Good on you for giving it up if it's really making you unhappy.

At the end of the day I could not give it up at the moment because I think that although I'm struggling to get through the moments, the overall process of developing as a musician and performer, of challenging myself to do it and succeeding, is satisfying and rewarding.

And I could NOT go back to being a musician who no-one ever hears. If you want to be heard at all you have to get over nerves/lack of confidence. And if you're never heard, it almost seems pointless playing.

I also figure it's a learning process and this phase isn't necessarily going to last forever. I've only been fronting a band/doing solo stuff really for about six months. I'm hoping it's going to get better with experience.