What a great post! After a very long hiatus I've gotten back into playing live. I've been singing, acting, or playing guitar in front of people since I was 13, and never had a problem with stage fright. I was always able to turn the nervous energy into my performance, but I've been choking, and it's just not something I've experienced much in the past.

Thank you for shedding some light, and giving me a better focus. I play 100% sober now, and just in the past month I've gone to only playing in a praise and worship setting, and as you say I do need to focus 100% of my thoughts on playing as giving.

FWIW, I think it's only fitting that I'm resurrecting this old thread on Easter!