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INTRODUCTION OF PUBLIC SPEAKING PHOBIA
It is often said that fear of public speaking is the most common
phobia in the western world. This may ormay not be true, but it is
easily the phobia we get to work with most frequently.If it is
bothering you then you will probably be glad to know that it clears
up easily and quickly. You can
be free of this fear quickly, easily and for good.What is public
speaking? Definitions vary. Perhaps a short talk to two or three
people; or a businesspresentation; or addressing a large room full
of people; or a wedding speech; or television interviews.Whatever
is the definition, if you are scared of speaking in public you can
lose the fear and look forwardto doing it with a focused,
harmonious grasp of how to enjoy expressing yourself to others.
About the phobia
All those who harbour this fear have several things in
common:
y Anxiety before the event
y Increasing awareness of this anxiety
y Fear that the fearful feelings will kick in and ruin your
performance.
People without the phobia may well feel anxious about the
upcoming event, but they simply accept it, Itwill be OK on the
day.This fear of the fear is possibly the biggest contributor to
these terrors of public speaking. And it seemsso rational to be
aware of previous times when the problems have struck and therefore
to expect them tooccur again.
About The Phobia Of Public SpeakingEveryone who has some level
of phobia or fear about public speaking has three important things
incommon:
y You feel anxious before the speaking eventy You become more
and more aware of your anxietyy You are afraid that anxiety and
fear will spill out and ruin your speaking performance
Now, everyone who speaks in public or in front of other people
is bound to have at least some level ofanxiety about the event. It
is this bit of nervousness that often causes us to be especially
alert andready to give a good speaking performance. It triggers the
release of adrenalin that heightens oursenses and makes us more
responsive to our surroundings, allowing us to quickly react to
what we
encounter. In a public speaking environment, the things we might
encounter include questions from theaudience, trouble with a slide,
an uncooperative microphone, or even a restless or hostile
audience.
People with a fear or phobia, however, are not able to put their
anxiety to a positive use. They becometrapped in a cycle where they
feel fear and then start to feel even greater fear of the initial
fear itself. It isespecially common when a problem with speaking
has occurred previously, because the person drawson that experience
and expects it to be repeated once again.
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The fear or phobia of public speaking is extremely common in the
general population, and is one of themost common reasons people
come to us for treatment. Some find it completely impossible to
speak infront of others even in a small social group, while others
dont start to get uncomfortable until theaudience becomes larger.
Regardless of the specifics of your fear of public speaking, we can
help youget rid of it for good.
Fear of public speaking, also known as glossophobia, is one of
the most commonly reported social fears. While some people may
feelnervous about giving a speech or presentation, if you have
social anxiety disorder (SAD), the anxiety related to public
speaking maytake over your life. You may worry weeks or months in
advance of a speech or presentation, and you will probably have
extremephysical symptoms during a performance such as shaking,
blushing, a pounding heart, quivering voice, and shortness of
breath. Thesymptoms are a result of the fight or flight response --
a rush of adrenaline that prepares you for danger. In the absence
of any realphysical threat, it can feel as though you have lost
control of your body.Fear of public speaking may be diagnosed as
SADif it interferes with your life -- such as changing courses at
college to avoid arequired oral presentation, changing jobs or
careers or turning down promotions because of public speaking
obligations. If you haveintense anxiety symptomswhile speaking in
public and your ability to live your life the way that you would
like is affected by it,you may have SAD.Fortunately, public
speaking phobias are relatively easily managed using short-term
treatment methods such as systematicdesensitization
andcognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). If you have a fear of public
speaking that is causing you significantdistress, ask your doctor
for a referralto a therapist who can offer these services.
In addition to traditional treatment methods, there are a number
of strategies that you can use to cope with speech anxiety
andbecoming better at public speaking in general. Without
traditional treatment, however, anxiety symptoms arent likely to
disappear ontheir own
TREATMENT
Glossophobia can be successfully treated in a variety of ways.
One of the most common is cognitive-behavioral therapy. You will
learnto replace your messages of fear with more positive self-talk.
You will learn relaxation techniques and what to do when
youexperience apanic attack. You will gradually confront your fear
in a safe and controlled environment.Medications may also be
prescribed to help you get control of your fear. These medicines
are generally used in conjunction withtherapy rather than on their
own.
Once you have successfully worked through the worst of your
fear, you might want to consider joining a speaking group suchas
Toastmasters. These groups can help you polish your public speaking
skills through repetition and constructive criticism from
fellow members. Building confidence in your ability to speak in
public can further reduce your anxiety.
Glossophobia is common, and in some cases it can be
life-limiting. However, the success rate for treatment is extremely
high. Thefirst step is to find a therapist that you trust who can
help you work through the fear.
Fear of Public Speaking, technically known as Glossophobia. . .
is one of
the greatest impediments to career & social mobility in the
modern
world...
The word glossophobiacomes from the Greek glssa, meaning tongue,
and phobos, fear or dread.
Speaking phobia rests in the unknown and can not be resolved
unless you take on a deep understandingof its cause. Once you have
a crisp understanding of why the symptoms occur, you can begin the
process
of taking control and reclaiming your life.
f you can learn to understand the elements of public speaking
phobia, often also referred to as 'stage
fright', you will quickly understand that the feeling of having
an 'alien' inside your body is a sensation that
many of us have once or many times experienced. With the
rightthinking and training, you will be able to
re-channel your fear into a very energetic and exciting
presentation.
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Anyone who tells you they have little or no fear is either
lying, or just loves to hear themselves talk.
Without any anxiety at all about your upcoming presentation it's
almost guaranteed you will give a dull
performance, since those same chemicals racing through your body
which are causing your heart pound
and your palms to sweat will also heighten your awareness and
make your thinking sharper, so long as
you project the energy outwardly and not inwardly such that they
cause the unnecessary reaction.
Glossophobia, or the fear of public speaking, is remarkably
common. In fact, some experts estimate that as much as 75% of
thepopulation has some level of anxiety regarding public speaking.
Of course, many people are able to manage and control the fear.
Ifyour fear is significant enough to cause problems in work, school
or social settings, then it is possible that you suffer from a full
blownphobia.
