Public speaking fears?!
Question: I am the most outgoing person, i will say anything infront of anyone, i dont care what other people think of me but for some reason in my college public speaking class i get ridiculously nervous....i have no idea why, and whats worse is i sit there with my heart racing telling myself to calm down its not a big deal, which i really believe but everything just gets all jittery and freaks out inside me...i cant figure it out? any theorys or advice?
Answers: I am the most outgoing person, i will say anything infront of anyone, i dont care what other people think of me but for some reason in my college public speaking class i get ridiculously nervous....i have no idea why, and whats worse is i sit there with my heart racing telling myself to calm down its not a big deal, which i really believe but everything just gets all jittery and freaks out inside me...i cant figure it out? any theorys or advice?
maybe have a small shot of alchol -vodka before the speech. My doctor advised me to do that- i know it sounds crazy but i was able to do my speech without having a panic attack.
Try it but a small amount and make sure to brush your teeth,, etc beforehand so theres no smell of alcohol
OMG...I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM(except I'm in primary school) I HAD TO DO A 2.00 MIN SPEECH(&ive done4min)AND I DIDNT EVEN LOOK AT MY PALMCARDS I WAS SOOO EMBARRASSED,THE SPEECH WENT FOR LIKE 30 SEC...SOOOOOOOO EMBARRASSING
You have a fear of making a mistake. If you put that behind you and just think about what you have to say, then everything will work out.
I know exactly what you are saying. I don't know what rehearsing words freaks me or anyone else out. Logically, everything you have to say is planned out already, so there isn't even any thinking involved. I also prefer off the cuff, relaxed and unrehearsed, free to say what I want. And I believe that to be the trigger...free to say what I want versus a rehearsed speal. When you go to bed at night, I want you to lay down and imagine you on stage infront of peep's giving your speach. If your heart races and you get edgy, it's okay, that's what I want. The more you can allow yourself to feel that nervousness, that freaked out feeling the more you will know the feelings and not be a stranger to them. Strangers fight off, those who know, accept there feelings for what they are. You see what Iam saying? Well know actors claim to have stage fright...Ozzy Osbourne on the music awards discussed having stage fright(2007). The main thing is to understand your feelings, have them, allow them them to be there, accept them, just as if a seperate part of you was speaking out for itself trying to tell you, hey I don't like this. Don't fight them or chase them away...the purpose of laying in bed and imagining you in the scenario. Practice makes perfect.
I am the exact same way.. exact. I just finished my class. It was really hard to get over my fear, but the one thing that really helped me was that I asked to go first everytime. The teacher knew about my problem and when I asked he let me go first. My class was pretty small, so everyone intimidated me for some reason. WHich is weird because I am same as you and very outgoing. Another thing is to really really practice your speech by yourself or to your closest friend or family memeber. Nothing they told me to do ever helped, so I took it upon myself to go first and that always helped becaue they easily forget about you or any mistake you made when the next goes then everyone after that and before you know it , they don't even remember your speech...The teacher will of course, but you get my drift right ?
Good Luck !