A public Speaking Phobia, and How to Deal with it
Public speaking phobia, or public speaking anxiety, as it is also called, is more common than you think.
You’d be surprised at how many people are afraid of speaking in public, and are interested in overcoming the fear of public speaking.
These are people for whom the idea of getting up and talking in front of a large group of people is one that fills them with anxiety, and this anxiety is not just before the event, but can even last for months or even up to a year before the event.
An upcoming speaking event can trigger anxiety attacks!
Did you know that a person who’s worried about public speaking and knows even a few months in advance that they are going to speak at a particular event, it can be a major source of anxiety for them and can result in an anxiety disorder and even in recurrent panic attacks?
Now, when most of us think of public speaking we think of a person standing in some big hall before perhaps hundreds of people and talking to them about some particular subject and perhaps even answering questions.
Of course, a scenario like that would make anyone who wasn’t used to public speaking feel at least a bit anxious.
But it’s not always a large event that makes a person who has a fear of public speaking feel anxious. It could be a small speech at a family dinner that makes a person have a panic attack or it could be a simple meeting of a few colleagues in your office.
What causes public speaking phobia…
- A person whose anxiety disorder is related to public speaking can have all sorts of issues that they are anxious about.
- They worry about whether they would be able to speak at all when they stand up before this group of people.
- They wonder whether they will be able to put their ideas across properly.
- People who have a severe case of anxiety disorder related to public speaking can even become anxious about the possibility that their anxiety will cause them to flee the room and so cause a very embarrassing situation that would be difficult to explain. Yes, a person who is anxious about public speaking can become anxious about the possibility that they will have to explain fleeing the room suddenly in the middle of their speech.
Generally speaking though, any sort of fear is accentuated if you are leading a very unhealthy lifestyle. For example, if you’re leading a lifestyle that leaves you continuously tired or stressed, or without sufficient sleep, then your fears will tend to become magnified out of all proportions to their origins.
How to how to overcome the fear of public speaking…
- If you’re anxious about public speaking, then the Panic Away program, for example, has a considerable amount of information about dealing with this fear in it.
- If you suffer from a fear of public speaking and have a lot of speaking engagements, even if they happen to be small ones, then the first step would be simply to get through an engagement without necessarily panicking.
- To get over fear of public speaking, you need to engage in small and manageable public speaking activities. This is the best way to deal with public speaking nerves and to overcome the fear of public speaking.
Remember that it is not the quality of your speech or what your listeners will think you have to be concerned about, but whether you can simply make a speech, no matter how simple, without panicking.
And if you can do this, you can step beyond your public speaking phobia.
I am Edyta and I help people combat stress. I will show you how to get freedom from stress and live a happier life.
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Learn to accept some anxiety. Even the most seasoned performers usually experience a bit of nervous excitement before a performance in fact, most believe that a little anxiety actually makes you a better speaker.
candice michelle recently posted..מסאג\’
Wonderful tips Edyta. I remember all too well how anxious I used to feel about public speaking. Then I was asked to chair a committee for the national conference of a business women’s group – what they didn’t tell me was that I would have to actually address 500+ attendees at the conference! I did it and survived. A few years later found myself in a job where public speaking was a major factor. I don’t think I would have had the courage to go for that job if I hadn’t gotten over my fear at that conference … bur trial by fire certainly isn’t for everyone!
marquita herald recently posted..Need a Confidence Boost? Take Time to Appreciate Just How Awesome You Really Are!
You made a really great point of using small speaking venues to get over your fear. Toastmasters is a great organization to help with this problem. This is what they are all about. Another way would be to get some friends and family together to listen to you do your speeches. Great post, Edyta!
Martin Casper recently posted..Redirect Bloggers Blog to Blogspot.com; A Step by Step Guide
Awesome blog! I love it! You read my mind here. I have experienced this a couple of months before a speaking engagement myself. Boy can this paralyze you! I think I used the old saying “picturing everyone naked”. It didn’t work! I got up on the stand and delivered my speech flawlessly. It was all in my mind! Fear, “Fake Evidence Appearing Real”
Thanks!
Steven Hennigan recently posted..Why Tweet?
An informative one! I agree that we must conquer our fear first to the small ones before trying in the bigger space. And one more thing: Just take a deep breath, enjoy what you’re doing, then you’re good to go!
Stevie Smith recently posted..What Men Really Want From Women
Some of the greatest people in the history had got some problems with the speaking in the front of a bigger audience as well. And I think it isn’t an easy thing. But fortunately, it can be learned. If somebody recognizes the symptoms of this phobia on his/herself, he/she needs to find a specialist who can help with this problem.
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