, actually hope it comes back next season so I can find out what really happened to poor Dr. Morgan…

Sara R. Fogan, C.Ht. is a certified hypnotherapist based in Southern California. She graduated with honors from the Hypnosis Motivation Institute in 2005. For more information about Calminsense Hypnotherapy® and to set up an appointment, please visit http://www.calminsensehypnotherapy.com/.

© 2017