How can I cure my fear of public speaking?

Question

I have tried hypnotherapy but I am still completely petrified of talking in front of people so it didn't really help.

I have to present to my company in January and I am already terrified.

I feel physically sick and as though I am about to faint when I think about it.

I don't think it is possible to have a professional job and never do public speaking. It is harming my career, please help!

Answer 1

Toastmasters is a great option. Don't worry - they will not force you to speak until you are ready. It is a very supportive and friendly environment. Lots of people who have failed to find help anywhere else have been able to speak in public after participating in Toastmasters.

Answer 2

I am also afraid of public speaking. Something I wish I would have tried during my college days when I did a lot of this was anti-anxiety medications. Beta-Blockers like Propranolol can be useful because they block the anxious reaction that builds. You can take this on an as needed basis, or take a 10mg pill about an hour before your presentation. Propranolol is non habit forming and has been around a long time so its probably a safer bet than Xanax, or the other Benzodiazepins. However, if you don't have a history of addiction then give the Benzo's a try. You might be surprised how many people use these medications.

Answer 3

I think that, perhaps, the best way to overcome your problem
would be to join a theatre group. This study would have a
dual purpose, speaking to an unknown public and personification
of being someone else. This would be useful since speaking to
one type of audience can be very different from another.

The differences can be very distinct, like speaking to your school
mates vs. addressing a group at a wedding (even here there is a
difference if you are speaking in a silent church or in a noisy
reception hall). Also, a big difference when addressing the young
from the elder folk.

Another fact to be overcome is audience feedback, silent but
not interested, rowdy and not paying attention or active and
cheering you along (which is the best). Surely you can find a
theatre group nearby, let them know your problem so that they
can build you up according to your progress, because progress
is certain and many in these groups have joined exactly to
overcome the problem you are now facing. I wish you all the
best, including the group when you find one. Cheers, Iain

Answer 4

I used to be terrified of public speaking, but I took a class that really helped me get better at it in college. In this class, we had to give speeches every week. We started off speaking to real small groups, and as the semester went on, the size of the group would gradually increase. The first week we spoke to a group of like 3 people, the next week it was like 6 people, and by the end of the semester we were speaking to 60 people.

The important thing is to get a lot of practice and positive experiences. You should try to find a group, like Toastmasters, that will give you this. Don't worry about embarrassing yourself, because most of the people who sign up for these classes are having the same problem as you. Also, you might want to talk with your doctor about your phobia. He can prescribe Xanax or something like that, which can be really helpful.

Answer 5

I was going to suggest a speech class in college. But, since you're limited on time, maybe you could contact a speech instructor at a local community college. Let them know your current predicament, and maybe plan to take a class from them next semester. Your job should appreciate that and be supportive of it.

I haven't taken speech yet, but I have had to give a few presentations at work. The thing I always keep in mind is that the more nervous I appear, the more the audience will notice it. Once your heart starts to race, your breathing gets more and more shallow and the audience will start focusing on that. Maintain deep relaxed breathing and smile throughout and you should be ok. Practice this in front of people and a mirror before you do it too.

Answer 6

Try this.
First, get a book, and have one person listen to you read- one minute. Then 2 people-2 minutes, then 3. Over time, Keep adding people until you have a roomful.
From the beginning, read like it will one day be a speech. You are working on a speech.
Read the same piece over and over, like a long poem or a story you like, or change off with 2-3, if you like.
The night before christmas or Harry Potter.
Don't be concerned about reading perfectly, just keep going all the way to the end-10 people-10 minutes..
YOU WILL NOT BE PERFECT, i promise.

When that first person hears you, let her laugh and clap, not at YOU but at the MATERIAL! If you mess up, keep going until you get through it. Don't stop and run off. Then progress through, letting people laugh at your material. Tell them it HAS BEEN upsetting for you to imagine being ridiculed, and you are trying to change your reaction. They won't laugh at YOU! for messing up.
You CAN"T let being afraid stop you. You would never have learned to WALK, if you had!
So you are afraid, so what?
This is a challenge that can lead to tremendous personal growth. You can do this. No one has died of stage fright-maybe one old guy..
Or you can curl up, and let fear, kick your ***. Which life do you want?
I have given dozens of lectures, been in plays, and taken pratfalls for laughs. I start out (when I get the part- or get assigned a speech--worried that I will disappoint or embarass or whatever, and you know what prepares me and makes me secure?
Practice!!!! and passion for my material. Practice, so you know your material, and can anticipate questions. WRITE DOWN any speech you have to make- or at least keep notes, so you won't be lost. Practice in front of a full-length mirror, so you can see what you are doing.
If you don't have passion for your presentation, imagine the passion into it, by remembering that it will help your career, build respect for your work, and teach you valuable life lessons.
YOU DO NOT KNOW everything you need to know already. Otherwise, there would be no pay-off the live to be 90!
Life is about growing, and changing--you aren't DONE yet , are you? Accept that you are your only real ally and you have to make the most of your gifts, and harness your fear to boost you into the next level.
I say this sentence over and over-what would I do if I wasn't afraid? Once I have figured that out----that's what I do. And amazing!!It is not as bad as your imagination has led you to believe.
This is your one shot at life, don't wimp out!
If this fails, seek professional help-not hypnosis, not drugs, not ju-ju beads, and a real professional can fix this.
YOU have to DO what is suggested by the doctor, tho.

Answer 7

I was made aware of a presentation I have to do for development just over a month ago, im the same. the thought of public speaking scares the crap out of me! Today at work, it was dropped on me that tommorrow is the day of presentation. Luckily for me, it's already prepared and it's not my work, it's a team brief fed out to the whole site, unfortunately for me, iveh ad less than 1 day to learn the content, and tomorrow at 11am, ill be there with at least 50 people waiting for me to bore them senseless. I'll let ya know how it went and seeif i can provide any tips if this question is still open tomorrow.

Answer 8

I have the same problem but I am extremely short sighted so when i am in front of an audience or courtroom" i was a singer and i was in a claim situation which went to court" i just took off my glasses so i could'nt see any faces and it really worked so maybe you could borrow a pair of glasses which distort your vision slightly it really acts as a distraction

Answer 9

well this is a very common problem, a large number of people are effected by it.so you are not an isolated case. in medical terminology its known as "anthropophobia" and stage frieght.
but this is curable, you need to do two things
1)don't think this is a very serious problem,as a large number of people suffer of this.
2)try speaking in front of less number of people, if they know you you will be more comfortable. slowly increase number of people.
3)Most important is do Yoga, especially "pranayam". this will decrease your fear to a great extent. but you need to practise it everyday for about 30 minutes a day.
best of luck.

Answer 10

Prepare what youre going to present.Make card up with key words as a prompt,visualise and by that I mean say it out loud again and again.Do the presentation in places like your car in bed use the tone of voice and inflections you intend to use.Do it over and over again plus know what youre talking about.Don't try tobe too smart to begin with like wee jokes etc just get the first one over successfully and thats it-plan prepare and practice