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Re: relaxing

Author: Vallemar2
Date: 2009-02-06 20:34

As long as no one is testing musicians for "performance enhancing drugs" I do occasionally prescribe a low dose beta blocker or tiny dose of ativan (it's like valium only generally "lighter" and not as long acting) for patients before a big performance.
Of course too much of either can be a disaster and I would recommend trying it out a few times well in advance of the big day.
I have found that even though the beta blocker reduces the physical aspects of anxiety (the tremor and the rapid heart rate) that there is a certain amount of psychological feedback from suppressing these somatic manifestations of fear. Mental calmness can result from physical relief; not just the other way around.
It's not a first line approach of course; practicing to the point of "ingrained in muscle memory" and use of appropriate mental imagery is certainly preferable to chemically aided states of relaxation.
Or if the banana sandwich doesn't help.

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relaxing new

jrestes

2009-01-30 20:04