Today we are going to talk to you about how to take care of your mental health as an actor. Being an actor is challenging because you experience rejection every day. A succession of unsuccessful auditions can undermine your self-worth and plunge you into depression. You’ll be in excellent spirits for the next audition if you know how to look after your mental well-being following an audition.
How to maintain motivation
You must feel excitement and pride when you perform in an audition or an acting class. Through difficult times, remember your motivation. You can convince yourself that being rejected is just a necessary step in moving closer to your goal. Additionally, you can convince yourself that nobody wins. Your favourite sports team likely lost a crucial game. They kept pushing themselves harder with each game. After each audition, you must see yourself in that light.
Managing audition anxiety
As you enter the audition space, you might hear your name called. Everything about your confidence shifts as you see casting directors waiting for you. This is due to the tightening, sweating, shaking, dry mouth, shortness of breath, and dizziness that occur as adrenaline rushes into your veins. This fight-or-flight reaction may cause anxiety attacks. If all of that energy is trapped, ignoring these sensations could even worsen them. When you perform in front of judges, be prepared for this kind of response. Remind yourself that casting directors cheer you on to succeed.
Whenever to consult a therapist
People frequently avoid treatment out of concern that it will make them seem frail. The fact is that talking to a third party who is objective about your issues can help anyone in treatment. You can find a therapist who offers a sliding scale to help with costs, and the majority of insurance plans cover mental health services. A therapist can help you determine why you enjoy what you do, cope with challenging obstacles, and implement changes. Your acting career could benefit from therapy.
Dealing with Rejection
Rejection is real for all actors. Even if you are talented and gave a stellar audition, another candidate may have done so. If becoming an actor is your dream, you should welcome rejection rather than dread it. We will do whatever it takes to stop this pain because none of us wants it. You must recognise the strength in rejection. Whatever your profession, not everything comes naturally to everyone. You might finally land the role you’ve always wanted after numerous rejections. Instead of making rejection your enemy, learn to love it.
Don’t be jealous
Comparing yourself to others in the industry is simple. In the audition room, you might eye other aspiring actors to get a sense of how they appear or how much experience they claim to have. You can also be afraid that your chance has passed since you remember how your favourite actor or actress got their start. Once you know the object of your jealousy, change your negative comment to a positive one. For instance, if you believe you are not talented or gifted enough, try replacing that belief with confidence. Out loud, read the affirmative and negative sentences to determine which one seems more powerful.
You should alter your goals
Actors put a lot of pressure on themselves. Find another goal to strive for rather than telling yourself that this is the moment that will determine or ruin your career. Make up a story in your head that this audition is merely a practise session. You can also use it to introduce your upcoming monologue to casting directors. You want to leave the audition feeling like you accomplished something, so concentrate entirely on that aim and make it your primary goal.
