It is easy, once you start, you will be fine. Try standing up in front of hundreds of people and telling them the CEO stole money and the company is going under...... Now THAT is a speech....... By the way, I don't recommend a question and answer session after something like that. DD
I haven't personally tried the alcohol route with a speech. Sounds like a solid idea though, obviously not to the point of where you're completely plastered. I just try and memorize the speech to the point where even if i get into freeze-out mode, it'll still come out in some form, jumbled or not. Why would you need a prescription drug anyway for a speech? The comets aren't that bad?
why do you need drugs for a speech? just relax and talk. find a couple of friendly faces at different points around the room and focus on them until you get more relaxed. Breathe. Take your time. and dont screw up
My wife is a psychiatric nurse who also gives presentations for a pharmeceutical company. She has suffered from extreme stage fright her whole life. There is a prescription drug that she takes before her presentations that works like magic. I'll try and remember to ask her what it is and post it here.
If you want a serious answer - then some public speakers take propanalol. it prevents the heart rate from shooting up in nervous situations. not that i think its a great idea (too slow and you faint)... and good luck getting a physician to prescribe it in this litiginous society.
For good speech advice check out this clip from The Office. <object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/UqDkV4fd8Nw"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/UqDkV4fd8Nw" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object>
I give presentations all the time but I have a harder time with speeches because the are so rehearsed and I get stumped over the details. What helps me alot in front of people is to build a connection with someone or some people in the room, preferably in the back. That way, you are talking to a person which is much more natural. Practice in front of someone and deliver it the exact same way to a random person in the room.
I have serious speech anxiety and finally had to take speech class to graduate college and thought I was going to die (I even posted on clutchfans about it at the time!). I got a prescription from the doc for Lexapro and Xanax which seemed to help but I don't use them anymore. I know it sounds cliche but the best things you can do are to be prepared and know your material, take deep breaths before start talking, have something to squeeze on to relieve the tension (something the audience cannot see- hide it in your pocket or hold behind you back as you speak), and don't anticipate yourself as panicking and failing. I still avoid presentations at all cost since I am still fearful of them but when I HAVE to, I do the above. Good luck!
For a serious/real answer, try inderal (propranolol) or any other beta blocker. Take 20 mg with a meal or milk about 45 minutes before show time.
