Anxiety before presentations and speeches can be observed in many
individuals. Dry throat, dizziness, and stuttering are the normal
responses before and during public speaking. But in some cases, people
can develop irrational fear of public speaking and go beyond the normal
responses. Those who are suffering from fear of public speaking may
experience different symptoms such as, extreme anxiety before
communicating anything in front of groups, avoidance of the gatherings
in which they will have to talk with groups, and physical discomfort
(nausea, sweating, hot or cold flushes).
This type of fear induces
speech problems. People may stutter, forget words or experience
phonological problems during talk. This fear becomes worst when it leads
to panic attacks. Panic attacks are an expression of anxiety. When
someone loses his control in front of groups or public, he will
experience a panic attack. These panic attacks are situational bound
panic attacks in which a person experiences an attack when he confronts
anxiety provoking stimulus. Individual may experience accelerated
heartbeat, sweating, breathing difficulties, chest pain, nausea,
dizziness, lack of control over himself, fear of dying, numbness and hot
or cold flush during a panic attack. In this case, facing public is
anxiety provoking stimulus, which induces the above mentioned symptoms.
We
need to manage the fear of public speaking and resulting panic attacks.
First, I will focus on managing the fear of public speaking. Usually
psychologists talk about management instead of treatment. This is
because, various factors contribute in development of psychological
problems, and there are strong chances of relapse. There are several
things that can reduce fear of public speaking. Practice before speech
or presentation is essential. One should learn at least the first
portion of presentation by heart. People should keep prints of speech
with them to take help whenever they stuck. It is better to use
multimedia during presentation, because it helps to maintain the flow of
presentation. It can be helpful to deliver the speech in front of
family members or friends. One should ask for feedback to enhance
skills. Always keep in mind that, the audiences do not know about the
area you are presenting in, they are students and you are the teacher
who will introduce them on the topic. This will help in reducing the
fear of audience.
Now, we will discuss on the ways that can be
helpful in controlling panic attacks during public speaking. The first
thing is to accept your problem as the problem. Never be ignorant and
wait for miracles to prevent you from disastrous public speaking.
Accepting will enable you to find solutions for your own problems.
Sometimes speakers feel that their hidden anxieties are in the
spotlight, and the audiences can see what they are feeling. This is the
misconception of speakers. Certain anxieties go unnoticed and the
audiences are not interested in embarrassing you at personal levels. Try
to be positive in your approach and tell yourself that "I have the
ability to accomplish my task, and overcome my weaknesses".
Psychotherapy values such self-instruction to enhance self-control over
acts. Once, you are able to assure yourself, you can prove your talent
to the audience. Anxiety is the thing that makes your processes faster.
You can use your aroused conditions positively, and make your speeches
and presentations more enthusiastic. If you think that now you will
experience a panic attack, you will surely have. When you are feeling
aroused, tell your mind that you are prepared to face these attacks
right now. In this way, you will be able to manage your fear of public
speaking.
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