Publicity pressure: why it can mess with your head

Publicity can be exhilarating—and frightening—often within minutes of each other.

There’s anticipation and the realization that you’re working to get your story seen. For the publicist, you’re expected to hit every pitch perfectly.

As we approach the end of Mental Health Awareness Month (another event that in life, has no beginning or end) we consider the pressure we put on ourselves to nail the message and delivery so others notice, support and buy from us.

You think you’ll feel better once you commit to a publicity or PR campaign. After all, you’re making the effort. And when your story is finally live, more people will know about you.

Then OMG, you hope stats and facts were quadruple-verified and your PR agent ID’ed the right reporters. Are your social graphics easy to understand and typo-free?

That’s not nerves. That’s professional pressure. Personal, too. Imposter syndrome? It doesn’t matter how long you’ve worked in your profession, it sneaks in.

Mental Health Awareness Month reminds us to listen to ourselves and others

Mental health awareness isn’t just checking a box or checking in with people who might be struggling (but please, do that). It’s also about the quieter stuff—the mental weight that comes with the pressure to be relevant.

Putting yourself out there can morph into a mind game. What-ifs don’t stop no matter how long you’ve done it. Then you see a much less credible story go viral and gahhh … whether you’re the publicized or publicist, that smacks you sideways.

That’s not weakness. It’s being human.

So remember, whether you’re already a household name or hope to become one:
– You’re allowed to be proud of what you produce, regardless of outcome.
– You’re allowed to feel frustrated—even want to give up.
– You’re allowed to keep going, even when other people’s decisions derail your plans.

Productive publicity isn’t just about being seen. It’s about maintaining your message. However, if the process wrecks you, it doesn’t work.

❓How do you handle your mentals❓ Like me, it might depend on the day. But I still remember one of my biggest professional embarrassments.

I was editor of a monthly publication that went to athletic conference administrators, coaches and fans. I was sure my mistake would mean docked pay or worse. My nerves rattled like a baby’s toy.

I recently learned in a LinkedIn PR group that plastering “pubic” instead of “public” in a headline isn’t the career killer I feared (although I don’t suggest relaxing your proofing methods). The dent in my forehead shows I still live with it.

In the end, I motored through—and think I even won awards for that tabloid/pub (shoutout to former MetroNews readers). Like the title of a post that’s been passed around among my peers, it’s PR, not ER. (I welcome your most embarrassing moments — let’s laugh them into oblivion.)

Mental health awareness can be a gut check for anyone releasing their story into the wild. Keep working your publicity muscles so you can fix or flex them and not freak out about them. And don’t forget to check on your people.

PR Awareness

We’re in a 🎾French Open🎾 state of mind: When to trash a pitch

Someone recently queried the “trend” of pro tennis players’ patches on their clothes, “especially visible during Grand Slam tournaments.”

Trend? Sponsor patches on tennis apparel have been around for decades—longer than in a lot of sports. It’s another reminder to research topics before you write.

© 2025 Gail Sideman, gpublicity, SIDEbar

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