Help!!! Anxiety attacks!!!

Have you spoken to your professor about it?

 

man, i'm sorry this is bothering you. i would definitely talk to the professor about it ahead of time. i don't know of any cure for it other than getting up and doing it again and again.

 

Baby steps.

Start out by doing a speech to an empty classroom. Then, if you can, add people little by little.

Other steps can be to give a speech in a dark room, and then to a room with some people in it but still dark.

*disclaimer* this advice is worth almost as much as you paid for it.*

 

While I don't believe I ever had it that bad, I always get nervous before a speech in standing in front of a group. I would usually not sleep the night before at all. However, once I get up there with my note cards and presentation material, it usually goes well even if the voice cracks a little and the knees shake a little until you get comfortable. Just getting a laugh out of the audience is enough to loosen me up while giving a speech.

One time in college...we had to get up and give a speech about the 15 page paper we wrote. I was obviously nervous and so were others. Everyone was basically reading from the paper they wrote so, in a show of nervous confidence, the first thing I did before I got up there was turn my paper in. So, I had no paper...no nothing. I then proceeded to give a speech in the style of a teacher. I wrote on the board and I made jokes. It didn't go great but I got some laughs and the teacher commended me saying "you should be a teacher". I believe my paper was on coaches motivating their teams and focused on certain coaches' styles...e.g. Vince Lombardi.

I would say that you need to really practice your speech and know your material inside out. Note cards used in speeches are used to keep you on track in the speech. You shouldn't read from them verbatim but they should be detailed enough to keep you on track. You should have some eye contact with the audience or else your just reading and not really giving a speech.

I would say if you have such a problem with it that you don't think you can do it...then your going to have a tough time getting through college. I know public speaking is a required course in college.

The way I dealt with my fears is to say what the f*ck and make my move. Everyone has to do it and your no different than anyone else. Practically everyone fears public speaking...most even worse than death itself. Preparation and practice is key. You shouldn't be thinking about what everyone else is thinking about you while your giving the speech. Focus on the material, presenting it concisely, not rambling on for too long, and being prepared. Unless you plan on dropping out of school, then you have to do this. You don't really have a choice. You can't pick and choose classes to get around this. Inevitably, your going to end up in a class where a speech or multiple speeches is required.

You can do it! Be confident!

 

I used to have stage fear too, but then I realized that my audience will have to present in front of me too, and they are prolly scared just as much as I am./

 

The wonder drug:

XANAX

Just the thing for a panic attack, but it makes you kinda sleepy.

 

Oldest acting trick in the book!

Pretend the entire audience is sitting there listening to you in their underwear.

I know it sounds strange, but you'd be surprised on how well it works!

 

Excellent advice. The "screw all of you; I did my best and now I don't give a f*ck" attitude has actually gotten me a long way in life. People seem to like that. Besides, it keeps you from being nervous.

Sorry about the problems with that; once I had a student in the same situation. I wouldn't let him get out of it, because I felt like there are certain things you just ought to have to face, get through, and realize they're not as bad as you thought they were. Maybe I'm being insensitive, but unless the school has chosen to recognize it as a section 504 disability and you have documentation, I'm going to treat everybody in class the same way.

I tried to express sympathy, let him stand in front of his desk instead of up at the front when he read his speech, and said nothing but positive things about it. But he still had to do it.

Fear of these things usually goes away the more times you do it. (Since I teach, I'm in the unique position of not being afraid of public speaking at all. It's my job; I do it every day. I can vaguely remember a time when I was afraid.... I think.) However, you may have a more serious psychological situation here. It might help to have a few sessions with a counselor.

 

"Can Bob stay for dinner?"

 

Rivaldo,

Don't worry, you're not alone.

I had the same problem all through high school and college. I thought I would have a heart attack right before my speech.

Literally I would sit in class the first day, and I would look over the syllabus. If there was a presentation required I would drop that class right away. A bunch of my friends did the same thing.


But if you decide to continue with your presentation:

I was greatly helped by this medicine called propranonol.
It basically slows your heart/pulse down a bit. You do need a prescription for this.

If you cant get a prescription for this, try alcohol. You can do wonderfull things while slightly tipsy. Dont get drunk though, just tipsy.

I still have this problem today, as I would rather punch myself in the face, rather than give a public speech.
Good luck, man, I know the feeling...

 

Here is what I woudl do:

1. Practice the speech in it's entirety out loud
2. Make sure you are breathing normally and before you begin take a deep breath
3. Start off with a joke which is appropriate, to loosen you and everyone else up. You'd be surprised how much better you feel when you hear others laughing with you before you begin
4. Do the speech the best you can

 

On a side note, there were always those classes that one sought to avoid based on teacher reputation. For example, I always tried to steer clear of courses where the teacher actively called on you to answer a question and they focused on this every class looking for those who didn't want to be called on. That is the worst...especially if your not prepared. I did drop a summer school law class because of this once and found another teacher who wasn't so gung ho. LOL.

I did get lucky quite a few times in college where I was scheduled to give a speech but due to the teacher not properly alloting enough time over the course of the semester for all the students' speeches...time would run out and not everyone had to give a speech. It sucks for those who did but I never had to in that particular case. Also, one time in my last semester of a computer class I wrote a detailed paper on the Windows 95 Operating System. It was highly technical examining the architecture and functions of the OS. I was expected to give a speech on this on the last day of the semester. So, I realized I had enough of a grade so I skipped it and my grade for the class dropped a letter grade(e.g. "B" to a "C"). But, I didn't care...I graduated a week later. No way I'm giving a technical speech on Windows 95. Who the f do they think I am? Bill Gates?

The moral to the story is public speaking can be avoided some of the time but not all of the time.

 

Would it help to remember that no one in the class actually cares about your speach? That they'll be faking paying attention?

You'll pretty much just be talking to the teacher while a bunch of people are in the same room.

 

That's probably true most of the time although my speech on virtual reality with color transparencies had them "ooo-ing" and "awe-ing". Of course, I ran a little over the 5 minute mark and that hurt my grade.

Nah...they were probably snoring while they slept.

 

I know exactly what you're going through, Rivaldo. I have my share of anxieties, and I admire your courage in presenting your problem here.

I hate speaking in front of people (even small groups of people make me uncomfortable), but it's something I can fake when I have to. The keys are being over-prepared, being confident in the fact that the others are experiencing degrees of what you're going through, and being loaded.

Using your chemical of choice, get a *slight* buzz beforehand. Like synergy said, though, don't get plastered or anything. Just ingest enough to soften the edges a bit. It won't fix your problem, but it might help you through an imminent anxiety attack.

Talking with a counselor would help more long-term, though.

Good luck!

 

I have the same problem as you back in HS and was able to overcome it through time.

It seems public speech problems occur to those that doesn't do a whole lot of social activities or they are shy when growing up which happens to be the case with me. When I was in first grade all the way to junior high I was shy and quite and never ask question when I needed help.I know this was a problem when I enter HS where there're a lot of social interaction between you and your class mates and it started to affect my self esteem and grades.I then started to join different academic clubs and socialize more and that help me improve my public speaking and got away with a B- in speech class.

Here are some tips:

1. know and learn your material! Do the presentation over and over until it stick in your head. You could memorize them but its better to know whats goin on so it flows more natural. Just remember not to over do it and take breaks in between session so to keep your mind fresh.

2. Day before the presentation, go out with your friends to the bar,malls or other social setting and spark a good conversation to help boost yourself confidence.

3. Get plenty of sleeps the night before, so you could function right. It also help to know what clothes you gonna wear that day, so get it ready and you don't have to worry about what to wear.(insecurity of how you look also might make you nervous)

4. This is kinda cliche but it helps a lot and that is you need to just relax man. The majority of the people will be nervous too....and if you make some mistakes so what....nobodys gonna care seriously. Do it for yourself and the teacher.

If you still think you can't do it, than you must have a serious public speech disorder. In that case contact your teacher about it and I'm sure she will understand and will give you another alternatives.

Good luck, and let us know whats up.

 

On another note, the adrenaline rush and feelings of accomplishment you get when you finish the speech and sit back down were always great. I always got that feeling like "this is over! i did it! i'm still here! look at that poor fool sitting over there...he hasn't gone yet! haha! i'm going to celebrate with my homies! it's party time! whoomp....there it is! jump! jump! jump!..." .

 

If you drink, try a shot of tequila.