Public Speaking - Overcome The Panic And Anxiety

Many people that may otherwise seem confident and self assured in other areas of their lives experience high levels of panic and anxiety when they have to address an audience. Fear of public speaking has often been observed to rank higher than the fear of death. This article discusses the fear of public speaking and how to overcome the panic and anxiety that may cripple you.

Some people that experience panic and anxiety attacks and are set to give a speech or address an audience often experience major worry weeks or months before the speaking engagement and being able to accomplish this task without having a panic or anxiety attack. The public speaking can be any setting whether a podium or an office meeting or a class presentation, or being asked to give an opinion or feedback.

In an office setting, this can be detrimental since you will be so afraid that you do not add anything to a meeting and remain quiet doing the meeting. In offices where you need to be noticed, you will often be passed up for promotion even when you work the hardest.

The fear usually centers on having a panic or anxiety attack while you are speaking and being unable to complete the speaking engagement because the panic takes over and the constructive thinking required flees. You will imagine fleeing in an undignified manner and making up excuses later for your behavior.

Others who fear public speaking simply fear blanking out or feeling uncomfortable under the scrutiny of others. They may experience jitters or nerves but they are not familiar with the panic attack or the debilitating threat that sufferers of panic and anxiety experience.

How do you overcome the fear of public speaking as a panic or anxiety sufferer?

Embrace the unnerving sensations that you experience when you think about public speaking because they may never go away in their entirety. Simply approach them differently when they come over you when giving a speech or in a meeting.

In order to overcome this fear, you need to build your confidence back to the levels they were before the unnerving sensations came over you that usually cause you to flee because you fear the onset of a panic or anxiety attack.

You need to realize that no matter how tough, it gets, you shall finish the speech and not flee and that you shall not become incapacitated at all if you continue with the speech. When you believe that you are not in any danger, you shall be able to overcome the sensations and panic attack.

It is often common to experience anxiety before the speech and to feel that that you are letting yourself down with the anxiety. Simply take a breath and relax and know that this is okay and that it is natural to feel anxious.

Do not try to push the emotional energy and excitement into your stomach but simply move through it by reminding yourself that you are okay and that you shall not die. No one has ever died from giving a speech. Remind yourself that you can handle anything without giving into the panic attack.

If your major fear of speaking is caused by a feeling of being trapped, prepare some mental releases before the speech such as turning the attention back to the audience member for feedback on some of your points if allowed. Have people introduce themselves, ask if anyone has questions, etc, which will relax you and your audience.

Sometimes podiums can disconnect you from the audience so grab the mike and wander the stage. Look at people one by one which shrinks the room and further reduces the anxiety. If you are stumped, discuss your team and tell the audience about the other experts on your team that will be able to assist with the question and return a suitable response.

By: Terry Robbins

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