Thanks for being so open and honest about your anxiety. People who do not have anxiety and/or panic attacks have no idea. I think you're onto something with things being better since you're on a schedule. ❤

Having anxiety about having anxiety is the cruelest part - I totally relate to that, and it's something you can only understand if you've been through it. Sending you all the best.

I had panic attacks for most of my life and totally relate to this. It was to the point I couldn't leave the house without having one. I hope you're able to soak in the experience and enjoy it without the anxiety being too terribly disruptive. The anxiety about having anxiety is so real and hard to overcome. I have no advice to give, just true empathy as someone who has been there.

Anxiety about having anxiety. Scared you’ll be anxious. Suffered from this for years. Accepting that you may become anxious, accepting the discomfort (seeing discomfort as just another human feeling, valid as any other), and if you become anxious, allowing every feeling and riding with them. Physical symptoms are awful, but every single sensation is valid. The body is wise. Discomfort is as natural of a feeling as comfort is. We are built to feel and get through discomfort. Let the body do what it needs to. Be with it. Allow everything that comes up.

Nat, this is exactly how my brain works and I’ve never heard someone else say my exact thought. You’re a queen for sharing

Natalie, there will never be a time when you are not one of the best vocalists of all time. You’re so talented and you have fans that will always love you. I struggle with anxiety and performance anxiety despite my love for it, but keep going! Breathing, relax your muscles, and remember to take the break when you need it. You are doing so well as The Witch!!!

Your video is ME. All of it. It is so hard to get out of my head sometimes. One anxious thought for me snowballs until I'm out of control. During panic attacks I sweat big time and then I am panicked about how much I'm sweating! Therapy and meds do help but when you're in the middle of an attack it just feels overwhelming. I try to say 'this too shall pass' to get me thru. I see you. I hear you. Thanks so much for posting this.

OMG! That's so relatable! By the end of my undergraduate degree I'd have such hard time as well with anxiety attacks sometimes I could not even hear any faculty 's voice or even see the class building. I still have frequent blows of anxiety whenever I have to speak in public, specially if it's a topic that can be debated or when I think I might not be doing a good job. But I found out that, in my case, it originates from the urge to please pleople so that I can feel approved and always naturally requiring myself the highest standards in everything even when I know it's not necessary. I have been doing therapy for about a decade now and I have a very dependable group ou kindred spirits to hold on to as well. It helps a lot. I hope you manage to grow a "peacefuller" relation with your anxiety and be able to accept and even shelter it as a part of who you are in your narrative as a person. I know it's hard specially when it is triggering, but try not to be so hard on yourself or require so much of yourself. Breathing and keep your life going is enough and is already a lot. It's another detail in your life. And maybe it helps to remind that other people's "detail" is that they are dishonest, they deceive people consciously in their sole benefit and they do harm to contless people and are not giving a sh*t about it. Let's hold on to each other and be nicer to ourselves!

Oh honey oh honey I am sending you a giant hug. I totally understand the fear of panic attacks on stage. Take care of yourself. You will fucking kill it. It's so hard to get out of the anxious mindset. Sending you love. As Sierra Bogges would say, "You are enough. You are enough. It's amazing how enough you are."

This world has been crazy as f**k these past few years, you have to consider that. I completely understand looking calm while having an anxiety attack. Thank you for posting this! ❤️

@DanielMaia

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exactly! i feel like everybody is dealing with a little bit of "trauma" bc of everything that happend in the last years. the pandemic put us in this mindset of "the world is ending" and i feel that nobody is 100% out of that mindset now even thoug it is already over.

You’re amazing! Sometimes people think that if you’re professional/talented/skilled that you don’t ever struggle. You beautifully put into words what so many people struggle with every day. Thanks for sharing this part of your journey

i was avoiding to watch this video bc i was afraid that see you talking about it would be a trigger for me bc i also have anxiety. but it actually made me feel better bc see that someone like you who is a huge inspiration for me, dealing with the same stuff i deal with, makes me understand that i am not doing anything wrong and feel less ashamed of it. i relate so much to all the experiences you talked about in this video, when you talked about trying to remember what made you enjoy performing in the first place, hited me so hard bc i also feel the same way a lot of times. i miss enjoying singing and performing, bc recently everything related to my music carrer just makes me anxious and i feel bad that i can't actually enjoy doing this. and the reason why i chose to be a singer was exactly bc i wanted to do something that i enjoyed but it is so stressfull sometimes. i am really greatful for you being honest and sharing your vulnerabilities with us bc sometimes i feel like i am the only one going through this, thank u so much! i really hope that we can be resilient and learn everyday how to be more calm and how to be more in controll of our emotions and thoghts. knowing that i am not alone gives me more peace, thank u Natalie, you also are not alone

I'm really grateful that you made this video. You have no idea what this means to me. I hope that things are getting better for you!

This was so amazing to watch, suffering from anxiety myself I don’t realize how many people have the same thoughts, especially as performers. Thank you for this! I’m definitely going to come back to this video a million times for reassurance.

Thank you 1000% for this Natalie!!!!! It's given me so much light knowing that I'm not alone

You have no idea how affirming this is. Thank you!! Your vulnerability is BEAUTIFUL. ❤

I’m so glad you posted this. So much food for thought. Sending love - anxiety is truly terrifying…it is refreshing to hear the thought process of such a beloved person in the music/theater community and know we’re truly not alone ❤️

Thank you for sharing the real struggle of a performing artist. I’m so happy you are beginning to feel better. You are truly brave for sharing the real you. That’s what makes you a special person and great performer!

Appreciate this so much and am wishing/sending you more relief and peace. 🌿🌸

This was so amazing, seriously, thank you for not only showcasing the importance of mental health, but its connection with performance art and music. By seeing someone as talented as you share their experience, it makes a world of difference to someone like me.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. I have a young performer who loves everything you do. For you to open up and express everything she goes through is ironically so comforting knowing you are not alone. You put it so well thank you for speaking on mental health.

Thank you for being vulnerable Natalie. It is not easy. Rooting for you so hard!!

The internet is going to give you a huge collective hug. I know this exact feeling - especially the spiral ... and the throw up thing and the YAWNING which has actually caused me to pass out because I was hyperventilating. The way you were talking through the first part of the video is actually a big way for me to get myself OUT of anxiety attacks- when i name it and share with those around me that its happening it helps to subside it. Thanks for sharing this

Thank you for this! I hope this helps you as much as I needed this right now

Thanks for sharing your feelings and being able to explain and describe in such a succinct way what it is like to experience anxiety.

Praying for you 🙏 My heart goes out to you! I have had panic attacks recently. I pray that you will not just feel peace, but experience joy!

Wow I had no idea you dealt with this! I had crippling anxiety 12 years ago and it was horrific! I have been in meds ever since. I also did extensive counseling because I had no good coping skills. I am so glad you are bringing this to light! I love you even more!

Brava to you for facing the shame component of anxiety and making this video!! It’s a sucky truth that the same driving force that makes you/us so amazingly thoughtful and creative and driven also has an ugly head that creates these symptoms, because it’s so challenging to figure out how to shut that off or maneuver it.

Thank you. I’ve been having awful anxiety about performing for years after an injury that caused tons of chronic pain and some major setbacks with my vocal technique. Knowing that someone as talented and technically proficient as you deals with this too is sad, but also genuinely helpful. You are going to kill it in this show.

Wow, I am blown away by your vulnerability, honesty and courage. I wish I knew you so you could reach out for an ear. I also wish I could be in the audience to cheer you on. One step at a time. Pulling for you 🙏🏻

Thank you thank you for making this.. don’t know how many people you saved 🙏🏾🙏🏾

I can't tell you how relatable this is. So relatable I almost cried lol. Where you talked about how you'de get anxious and start feeling nauseous, then start feeling anxious about feeling nauseous, and it became almost a self-fulfilling prophecy-- I 100% have had that. Went through a time where that cycle of nausea was getting so bad that I couldn't be in public anymore and it was interfering with my life. Then I went on a (relatively low) dose of medication for anxiety...and it worked so much like you said. My anxiety was just gone. And I had been so worried about having that veil over me and it changing my personality. But it really just seemed to curb the lowest of the lows, if I ever felt I was starting to get there, it's like it would just..stop. Like it nipped it in the bud. Everything else about me felt fine. It saved my life for sure! But It's amazing to hear someone had such a similar experience. Thank you for speaking about this.

Thank you so much for being so open and vulnerable about your anxiety! It is so helpful to other people to hear your story. ❤️ I can also relate to your story. I am looking forward to meeting you tomorrow in AZ for your master class!!

I felt all of this Natalie. You're not alone. That breathless feeling is the worst.

You have helped me many times with your honestly in your videos.

I needed to hear this today. Thanks Natalie

You are so amazing!! You are so talented, you can do it!!!

THANK YOU for posting this❤️❤️❤️

Thank you souch for this Natalie!💖💖💖💖💖

Baby thank you for sharing this, you got this remember to meditate a few times a day anywhere you can to balance yourself out

Beautiful and gifted Natalie Thank you for sharing your symptoms of anxiety You are going to be alright Always think of positive things Have you tried meditation ? Always have time to relax Like in the weekend Relax don’t do anything Like rehearsals Instead do things to make you Happy go shopping go to the spa go to nature listen to your favorite music go out with friends Life is not about working all the time Life is a balance the main thing is for you to take care of yourself first . One of these days I want to see you live in Broadway I found you with Clark Beckham long time ago when you were doing Breaking down the riffs And I know you have the most amazing voice and I am a huge fan .

Wow, I can relate to everything you said... Thank you for this, I really feel less alone! :)

I love you for this. Thank you.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you.

Keep going, you are still amazing. Thank you for sharing

its hard to imagine, that such an immense talent like you can get stuck in the same wheels that im struggling with everyday, and how you can even struggle to get a job with the amount of talent you have, wow, im speechless. i live in canada and most vocal teachers ive been to know of you. you are famous worlwide.

This is so relevant to me right now... thank you for sharing this

Im on antidepressants and once you find a GOOD psychiatrist, and get on the right meds for you, it really doesn’t make you lose yourself. You’re just way more able to handle life on them. Thank you for sharing!

Thank you for your courage!

totally relate about the face flushing- it’s super annoying. as you know, so many performers have severe mental illness and we all go through this. it’s debilitating. for my physical anxiety symptoms, dbt techniques have been the most effective. finding ways to activate your parasympathetic nervous system is the only thing that you can do sometimes (splashing cold water on your face, etc). sometimes the rehearsal process is awful and then as soon as you go on stage it melts away; sometimes it’s completely the opposite. thank you for being transparent about this.

Natalie, thanks so much for sharing! Have you tried meditating with the headspace app? I’m not working for them or anything but it has helped me so much on my journey. Acceptance is really powerful. It might help you to embrace the running thoughts and say to yourself: It’s okay to be anxious. It’s okay to have these thoughts. What we resist persists. All the best to you. I know you will absolutely kill it!

Huh. Thank you for sharing this! I always assumed that if you were actually really good at something the anxiety would also (magically) go away, or at least be less, because you know you've got it.. ( I always get most anxious if I know I probably don't 'got it'.)

I have a mental illness (BPD) and recently also anxiety. That and working in a corporation is really challenge, especially when I have an attack and I am not capable of working for a few hours. Even I am an attention seeker, I could NEVER do your job. I admire your dedication to the profession and your courage to share this. Hopefully we will be able to remove the stigma of mental illness once and for all.

Hey Natalie hope you are doing better. You are an amazing singer and I am looking forward to your next video 👍

Been in similar situations and empathise with you. Just sending you tonnes of love. Please do reach out if you want someone non-judgemental to talk about it. Love from the UK xxx

@TheBritishActingCoach

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Expanding now I've got to the end! ROUTINE! Just helps so much hey. My last job just lacked routine in every sense and I think I'm still dealing with the emotional and physical stress it caused. Fascinating isn't it?! Sending you love! x

thank you for sharing this! I'm a female entrepreneur and this resonates in all the ways

You saying will I ever be good enough????!!!! A literal máster 😵‍💫!!!!!!

You are amazing! ❤️❤️❤️

as far as my experience goes with anxiety, which was short, I can tell that it is a physical thing, not a mental one. Your body experience the effects of it, but there isn't anything real causing it. So it's like a free sample of the feelings you would have if your family were trapped under a truck (this is the best explanation of how I felt, btw). However, your brain thinks it's real, so it tries to find a reason why you would be so absolutely nervous. And so it starts sending thoughts to match the feelings you already have. It's like the paths are reversed. Normally, something tragic happens, you understand the gravity of the situation and then you get anxious. Here, the anxiety comes first and then the brain tries to figure out why you are desperate, so it brings back any terrible memory you have or it creates stupid scenarios where some kind of tragedy could happen. What I thought was: it's all fake. All the terrible, negative thoughts in your mind it's just your brain trying to save you. The physical feeling is there, ok, but let's try not to suffer from it.

I relate so much! Thanks for sharing :)

I also suffer with anxiety!!!!!! I have faith in you that you will do great in this audition!!!!!!!

Thank you. Just thank you.

You are so brave❤️

Really appreciate this!

Man it’s crazy that like, anxiety can simply take control over your whole body. And then when you’re not, you’re not. And it’s like it never existed but then when it hits you’re like man this will never end. Like what is that

I can't say I've ever had a panic attack (as far as I know), but I definitely have a point in my process whenever I'm learning a new role or project where I have a bit of a mental freakout and I start questioning everything: "I can't do this...this is too much...why did I say I could do this...I should just quit now..." etc. It usually happens when I'm about 2/3 of the way into the thing, where I've done a good bit of work but I still feel like I'm in the weeds. One of my professors in grad school talked about getting to know your own process so you could recognize these sorts of things as "normal". If I know that the fear and doubt are a normal part of my process, I still feel them, but I can usually take a step back, take a short break, and then get back to work to get over that hump. Glad to hear that you were able to work with the anxiety and find some fun in the role - Sondheim is so fantastically fulfilling when you can enjoy the act of performing his work! I have no doubt you are a fantastic Witch!

Thank you ♥

It's so hard to dral with chronic anxiety. I struggle with it mightily.

In my life, i've had very few, and less social interactions, and have never been actively social like at all, but i did try, cuz "a person should be social", and ,like. whenever i did it was such an anxiety rush, it was crazy, and i usually think a lot, but brain was just off because social interactions are no science. And now as a 24 y.o i am almost asocial, dare i say, but sometimes i just would go and find some community of people, and just jump in on some people in discord voice channels to talk or listen, and it gives my anxiety, but also it gives me such a sense of euphoria, so i take rational pleasure in this, because i am bringing this unto myself. Also i still sometimes dream of being on stage, despite being literally unfit for profession.

I just love you. I totally relate.

Anxiety about anxiety… yep been there. Many many times. Have you looked into mindfulness/acceptance therapy? It’s hard to accept the feelings and not fight them but it is helpful in the long run. Exercise when anxious is helpful. Deep breathing as well. There is also a therapist on KZread called Therapy in a Nutshell who has a ton of helpful advice! Thanks for sharing your struggles!!

This is so relatable.

Hi, all relatable! Thanks for sharing. We are all suffering together.

5:26 it's the same with me. I have emetophobia and whenever I have a panic attack and get stomach ache I get even more anxious and nauseous. And when i have a panic attack I try to be alone because I think I'll get even more anxious if people see me in this situation. It's so "fun".

The worst thing about incapacitating mental illness is that you dont feel entitled to be incapacitated. "Oh, it's all in my head. I can phisically do this, so why am I being a bit** about it?!" But the thing is: mental health is important too. When Harry Potter asked "spirit" Dumbledore if the conversation they had was real or was just in his head, Dumbledore said something like: "Of course its in your head. But why would you believe it's less real?" So, first of all (I say it to you and to me aswell, because I too need to hear it), its in your head but it is real and it is important. Saying so, asking for help is important, therapy, respecting your needs and limits, but also continuing to (try to) be productive. Sometimes for me it helps failing in something in a controled environment: like going to karaoke and messing lyrics, melody, etc. Then you will see, personaly, that failing is not the end of the world, trying to avoid it in the future but knowing that its not a super big deal. =D I hope you get well soon. =*

I've only had one stereotypical panic attack, but realised that my anxiety normally shows up differently to the version most people believe it to be. I don't want to give advice, because I'm sure you've got plenty of that already. During my mental breakdown back in 2019-2021 I wrote this poem which kind of explains a bit about how it appears for me... Engaging Presence Some people turn to drugs and drink But my vice is that I over think I enjoy my time to contemplate And go deep down to cogitate The whys and wherefores of life unknown Require answers to questions sown Puzzle one leads to puzzle two Then every thought leads to puzzle new It's not just time that's wasted here But pointless trauma of imagined fears I've learnt to step out from the spiral Even though my thoughts are viral Repeating more to seeming real Then I'm stuck in how I feel The virus that can overtake me Is the fear that can forsake me It paralyses and keeps me locked For longer than a broken clock But now I can notice the signs Of downward pointing storylines Then close the book, open my eyes Reconnect and start to rise Lift myself from deep inside Return to life that's clarified Where up is up, and down is down Where reality is all around So overthinking can be fought Engaging presence, instead of thought

We need less perfection in the performing arts and more options for covers and stand in's when you need a personal day or two. I was the only singer in a national tour for over 2 years, and the overwhelming sense of responsibility and zero options if I needed a day or show off was enough to stop me performing full time professionally as well. If I knew that a mistake wouldn't mean the end of the world or my job or if there was more support within the show things may have been different. The only thing to do is listen to your body and see if performing through this type of anxiety is worth it in the end, or if it's best to take a break until things are more manageable. Best of luck in your show run.

100% relate to this!

Aw I'm really sorry you get panic attacks Natalie. I know we'll never meet but I really like you, and I've had panic attacks, and I wish there were a magic button I could press so you never got another. 😞😊

You're sweet and you're a human :) I don't really know how people work with anxiety in your country, but I guess, now, you shouldn't think that you're a bad person because of having anxiety. I guess, now, you need to understand that this anxiety is forever with you. So... maybe this is a bad piece of advice, but don't suffer from anxiety, enjoy it.

THANXXX

Haha! Why didn’t I watch this before we worked on the single? Lol

Exactly how I feel

Hugss

Please read Panic to Power by Lucinda Bassett. It's an older print but it saved me from panic attacks 20 years ago. It's worth it.

i never comment on anything but this is pretty much exactly how i am atm with anything (social events, singing lessons, dance-anything that is just routine and enjoyable and my normal) and have been trying to find some affirmation from somewhere about this kind of anxiety, so thank you so much 🫶

I think that even Patti LuPone would agree, that you can do this role hands tide, cake, pie-even. And, I also think Patti LuPone would agree, Madonna, would have been the wrong person to cast. "Nothing against Madonna, god save the queen." But her talents, are just more beneficial elsewhere.

I feel like you are not suppose to push people to try them... And if you listen carefully at day three, what are you do saying is pushing in the way you're saying it and the way you are doing it. I admire the musician you have become, anyhow understand that talk about drugs medication should be influenced by experienced specialists not to cause misleading behaviors, especially with a platform like yours. I really hooe.your anxiety gets better. Meditation is key. Hugs

Please Ren - Hi Ren as it got 5 mil views in only a few months it may put another spin on things.

Also, then when you're not anxious gwt anxious for not being anxious lol

Me

@singwithlisal6564

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Thanks so much for being so open! Did you ever try therapy?

Try carnivore diet it helps a lot. Trust me