"Propranolol is used to calm the assorted storms of stage fright: the sweaty palms, the belly churn, the racing heart. Even professional performers have publicly alluded to using it."
"The personal-broadcasting capabilities of social media have, in many cases, not so much enhanced connection as erected a sort of scrim."
"This dynamic has eroded the old distinctions between the performing of life and the living of it."
Propranolol, a beta-blocker, has been widely used since the 1960s for cardiovascular issues and is now frequently prescribed off-label for stage fright. Its calming effects help manage anxiety associated with public performance. The rise in its use correlates with the impact of social media, which has transformed personal interactions into performances for an audience. This shift has blurred the lines between everyday life and performance, creating new anxieties and altering self-perception in social contexts.
Read at The Atlantic
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