Anxiety removes me from the present. Nerves and fear are the body’s self-defence mode, but sometimes self-preservation gets carried away and anxiety disorder kicks in. And I’ve found one of the best methods for training my mind to live in the here-and-now is theatre.
Through my work in improvisation, devised theatre, and stage and film acting, I’ve gained insight into my own anxiety struggle. Five basic tenets of acting can be directly applied to coping with anxiety.