How To Overcome Fear Of Public Speaking

Fear of public speaking, also called glossophobia, is one of the most common phobias that humans experience. Standing in front of an auditorium and talking while all eyes are on the speaker can paralyze him in a few seconds if he can’t get his nerves under control. But how to overcome this fear?

Oratory is a difficult art for some to master, but improving it is just a matter of practice. It is important to  understand the symptoms and causes of fear of public speaking in order  to work internally and overcome it.

What are the symptoms of fear of public speaking?

Each person reacts differently to the stress that public speaking causes. That is why it is necessary to be aware of all the signs. Fear usually manifests itself through the following symptoms:

• Perspiration
• Trembling in hands and voice

• increased heart rate
• Shortness of breathe
• stomach upset
• Nausea
• Excessive speed of speaking
• Total block when your mind goes blank

Some people compare nerves to the bite of a snake. When a person begins to feel it, their body becomes paralyzed, as does a bite from the poison. This is how it happens when a speaker is speechless in front of the audience and immediately feels panic.

These symptoms are a wake-up call from the body when it feels pressured or threatened. The individual’s survival instinct activates his defense mechanism and, when he panics, he may feel the need to escape from this stressful situation.

What are the causes?

• Insecurity
• Any traumatic experience related to public speaking
• fear of rejection
• Low self esteem

If a person has gone through a situation that has embarrassed them, it is likely that it has marked them psychologically. This causes the person to feel repressed, to the point of panicking when speaking in public.

As we are social beings, people tend to seek the approval and sympathy of others to feel good. The fear of looking ridiculous is something that limits them when expressing their ideas and feelings.

However,  these fears can be overcome with a lot of patience and psychological work.

How to overcome it?

Overcoming the fear of public speaking is an individual job and requires willpower to achieve it. Even if you receive help from your family and acquaintances to face your fears, only you have the power to change the situation.

Here are some tips you can use to overcome fear:

Get ready

• Knowing the topic in depth and handling it very well is essential for a speech to come out as expected. No one knows the topic better than the speaker.
• It is also important to know the audience that the speech will be aimed at, think like the audience, and prepare answers to possible questions.

Practice

• A good technique for overcoming fear of public speaking is to practice what you say aloud several times. With the help of a mirror, family members or acquaintances this technique can be very useful to improve your oratory.

• It is recommended to practice responses to give less room for improvisation.

Deep breath

• Breathing exercises will be of great help in maintaining control of the body and mind when starting a public intervention.
• Meditation exercises can be part of the daily routine to relieve anxiety.

pay attention to body language

• Adopting a correct posture that gives you confidence when speaking will make a big difference when expressing yourself in public.
• Relaxing your shoulders, walking around or near the public will give a greater sense of security to the speaker.

Interact with the public

The fear of public speaking is not permanent but something that is perfectly manageable. The mind has the power to increase or overcome fears,  and the decision to let them dominate or dominate them rests with each person.

And what are you going to do the next time you stop to speak in public?