Woodwind.OrgKeepersThe C4 standard

 
 
 New Topic  |  Go to Top  |  Go to Topic  |  Search  |  Help/Rules  |  Smileys/Notes  |  Log In   Previous Message  |  Next Message 
 Re: One in Four Classical Musicians Use Beta Blockers
Author: clarinetistra 
Date:   2006-03-27 20:19

I find the attitudes about beta blockers from those who don't suffer performance anxiety to be reminiscent of attitudes I've heard about anti-depressants. There isn't a huge stigma about taking drugs for asthma or hypertension, but there is a stigma regarding medicating clinical depression or anxiety- interesting, considering that all of these are physical ailments that have a component in mental and emotional stress.

Sure, I put performance anxiety on a different level than clinical depression or anxiety, but the fact remains that there are people who are technically, musically, artistically capable and who suffer performance anxiety despite their more than capable abilities. Different methods work for different people- therapy, relaxation techniques, valerian, a drink or a cigarette to calm the nerves, whatever.

I'm anti-drug in general, but when nothing else worked despite a heckuva lot of efforts, holistic, visualization, and otherwise, I tried beta blockers. Did wonders. No, I didn't feel like I was magically capable of anything I couldn't do in my practice room. Did it affect motor skills? Not anywhere that I noticed- but I had, repeatedly in the past, noticed that debilitating performance anxiety had hugely tightened me up enough to affect motor skills.

I never took BB's for every performance, only when other methods didn't seem to ease the anxiety enough. The bottle ran out months ago and I haven't had a chance to refill it, but have had many gigs since then. But over a year or two, they gave my body a chance to learn how to NOT go into an automatic, self-defeating response. I experienced a similar thing years ago with anti-depressants, where after 2 years of taking anti-depressants, experiencing life without debilitating depression, my body learned how to not go into that cycle without the use of drugs.

The body's an amazing thing, different people find different solutions. And for some, chemical imbalances make all but chemical solutions inoperable. I'm not saying that that's the case for everybody, or necessarily for 25% of the classical musicians out there, but I grow weary of hearing people who don't experience incurable anxiety criticize people who do. As someone wrote earlier, people who resort to beta blockers don't tend to do it before trying a heck of a lot of other methods first. The idea of being unfair for use in competitive venues... try not allowing people their morning coffee as well, and see how that goes over...
 Avail. Forums  |  Flat View   Newer Topic  |  Older Topic 

 Topics Author  Date
 One in Four Classical Musicians Use Beta Blockers  new
Ken Shaw 2006-03-24 17:10 
 Re: One in Four Classical Musicians Use Beta Blockers  new
crnichols 2006-03-24 17:37 
 Re: One in Four Classical Musicians Use Beta Blockers  new
LCL 2006-03-24 17:40 
 Re: One in Four Classical Musicians Use Beta Blockers  new
tictactux 2006-03-24 18:36 
 Re: One in Four Classical Musicians Use Beta Blockers  new
TonkaToy 2006-03-24 19:51 
 Re: One in Four Classical Musicians Use Beta Blockers  new
johng 2006-03-24 20:13 
 Re: One in Four Classical Musicians Use Beta Blockers  new
J. J. 2006-03-24 22:40 
 Re: One in Four Classical Musicians Use Beta Blockers  new
Super Mario 2006-03-24 23:20 
 Re: One in Four Classical Musicians Use Beta Blockers  new
J. J. 2006-03-25 01:09 
 Re: One in Four Classical Musicians Use Beta Blockers  new
Super Mario 2006-03-25 02:29 
 Re: One in Four Classical Musicians Use Beta Blockers  new
Gregory Smith 2006-03-25 02:41 
 Re: One in Four Classical Musicians Use Beta Blockers  new
Gregory Smith 2006-03-25 02:51 
 Re: One in Four Classical Musicians Use Beta Blockers  new
ginny 2006-03-25 06:45 
 Re: One in Four Classical Musicians Use Beta Blockers  new
J. J. 2006-03-25 02:58 
 Re: One in Four Classical Musicians Use Beta Blockers  new
tictactux 2006-03-25 08:36 
 Re: One in Four Classical Musicians Use Beta Blockers  new
Morrigan 2006-03-25 10:44 
 Re: One in Four Classical Musicians Use Beta Blockers  new
Markael 2006-03-25 11:28 
 Re: One in Four Classical Musicians Use Beta Blockers  new
tictactux 2006-03-25 11:44 
 Re: One in Four Classical Musicians Use Beta Blockers  new
ginny 2006-03-25 16:21 
 Re: One in Four Classical Musicians Use Beta Blockers  new
tictactux 2006-03-25 16:50 
 Re: One in Four Classical Musicians Use Beta Blockers  new
ginny 2006-03-25 17:43 
 Re: One in Four Classical Musicians Use Beta Blockers  new
ginny 2006-03-25 17:53 
 Re: One in Four Classical Musicians Use Beta Blockers  new
tictactux 2006-03-25 19:03 
 Re: One in Four Classical Musicians Use Beta Blockers  new
clarnibass 2006-03-25 19:24 
 Re: One in Four Classical Musicians Use Beta Blockers  new
Sylvain 2006-03-25 21:16 
 Re: One in Four Classical Musicians Use Beta Blockers  new
tictactux 2006-03-25 22:14 
 Re: One in Four Classical Musicians Use Beta Blockers  new
Mark Charette 2006-03-25 22:21 
 Re: One in Four Classical Musicians Use Beta Blockers  new
Sylvain 2006-03-25 22:30 
 Re: One in Four Classical Musicians Use Beta Blockers  new
Sylvain 2006-03-27 03:42 
 Re: One in Four Classical Musicians Use Beta Blockers  new
EEBaum 2006-03-25 22:59 
 Re: One in Four Classical Musicians Use Beta Blockers  new
ginny 2006-03-25 23:18 
 Re: One in Four Classical Musicians Use Beta Blockers  new
clarnibass 2006-03-26 04:04 
 Re: One in Four Classical Musicians Use Beta Blockers  new
tictactux 2006-03-26 08:34 
 Re: One in Four Classical Musicians Use Beta Blockers  new
Sylvain 2006-03-26 14:16 
 Re: One in Four Classical Musicians Use Beta Blockers  new
allencole 2006-03-26 16:22 
 Re: One in Four Classical Musicians Use Beta Blockers  new
Mary Jo 2006-03-26 18:34 
 Re: One in Four Classical Musicians Use Beta Blockers  new
3dogmom 2006-03-26 18:37 
 Re: One in Four Classical Musicians Use Beta Blockers  new
ginny 2006-03-26 19:26 
 Re: One in Four Classical Musicians Use Beta Blockers  new
EEBaum 2006-03-26 19:18 
 Re: One in Four Classical Musicians Use Beta Blockers  new
Ken Shaw 2006-03-26 19:52 
 Re: One in Four Classical Musicians Use Beta Blockers  new
crnichols 2006-03-26 20:14 
 Re: One in Four Classical Musicians Use Beta Blockers  new
Synonymous Botch 2006-03-27 10:28 
 Re: One in Four Classical Musicians Use Beta Blockers  new
allencole 2006-03-27 14:37 
 Re: One in Four Classical Musicians Use Beta Blockers  new
ginny 2006-03-27 17:00 
 Re: One in Four Classical Musicians Use Beta Blockers  new
ginny 2006-03-27 17:08 
 Re: One in Four Classical Musicians Use Beta Blockers  new
ginny 2006-03-27 17:15 
 Re: One in Four Classical Musicians Use Beta Blockers  new
Sylvain 2006-03-27 18:55 
 Re: One in Four Classical Musicians Use Beta Blockers  new
ginny 2006-03-27 20:12 
 Re: One in Four Classical Musicians Use Beta Blockers  new
tictactux 2006-03-27 20:32 
 Re: One in Four Classical Musicians Use Beta Blockers  new
Mark Charette 2006-03-27 20:59 
 Re: One in Four Classical Musicians Use Beta Blockers  new
tictactux 2006-03-28 05:29 
 Re: One in Four Classical Musicians Use Beta Blockers  new
clarinetistra 2006-03-27 20:19 
 Re: One in Four Classical Musicians Use Beta Blockers  new
Sylvain 2006-03-27 21:06 
 Re: One in Four Classical Musicians Use Beta Blockers  new
ginny 2006-03-27 21:24 
 Re: One in Four Classical Musicians Use Beta Blockers  new
Gregory Smith 2006-03-27 21:35 
 Re: One in Four Classical Musicians Use Beta Blockers  new
Gregory Smith 2006-03-27 21:50 
 Re: One in Four Classical Musicians Use Beta Blockers  new
Mary Jo 2006-03-27 21:36 
 Re: One in Four Classical Musicians Use Beta Blockers  new
diz 2006-03-27 22:08 
 Re: One in Four Classical Musicians Use Beta Blockers  new
EEBaum 2006-03-28 04:59 
 Re: One in Four Classical Musicians Use Beta Blockers  new
Gregory Smith 2006-03-28 05:13 
 Re: One in Four Classical Musicians Use Beta Blockers  new
clarnibass 2006-03-28 05:32 
 Re: One in Four Classical Musicians Use Beta Blockers  new
Gregory Smith 2006-03-28 05:44 
 Re: One in Four Classical Musicians Use Beta Blockers  new
EEBaum 2006-03-28 06:16 
 Re: One in Four Classical Musicians Use Beta Blockers  new
Gregory Smith 2006-03-28 07:03 
 Re: One in Four Classical Musicians Use Beta Blockers  new
ghuba 2006-03-28 12:34 
 Re: One in Four Classical Musicians Use Beta Blockers  new
TonkaToy 2006-03-28 13:45 
 Re: One in Four Classical Musicians Use Beta Blockers  new
Sylvain 2006-03-28 17:35 
 Re: One in Four Classical Musicians Use Beta Blockers  new
Gregory Smith 2006-03-28 18:35 
 Re: One in Four Classical Musicians Use Beta Blockers  new
Gregory Smith 2006-03-28 18:57 
 Re: One in Four Classical Musicians Use Beta Blockers  new
Brenda Siewert 2006-03-28 19:52 
 Re: One in Four Classical Musicians Use Beta Blockers  new
Gregory Smith 2006-03-28 20:06 
 Re: One in Four Classical Musicians Use Beta Blockers  new
Liquorice 2006-03-28 20:39 
 Re: One in Four Classical Musicians Use Beta Blockers  new
DaveF 2006-03-28 22:57 
 Re: One in Four Classical Musicians Use Beta Blockers  new
Meri 2006-03-28 22:36 
 Re: One in Four Classical Musicians Use Beta Blockers  new
johng 2006-03-28 22:37 
 Re: One in Four Classical Musicians Use Beta Blockers  new
Gregory Smith 2006-03-28 22:42 
 Re: One in Four Classical Musicians Use Beta Blockers  new
JessKateDD 2006-03-28 22:43 
 Re: One in Four Classical Musicians Use Beta Blockers  new
Sylvain 2006-03-28 22:52 
 Re: One in Four Classical Musicians Use Beta Blockers  new
Gregory Smith 2006-03-29 04:26 
 Re: One in Four Classical Musicians Use Beta Blockers  new
Gregory Smith 2006-03-29 04:36 
 Re: One in Four Classical Musicians Use Beta Blockers  new
Gregory Smith 2006-03-29 04:58 
 Re: One in Four Classical Musicians Use Beta Blockers  new
clarinetistra 2006-03-29 04:37 
 Re: One in Four Classical Musicians Use Beta Blockers  new
ginny 2006-03-29 05:55 
 Re: One in Four Classical Musicians Use Beta Blockers  new
tictactux 2006-03-29 07:27 
 Re: One in Four Classical Musicians Use Beta Blockers  new
Gregory Smith 2006-03-29 13:08 
 Re: One in Four Classical Musicians Use Beta Blockers  new
Mary Jo 2006-03-29 14:37 
 Re: One in Four Classical Musicians Use Beta Blockers  new
ginny 2006-03-29 15:50 
 Re: One in Four Classical Musicians Use Beta Blockers  new
ginny 2006-03-29 16:09 
 Re: One in Four Classical Musicians Use Beta Blockers  new
Gregory Smith 2006-03-29 16:47 
 Re: One in Four Classical Musicians Use Beta Blockers  new
BlockEyeDan 2006-03-29 18:40 
 Re: One in Four Classical Musicians Use Beta Blockers  new
Gregory Smith 2006-03-29 19:10 
 Re: One in Four Classical Musicians Use Beta Blockers  new
JessKateDD 2006-03-29 21:17 
 Re: One in Four Classical Musicians Use Beta Blockers  new
Gregory Smith 2006-03-29 23:10 
 Re: One in Four Classical Musicians Use Beta Blockers  new
Old Geezer 2006-03-29 23:39 
 Re: One in Four Classical Musicians Use Beta Blockers  new
ginny 2006-03-29 23:56 
 Re: One in Four Classical Musicians Use Beta Blockers  new
Gregory Smith 2006-03-30 00:29 
 Re: One in Four Classical Musicians Use Beta Blockers  new
ginny 2006-03-30 00:57 
 Re: One in Four Classical Musicians Use Beta Blockers  new
Gregory Smith 2006-03-30 01:06 
 Re: One in Four Classical Musicians Use Beta Blockers  new
mtague 2006-03-30 01:19 
 Re: One in Four Classical Musicians Use Beta Blockers  new
JessKateDD 2006-03-30 01:38 
 Re: One in Four Classical Musicians Use Beta Blockers  new
george 2006-03-30 02:35 
 Re: One in Four Classical Musicians Use Beta Blockers  new
Gregory Smith 2006-03-30 02:54 
 Re: One in Four Classical Musicians Use Beta Blockers  new
EEBaum 2006-03-30 08:06 
 Re: One in Four Classical Musicians Use Beta Blockers  new
Andy 2006-03-30 08:35 
 Re: One in Four Classical Musicians Use Beta Blockers  new
ohsuzan 2006-03-30 12:06 
 Re: One in Four Classical Musicians Use Beta Blockers  new
clarnibass 2006-03-30 13:02 
 Re: One in Four Classical Musicians Use Beta Blockers  new
Sylvain 2006-03-30 13:57 
 Re: One in Four Classical Musicians Use Beta Blockers  new
Brenda Siewert 2006-03-30 15:10 
 Re: One in Four Classical Musicians Use Beta Blockers  new
ghuba 2006-03-30 16:22 
 Re: One in Four Classical Musicians Use Beta Blockers  new
Mark Charette 2006-03-30 16:41 
 Re: One in Four Classical Musicians Use Beta Blockers  new
ghuba 2006-03-30 17:19 
 Re: One in Four Classical Musicians Use Beta Blockers  new
ginny 2006-03-30 16:06 
 Re: One in Four Classical Musicians Use Beta Blockers  new
Gregory Smith 2006-03-30 16:42 
 Re: One in Four Classical Musicians Use Beta Blockers  new
Gregory Smith 2006-03-30 19:15 
 Re: One in Four Classical Musicians Use Beta Blockers  new
Sylvain 2006-03-30 21:29 
 Re: One in Four Classical Musicians Use Beta Blockers  new
ginny 2006-03-30 23:05 
 Re: One in Four Classical Musicians Use Beta Blockers  new
sherman 2006-03-31 14:45 
 Re: One in Four Classical Musicians Use Beta Blockers  new
tictactux 2006-03-31 19:19 
 Re: One in Four Classical Musicians Use Beta Blockers  new
Carol Dutcher 2006-03-31 19:33 
 Re: One in Four Classical Musicians Use Beta Blockers  new
3dogmom 2006-03-31 20:34 
 Re: One in Four Classical Musicians Use Beta Blockers  new
DaveF 2006-04-01 08:57 
 Re: One in Four Classical Musicians Use Beta Blockers  new
tictactux 2006-04-01 11:24 
 Re: One in Four Classical Musicians Use Beta Blockers  new
EEBaum 2006-04-02 00:13 
 Re: One in Four Classical Musicians Use Beta Blockers  new
CK 2006-04-02 18:14 


 This thread is closed 
Search Woodwind.Org

Sheet Music Plus Featured Sale

The Clarinet Pages
For Sale
Put your ads for items you'd like to sell here. Free! Please, no more than two at a time - ads removed after two weeks.

 
     Copyright © Woodwind.Org, Inc. All Rights Reserved    Privacy Policy    Contact charette@woodwind.org