feel like giving up

I've had performance anxiety for as long as I can remember. Whenever I settle on a task but am being observed I spend more brain-power on worrying about being watched than I do on the actual task. Which results in a sub-par and embarrasing performance, especially when I know I'm capable of so much more.

Really I can only go with the obvious in terms of advice... Ignore them.

1. Acknolwedge your anxiety. Realize why it's there (Your brain feels you are at risk, and is responding accordingly), then realize that it doesn't accomplish anything, and then put it out of your mind.
1. Focus on whatever task it is you're doing and make a concerted effort to block everything out. Will yourself to concentrate. Total complete focus.
2. Once you manage to focus in on your task, vigilantly remain that way. Force yourself to concentrate, constantly. And ignore everyone else. It will be difficult at first, but eventually, the action of ignoring people and your anxiety will become second nature.
3. Once you have focused on your task, do not let your mind even acknowledge the anxiety. You know what I'm talking about: When you manage to zone in on a task but find yourself inextricably returning to that feeling of anxiety. If you do, make an effort to correct yourself.

The trick is dedication. It's easy to give this technique one shot, and then say 'Well **** it, doesn't work." Give it a few months, and make an active effort to put yourself in situations where you're being observed. If you have a Toastmasters near you, it's a fantastic opportunity to practice. Just gotta work up the balls to do it.

Sound for most people can be particularly distracting, especially other peoples' converstations. I recommend you start with as little outside distraction as possible: Basically people quietly watching, or even just around people who are in the capacity to watch you, but probably aren't.

That's a tricky situation. It's hard to deal with stuff like that when you don't have a chance to prepare.

I would offer a couple temporary solutions: google relaxtion techniques. Try self-hypnosis, meditation, deep breathing exercises, affirmations.

I think it's also important to really understand and believe this: Your amygdala is responsible for all of this. It is basically firing off a fight-or-flight response that's causing these symptoms. Really understand what that means. When you're worrying, it's because your amygdala is acting up. When you're anxious, it's because your amygdala is acting up. When you can't think, it's because your amygdala is acting up. It's not because your life is the crap or that your a bad person. It's just because your fickle amygdala is acting up.

And lastly, go see a head doc. They (and the medication/CBT) work absolute wonders to calm that darn amygdala down.