A little chocolate before you play may be helpful. The Real Rescue Remedy is being well-prepared. Try to be able to play with your eyes closed, or in the dark, with one shoe off, anything else you can think of that could go wrong.
I use rescue remedy all the time as I suffer really dreadful nerves. Beta blockers just left me feeling empty headed and unable to focus my mind properly. I never feel sleepy taking rescue remedy because you only need a few drops. There is also a version called Recovery Plus which I found to be fantastic. Other things to try are eating bananas (seriously!) and the homeopathic remedy gelsemium. I also saw a hypnotherapist and have a self help CD of the session we had. Its great for helping me relax if I am getting myself wound up before a performance. Top tip though – don’t put hypnosis on your iPod and then put the iPod on shuffle if you are driving with it playing!!!!
May I offer this idea going forward. How about everyone start having confidence in their performances. Confidence comes from being able to rely on your method. Your method comes from practise. Know what you are going to play,have control of it, and execute it. Then have fun with it! Don’t play just the notes, plays the sounds! And play ecstatically! This comes from over fifty years of musical study. I hope to live to 140 years, when I’ll be killed by a jealous husband. lol With every good wish!
Irene, you should be able to walk into a clinic any time and get whatever you need prescribed. That’s what I usually do if I need to see a doctor right away.