How do you get over the fear of speaking in public?

Question

I literally feel like I am going to pass out and start shaking all over and connot finish. My Dr. prescribed me medicine for this and it does not help.

Answer 1

Join Toastmasters it is in the phone book and they teach you this. You can by recording your speech and stand up and play it for the audience and they know that this is your first step...then you read your speech without looking at the audience and then you say the speech while looking at the audience...your speech is something that you memorized like mary had a little lamb...and it is just about desensitization and the audience is positive because they know why you are doing it this way.

Answer 2

I am a high school speech/drama teacher. Public speaking is the #1 fear, #2 is death... people laugh, but it's the truth. A lot of people have the same fear, so don't worry, you are not alone. For each person the reason is different; some people get sick before speaking, others during the actual speech. But, the shaking and stuff is probably caused by a rush of adrenaline. Find a book on the issue. You need to find some exercises to do before speaking that calm your nerves, and you need to work on focusing your breathing when you are speaking. There are several good books on stage fright and public speaking out there!! Good Luck!

Answer 3

All of the suggestions so far are great ones. I just wanted to add that you could try to visualize your audience buck naked & wearing silly hats. This might sound absurd, but I can be really shy sometimes & I've found this to be very helpful when speaking at meetings. The only time this probably wouldn't work would be at serious events, such as funerals, where you might be prone to fits of laughter if you were to imagine someone in a totally outrageous hat & birthday suit.

Answer 4

Start out small. Go into a public speech with the utmost confidence, be sure you are an "expert" on what it is you're talking about. Much easier to get through it if you are knowledgable about your topic. You'll forget about all the people and concentrate on getting your point across.
And be sure you keep your knees a little bit bent. If you keep them straight, you will pass out.

Answer 5

Try working out at the gym, or running vigorously an hour or or two/three before you speak. This should fill your body with endorphins and give you a relaxed feeling. Till you work this out, I would also suggest taking your medication 1/2 hour prior to your speaking engagement... Don't overdue it though, you could pass out in front of the crowd... Good Luck...

Answer 6

The audience won't even remember you the next day. All the shaking in fear is for nothing. If you can pass on a nugget of information that will help them harmonize better, you can be calm...Try to help them a little bit.

Answer 7

By speaking in public as often as the chance arises.

Get rid of your Dr he/she will kill you. No doctor worth his salt would prescribe any medication for something so trivial. He is a quack!

Answer 8

You need to have self confidence when giving a speech...if you dont believe that you have the ability to speak in public then you will have a difficult time no matter how much you practice.

Answer 9

I know exactly how you feel. Sometimes, you just have to let it go. For example, I had to do a presentation in front of my english class, but I wasn't as nervous as I thought I was because I just wanted to do it, and get it over with. So, take your time, and just do it. Don't think about messing up, just DO it. Try not to let it bother you, that's what I do. I just can't SING in front of people.

Answer 10

Look just above the audience. Focus on calm surroundings and calm things before you go out on stage. And just treat it like you're not speaking to a lot of people, treat it like a conversation.