Saturday, February 4, 2012
Public Speaking Apprehension
There are several reasons why public speaking makes me nervous. The biggest reason would have to be that when I'm speaking in front of several people I have pretty much all of the speech anxiety symptoms that the book listed: quavering voice, shaky hands, mind going blank, increased heart rate, and trembling legs. I don't exactly know why I have these symptoms; even when I'm singing with my family in front of several people I get nervous, so I've always just thought I had stage fright. Another part of my anxiety is because I KNOW I'm going to be having trouble with these symptoms up front, which actually makes my symptoms even worse! All morning of the day that I'm supposed to give my speech I'll be nervous and worried that I'll mess it up. A couple of the best things that helps me to relax before and during a speech are practicing my speech until I know it by heart, and taking a couple of deep breaths when I feel my nervousness is building.
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I totally understand where you are coming from with your fear of public speaking! I have the same kinds of issues. I get so shaky in my legs and in my voice, it is completely spontaneous. Taking deep breaths is an awesome way to cope! That is something that definitely helps me. Something else that really helps me is to actually stop running through the speech in my head when it is getting close to my time to speak, because if I over think it I start to mix things up. Something else I always try to do is prepare early and rehearse often in the preceding week, so there are no surprises.
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