6. Anxiety
Anxiety is both a mental and physical state
of negative expectation. Mentally it is
characterized by increased arousal and
apprehension tortured into distressing
worry, and physically by unpleasant
activation of multiple body systems, all to
facilitate response to an unknown danger,
whether real or imagined.
7. Public Speaking Anxiety
Public speaking anxiety may also be called
speech anxiety or performance anxiety and is
a type of social anxiety disorder (SAD). Social
anxiety disorder, also sometimes referred to as
social phobia, is one of the most common
types of mental health conditions.
The National Institute of Mental Health reports
that public speaking anxiety, or glossophobia,
affects about 73% of the population.
8. Symptoms
Symptoms of public speaking anxiety are the
same as those that occur for social anxiety
disorder, but they only happen in the context
of speaking in public.
Shaking
Sweating
Pounding heart
Quivering voice
9. Causes
Most phobias seem to appear out of the
blue, often starting in childhood or early
adulthood. A phobia may arise because of a
combination of genetic tendencies and
other environmental, biological, and
psychological factors. People who fear
public speaking may have a real fear of
being embarrassed or rejected.
10. Glossophobia may relate to one’s prior
experiences, Dr. Strawn says. “An
individual who has a bad experience during
public speaking may fear a repeat of that
prior experience when attempting to speak
again,” he admits.
11. How to prepare for a speech ?
Choose a topic that interests you
Know your topic
Become familiar with the venue
Don’t script it
Imagine yourself succeeding
Focus on your material, not on your
audience
Develop a routine
12. Treatment for Anxiety
Fortunately, effective treatments for public
speaking anxiety are available. Such
treatment may involve medication,
therapy, or a combination of the two.
13. Systematic Desensitization
Systematic desensitization can result from
imagined or real exposure to anxiety-inducing
scenarios. In some cases, an instructor leads a
person through a series of relaxation techniques.
Once relaxed, the person is asked to imagine a
series of scenarios including speech preparation
and speech delivery. This is something you could
also try to do on your own before giving a speech.
14. Cognitive Restructuring
Cognitive restructuring entails changing the way we think
about something. A first step in restructuring how we deal
with public speaking anxiety is to cognitively process
through our fears to realize that many of the thoughts
associated with public speaking anxiety are irrational.For
example, people report a fear of public speaking over a
fear of snakes, heights, financial ruin, or even death. It’s
irrational to think that the consequences of giving a
speech in public are more dire than getting bit by a
rattlesnake, falling off a building, or dying.
15. Medication
There are many prescription treatments
available. Depending on your unique situation,
you may opt for regular use (long term) or as-
needed (short-term) medications.
Short-term medications known as beta-
blockers (e.g., propranolol) can be taken prior
to a speech or presentation to block the
symptoms of anxiety.
16. Other medications may also be prescribed
for longer-term treatment of SAD, including
selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors
(SSRIs) and serotonin-norepinephrine
reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs). When used in
conjunction with therapy, you may find the
medication helps to reduce your phobia of
public speaking.
17. Conclusion
Preparing well for a speech or presentation
gives you confidence that you have done
everything possible to succeed. Give
yourself the tools and the ability to
succeed, and be sure to include strategies
for managing anxiety.
18. We all have strengths in different areas.
Instead, make it a goal simply to be more
comfortable in front of an audience, so
that public speaking anxiety doesn’t
prevent you from achieving other goals in
life.