What's the best way to get over a severe fear of talking in front of crowds?

Question

I really want to be able to speak speeches in front of the class but I can't. I always want to but I just can't.

Answer 1

I hate to say drugs are they answer, but Valium is the best answer I've seen so far on this post. There are much less addictive drugs out there that work well for performance anxiety. Benzodiazepines such as Valium and Klonopin do work wonders, but they are very seductive drugs. I would be very careful using them. A less benign family of drugs are beta-blockers and alpha-blockers. I have used Inderal, and it really helped. I used to turn tomato red and my voice would waiver every time I had to speak. I used Inderal for about three months (taking it only before public speaking), then I started using smaller and smaller doses. I now speak publicly without fear or discomfort. It took a good year or so for me to get where I am. While it is true that if you do enough public speaking there is a good chance you will eventually conquer your problems, it is not a certainty. Some of our sympathetic nervous systems are just not programmed for it, and medication might be necessary. So be it. As long as you don't get addicted to them, Valium and Klonopin can work miracles. Talk with a doctor. Get some medication if need be. Best of luck to you!

Answer 2

See, you have no need to be scared of public speaking. Just say what you want to but before that you have to make sure that you are prepared for the speech. Once you are prepared, you will not falter.

try practicing in front of your mirror at home before the speech. Or you can also practice infront of ur frens and family. It really helps.

Be confident and you will find that you will be just fine and your fear will disappear.

Answer 3

I know it's corny to say, but it takes practice to overcome fear. I am going through the same thing, I hate public speaking. It just takes practice and just getting through it to overcome it. I think everyone has some degree of fear of public speaking, and noone ever fully overcomes that fear. A small part of that fear is always there. It's just being comfortable enough up there to get through it.

Answer 4

Remember, YOU have researched the material and the liklhood that anyone in class other than the teacher will know what you are talking about, so in essense you are teaching them about a subject. I did one speech on Cultural Antropology and early man. Austriolopithicus-australian man. I loved it. The teacher didn't have a clue and thanked me for educating her-this was in college. I did another on Evolution vs Creationism-another A. Remember to speak to your audience. One speech I gave was about nude vs naked I used a playboy spread and showed the football team why those ladies look so good, lighting make up hair etc, Plus body make-up. My prof thought it was genius to talk to the guys. So, put some short statements on index cards or do a powerpoint presentation. Look up but not at anyone in particular. And imagine them all naked.

Answer 5

It takes a litttle getting used to. You might want to try reciting it to yourself in the mirror, then in front of a group of two, three, and build up from there. Soon you'll be able to tell stories in front of all yiour friends, then the whole class, then who knows? You could be able to speak infront of the whole school. The great thing about speaking in public, is that you can't die from it.

Answer 6

Why can't you? What are you afraid of? What is the worst that could happen? Could you get over it? Is it that big of a deal? The anxiety that you feel is just energy. Use it as such. Pretend that you are not nervous and you will not appear nervous. Then you can face your fear.

Answer 7

you need some psychotheraphy..in a group of patients like you..under a psychotherapist..you have to try to mix with the people more and more in batches,gatherings, groups,crowds..your problem is called "social phobia"..but why are you so scared of peoples ? anything happened unusual to you in the near past ?

Answer 8

you need to practice in front of the mirror, your family and friends. The more practice the more comfortable you will get

Answer 9

dont have that fear myself but I would say talking infornt of people you know first would be the first step then slowly build up the number of people you talk infront of till it does not have an effect on you any more. good luck.

Answer 10

Valium