Everything You Need To Know About Propranolol and Alcohol

Anxiety is a feeling of unease, commonly caused by having worrying thoughts about things that are about to happen or things that might happen in the future. Anxiety and worry are normal bodily responses. For example, you may feel worried about an interview or having a medical test. But for some people they find it hard to control their worries and these feelings of anxiety can become constant, affecting their daily lives and may even result in panic attacks.
Performance anxiety (also known as situational anxiety) relates to any situation in which you feel anxious when performing. This doesn’t exclusively mean performing in front of an audience or crowd, as it can apply to performing a relatively simple task in public. This anxiety usually stems from a belief of not being able to perform the task adequately, and then being judged negatively by others as a result.
Performance anxiety is a common condition, which is often classified as a social phobia. Performance anxiety or ‘stage fright’ can affect a wide array of people, including; surgeons, actors, athletes, students, pilots, and public speakers.
While most people will feel a level of anxiety when performing in public, for those with performance anxiety, this trepidation is intensified to the extent where the performer is intensely mindful of humiliation, embarrassment, and public scrutiny. This fear can cause the sufferer to freeze, making them unable to perform the task at hand.
Performance anxiety has led some sufferers to abandon successful careers. In other cases, sufferers may choose to self-medicate with alcohol or recreational drugs.
When you’re anxious or stressed, your body releases hormones, such as cortisol and adrenaline. These hormones result in physical symptoms of anxiety. The most common physical symptoms of performance anxiety include;
These physical symptoms will often lead to secondary psychological symptoms, which can include:
Anxiety can be caused by various conditions, such as panic disorders or post-traumatic stress disorder. If these symptoms occur on a regular basis or if you are unsure as to what’s causing your anxiety, speak with your doctor.
A small amount of anxiety usually doesn’t cause any problems for most people. For
Long-term or severe
Before opting for treatment it will be necessary to be diagnosed by your doctor. This evaluation will help look for any contributing causes of your anxiety symptoms. This can include:
It is advised to discuss with your doctor about all the potential causes and available treatments for your anxiety. Your GP will likely recommend trying non-drug approaches before opting for a medicinal treatment, such as beta-blockers. Using a beta-blocker should only be considered after all the potential risks and benefits have been thoroughly explained to you.
Before opting to treat performance anxiety with medication, it may be recommended to attempt non-drug approaches first. This can include cognitive behaviour techniques that aim to help the sufferer manage their performance anxiety. These techniques can include performance practice, as the associated anxiety may stem from not having mastered the required skills. Meditation is another technique that, for some, has proved beneficial. It works by clearing the mind and regulating breathing.
You can also consider using online mental health services, which, in some cases, are available on the NHS. To find out more ask your GP or mental health professional for further information.
If these techniques prove unsuccessful, using the beta-blocker
If taken an hour before performing, Propranolol will reliably ease symptoms, such as a pounding heart, and trembling voice or hands.
Other beta-blockers are not appropriate for use to help treat performance anxiety as they work in a different way, making them less effective.
If using Propranolol to treat performance anxiety, the risk of experiencing side effects is low. This is due to the medication only being used intermittently and at lower doses when compared with treating other conditions.
Preventing performance anxiety isn’t always possible. However, practicing the non-medicinal cognitive behaviour techniques is often the most effective form of prevention.
Cognitive
If the anxiety relates to a lack of confidence, practicing the upcoming performance will help build confidence and reduce the associated anxiety. As your confidence builds, begin to introduce a small audience into your practice by using friends or family.
Using breathing techniques and meditation will relax the body and mind, which will help lower your heart rate and control your breathing. Performance anxiety can be
Non-medicinal alternatives to treat anxiety
You could also try "talking therapy" speak to your GP and they can let you know what's available locally to you and help decide which treatment would be most effective for you.
Non-prescription alternate treatments:
There are many over the counter products that you can purchase at your pharmacy. Some include; Kalms, Rescue Remedy and even vitamins such as St. John's Wort.
Or browse all treatments or conditions