Unlearning Anxiety Hamilton

Life is improv.

We can prepare as much as we want but we always need to improvise in our lives. Improvisation is a life skill that we’re going to develop through improv games over this 6-week queer centered course offering a low-pressure, supportive space to explore managing anxiety through connection, creativity, and developing a sense of play.

So how do you make games into a life skill?

Using simple, structured improv exercises, participants practice staying present, letting go of self-judgment, and building confidence in social interactions.Improv comedy can be an effective tool for managing anxiety, particularly social anxiety, because it encourages participants to stay in the moment, accept uncertainty, and push through the cycle of overthinking. Research indicates that 10 weeks of improv can significantly decrease social anxiety and help individuals become more comfortable with not having a set plan.

The course is grounded in consent and care with the program inviting participants to engage on their own terms. By centering on collaboration, mutual support, and queer joy, the program helps reduce isolation and encourages a sense of belonging. This process encourages comfort in being seen.

In our group we gently build comfort, trust, and tolerance for uncertainty. This is not the kind of improv you did in school. No one will be thrown into high-pressure performance situations and there is no expectation to be funny. We’re not preparing for a comedy performance, we’re preparing for life.

Improv can be a powerful tool in interrupting anxious thought patterns. Participants are encouraged to step out of overthinking and into the moment. Through improv exercises we practice letting go of self-judgment, embracing uncertainty, and trusting our instincts.

We’re going to examine how the stories we tell ourselves often create unnecessary suffering, and explore how to stay present and tell ourselves better stories.This course is great for anyone with an interest in building confidence in a fun, accepting environment. This is also a great way to experience an improv class with lower stakes and measurable benefits!

Below I have listed the intentions of each class for the workshop. Unlike many improv courses, we are not working towards a final performance. We are working towards being able to celebrate the performance of life.

Week 1: Feeling Safe out of Your Head

Focus: Safety & consent-based participation

Goal: People feel they can exist in the room without pressure

Week 2: Letting Go of Control

Focus: Unlearning judgment, internal and external. Taking up space

Goal: Reduce fear of messing up

Week 3: Listening & Trust

Focus: Getting out of your head and into the momentGoal: Build connection and presence instead of overthinking

Week 4: Confidence Through Characters

Focus: Using characters as a buffer for anxiety

Goal: Participants feel freer expressing themselves through roles

Week 5: Embracing Spontaneity

Focus: Trusting your instincts

Goal: Build comfort acting without over-preparing

Week 6: Application and Review

Focus: Celebrating growth, not performance

Goal: Reinforce progress and create a sense of accomplishment

Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.

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Host or Publisher Raeden Lockdust