*The article is developed in partnership with BetterHelp
A fear of public speaking is one of the most common phobias in the world. Known as stage fright, speech anxiety, or glossophobia, those with this fear avoid situations in which they’ll have to talk in front of a group of people, whether for a small school presentation or a large public seminar. When these individuals are forced to speak in front of others, they may experience intense anxiety both leading up to and during the event.
Given that public speaking can be a requirement in school as well as in many different professions, it’s important to understand how to overcome this fear. Keep reading to learn more about the effects of speech anxiety and how you can manage and overcome it.
The Impact Of Speech Anxiety
Anxiety can be debilitating, causing a multitude of physical and mental symptoms. When you’re afraid of public speaking, you may lose sleep for days or weeks leading up to an important speech at work or school. Lack of sleep can cause you to lose focus throughout the day and make your anxiety even worse.
Speech anxiety can also cause you to miss out on job opportunities, as you may choose to forego pitching ideas to clients or taking a leadership role in which you’re the one leading meetings. Missed job opportunities can stifle your professional development and affect how much money you’re able to make.
Being afraid of public speaking can also impact your academic performance, as you may choose not to take certain courses that require regular presentations and avoid stating your opinion in class. Speech anxiety can also cause you to neglect your passions and steer clear of careers that interest you simply because public speaking is a regular requirement.
Overcoming A Fear Of Public Speaking
Public speaking is often a necessary part of life, making it crucial to know how to do it well. While some people may naturally be more comfortable with speaking in front of others, there are ways to improve this skill. The following are some tips that may be helpful in overcoming speech anxiety:
- Visualize success: Don’t underestimate the power of your mind in helping you find success. Telling yourself that you’re going to succeed can give you the self-confidence you need to perform well in reality. If all you’re doing is picturing yourself not knowing what to say or imagining your audience snickering behind your back, you may be setting yourself up for failure by filling your mind with self-doubt and hesitancy. Instead of ruminating on these negative thoughts, try focusing on staying positive and building self-assuredness so that when the big day comes, all you can envision is success.
- Practice, practice, practice: Before an upcoming speech or presentation, you’ll want to set aside as much time as possible to practice rehearsing what you’re going to say. The more familiar you become with your speech and the information you’re presenting, the less you have to stress about forgetting something or not knowing what to say.
- Focus on the presentation: Rather than focusing on the group of people you’re speaking to, try to concentrate on the information you’re presenting to them. Zoning in on your audience may only make you more anxious, while concentrating on what you’re saying can help you relax and even forget that anyone else is in the room.
- Fight your fear: Even when you’re filled with anxiety about an upcoming speech, it’s important to push through the fear instead of letting it hold you back. The more you practice public speaking, the less scary it becomes over time. Eventually, you may find that you no longer experience speech anxiety.
Overcoming a fear of public speaking is often easier said than done. It takes commitment, courage, patience, and a willingness to step outside of your comfort zone. If the tips above aren’t as helpful as you’d like, or you’re not seeing any changes in your anxiety levels despite your best efforts, involving a counselor or other mental health professional in the process could be beneficial.
Fighting Your Fear One Speech At A Time
Avoiding public speaking may only worsen your fear of it, as avoidance reinforces anxiety. By putting yourself in situations that you aren’t entirely comfortable with, however, you can slowly begin to alleviate your anxious feelings and experience more confidence while speaking in front of other people. Remember that you don’t have to perfect, and growth is a process. While you may feel discomfort now, you’re ultimately setting yourself up for success in the future.
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