How to Deal With Post-Audition Stress

Stress is a difficult thing to deal with in today's fast-paced society. When adding another factor to the normal high-paced routine, people can find that dealing with stress becomes increasingly more difficult. Dealing with stress after an audition can be manageable as long as you remember to do a few things to keep your head in order.

Things You'll Need

• Clear space on the floor
• Pillow

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Instructions

• 1

  Take a deep breath. Allowing yourself to breathe in deeply, inflating your abdomen first and then your lungs, will bring plenty of fresh, well-oxygenated air into your system. When you exhale, be sure to expel all of the air from your abdomen and lungs. Breathing in deeply promotes the intake of higher oxygen content, which allows the brain to function more efficiently. Good brain function will help you to find a sense of calm.

• 2

  Remove yourself from any environment that causes your stress level to peak. Retreat to a quiet space or an empty room to clear your mind. Take a few deep breaths in that tranquil, solitary space.

• 3

  Lay flat on the floor on your back, using a pillow; spread your arms and legs slightly, face your palms up, close your eyes. Take several deep breaths and allow your muscles to relax.

• 4

  Change your thoughts. Stress after an audition is usually related to negative thinking --- in regard to your performance or self-doubt about your abilities. Remind yourself that you did the best you could when you performed --- regardless of your performance skill or what you wish it could have been during your audition.

• 5

  Remind yourself of your strengths, as you take a few deep breaths. Recognize that your weaknesses are normal and a part of being human. Remind yourself that other opportunities will come along should this audition not go the way that you hoped, that all art is subjective, that sometimes things do not work out based on the situation --- not your own personal performance. Breathe deeply whenever you begin to feel overwhelmed; eliminate negative self-talk; and promote your strengths whenever you begin to feel heightened anxiety or stress.