Why Using the Singing / Straw Can Suddenly Make You Feel “Scared”

So you’ve been using a Singing / Straw for a week or two.

You didn’t quit.
You didn’t shove it in a drawer next to the abandoned resistance bands and the one AirPod that still works.

You’re actually doing the thing.

And then suddenly… you hesitate.

Your confidence dips.
You feel awkward.
You get weirdly nervous making sound, even alone in your own home, even though your walls have heard you argue with customer service and rehearse imaginary comebacks in the shower.

And your brain goes: Why am I scared of this?

Not scared of auditions.
Not scared of performing.
Scared of practicing.

Which feels rude.

Let’s clear something up… 

This fear isn’t because you’re “bad at straw work.”
It’s not because you’re doing it wrong.
It’s not because you lack grit, mindset, or whatever your Tuesday-morning podcast yelled at you about while you unloaded the dishwasher.

You know the one...
“Show up as your highest self.”
“Choose courage over comfort.”
"Also, please buy my $97 morning routine."

That podcast isn’t wrong.
It’s just… not helpful right now.

Because straw phonation removes your ability to fake your way through things.
And the nervous system does not enjoy being exposed like that.

The straw isn’t judging you. Your brain is.

Straw work doesn’t care how you usually sound.
It doesn’t care what you posted last week.
It doesn’t care that your teacher once said, “Wow, you’re really improving.”

It just gives your voice honest feedback.

Which means:

• you can’t brute-force your way through tension

• you can’t micromanage your way into controlling your sound

• you can’t manifest a clean transition or consistent vibrato by whispering affirmations at your straw

Your voice starts coordinating more efficiently, sometimes faster than you’ve ever felt before.

And your brain goes, “Okay but this feels different and I do NOT remember agreeing to a system update.”

Cue the spiral.

Why it can feel worse when you’re home alone

This part really messes with people.

“No one’s here. Why do I feel like I’m doing something illegal?”

Because being alone removes the external excuse.

No audience.
No adrenaline.
No performance switch.

It’s just you, your breath, and a sound that is doing absolutely nothing to earn applause.

Straw work isn’t glamorous.
It’s not aesthetic.
It’s not content.

It’s coordination.

And if you’ve spent years tying your worth to how good you sound, that can feel unsettling. Your inner critic, who’s been quiet since 2013, suddenly clocks in like:

“Hey friend. Quick question. Are we okay???”

This isn’t a loss of confidence. It’s an identity lag.

What most singers call “losing confidence” here is a temporary mismatch.

Your voice is learning a new way to function.
Your self-image hasn’t caught up yet.

Your usual “this feels right” cues are offline, so your brain fills the silence with doubt like a toddler filling silence with noise.

Nothing is wrong.
You’re just between versions.

Stop trying to be brave. Be boring instead.

Trying to hype yourself out of fear usually makes it worse.

Fear isn’t a stop sign.
It’s your nervous system asking for reassurance.

So instead of “choosing courage,” try being aggressively unremarkable.

That might mean:

• straw work so quiet it feels pointless

• sessions shorter than your average TikTok

• sitting down like you’re waiting for your coffee

• remembering this is about coordination, not art

• letting the sound be dull, neutral, and deeply unimpressive

You’re not auditioning.
You’re not proving anything.
You’re teaching your body this is safe and repeatable.

Confidence doesn’t come from affirmations.
It comes from repetition without consequences.

If this is happening a couple weeks in… 

You didn’t fail.
You didn’t lose confidence.
You didn’t suddenly become “too sensitive.”

You just made it past the honeymoon phase without quitting.

Your voice is changing faster than your comfort level can keep up. That gap closes if you don’t panic and abandon ship.

Stay curious.
Stay gentle.
Keep going.

You don’t need to feel fearless.
You just need to show up calmly enough that your nervous system gets bored and moves on.

And it will.