What are the different degrees or stages of stage fright?

Answer 1

Stage fright can be both good and bad. Adrenaline can spur one person to do a very good job, or it can paralyze a person into the fearful "fight or flight" response.

Generally speaking, the symptoms of stage fright can occur singly or a mixture. Symptoms might include:

• Butterflies and general nervousness
• Sweaty palms and underarms
• A feeling of shakiness (not noticed by others) - to visible shakiness (example: the audience sees a paper shaking in the speaker's hands)
• Voice trembling or cracking
• Feeling faint - to actually fainting
• Feeling nauseated - to actually vomiting
• Feeling overly hot - to having a flushed (red) face with the perception of feeling too hot
• Feeling the room spinning or feeling like you'll topple over
• Perception of awkwardness - to actually being awkward (ex. tripping on one's own feet)
• Dry mouth (a response to increased adrenaline)
• Stammering
• Feeling unable to concentrate
• Feeling disorganized - to feeling "What I said didn't make any sense."
• Believing people in your audience are laughing at you or making fun of you.

Social anxiety is not restricted to one sex, age, race, etc. Almost everyone has experienced stage fright, fear when speaking in front of a group, and discomfort when having to perform.