10 ways to deal with glossophobia (the fear of public speaking)

Glossophobia is an intense fear of public speaking or, more generally, speaking in front of a group. It is one of the most common phobias and causes extreme anxiety and panic in those affected. Symptoms may include sweating, shaking, nausea, difficulty breathing, racing heart rate, dizziness, and a dry mouth.

Glossophobia affects people of all ages and backgrounds. While some people are simply anxious about public speaking, others experience full-blown panic attacks when they have to speak in front of a group.

If you struggle with glossophobia, don’t worry — there are ways to overcome it. According to diagnostic and statistical manuals, two of three people struggle with this.

What is a social anxiety disorder and how should we be treating social anxiety disorder?

Social phobia is an anxiety disorder characterized by a fear of social or performance situations in which you may be judged by others. You may experience extreme self-consciousness, discomfort and anxiety in social settings. Social phobia can keep you from participating in activities or conversations with other people, and may even cause you to avoid social situations altogether.

What are the symptoms of glossophobia?

According to the American Psychiatric Association, symptoms of glossophobia can vary from person to person, but typically include fear, anxiety, panic attacks, and nausea. If you’re experiencing any of these public speaking anxiety symptoms, it’s important to seek help from a therapist or counselor who can help you manage your fear and anxiety.

What are beta blockers, and how are they relevant to glossophobia?

Beta blockers are a type of medication that are used to treat anxiety and panic disorders. They’re sometimes used for treating social anxiety disorders. They work by blocking the effects of adrenaline, which can help to calm the body and mind during a panic attack. If you suffer from glossophobia, these may be a good option for you. Talk to your doctor about whether they might be a good fit.

What are some examples of beta blockers?

Some examples of include: propranolol (Inderal), atenolol (Tenormin), metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol-XL), and nadolol (Corgard). Take advice from medical experts and clinical neuroscience before using these. Choosing therapy can be hard but its never a bad idea.

What does fight or flight response have to do with glossophobia?

The fight or flight response is a physiological response that occurs in response to a perceived threat. When you experience glossophobia, your brain perceives public speaking as a threat, which triggers the fight or flight response. This can cause your heart rate to increase, your breathing to become rapid and shallow, and your muscles to tense up. These symptoms can often lead to feelings of anxiety and panic.

Here are 10 tips to treating public speaking anxiety

1. Educate Yourself about anxiety related behaviors:

The more you know about public speaking, the easier it will be for you to get started and overcome any fears or worries. Research different techniques, practice your speech in front of a mirror or with a friend, and read books or online resources on public speaking. Practicing on Yoodli’s AI speech coaching platform will help you relax.

2. Know Your Audience and practice positive self talk

Before you start practicing your presentation, make sure that you understand who your audience is and what they expect from you. Knowing your listeners will help calm your nerves as well as ensure that you speak in a way that resonates with them.

3. Stay Positive despite your public speaking fear:

It’s easy to let fear take over when faced with something unfamiliar or daunting, such as public speaking. Make sure to focus on the positive aspects of your presentation and remind yourself why you’re doing it.

4. Practice through exposure therapy — fight glossophobia:

Dedicate time each day for practicing your speech, whether it’s in front of a mirror or with a group of friends. Remember to practice your entire presentation. The more familiar you become with your material, the easier it will be when the day of your presentation comes around.

Yoodli AI speech coach can help you overcome your public speaking fears by promoting preparation and practicing without the pressure of being judged. You can do your complete presentation and get analytics on your filler words, audience reaction, and filter out ruminating thoughts.

5. Use Visual Aids when you’re nervous. Communication education helps:

Using visual aids during your presentation can help engage the audience and make them more interested in what you have to say. Incorporate slides, diagrams, photos, videos and other visuals into your talk to keep them engaged throughout. It also keeps you distracted and focused on the task at hand.

6. Take Breaks to take care of your mental health:

Don’t be afraid to take breaks between points or to pause and take a few deep breaths. This will help you re-focus and give the listener time to process the information that you’ve given them. Communication education and getting away from the audience can help you overcome any ruminative thoughts.

7. Connecting with Your Audience is a good relaxation technique:

Try to make eye contact with listeners while speaking and engage them in conversation if appropriate. This will help build a connection between you and your listeners and make it easier for them to follow along with what you have to say. Only you know when you’re showing anxiety related behaviors

8. Keep it Simple by avoiding ruminative thoughts:

Don’t try to overload your presentation with too much information or technical jargon — keep it simple so that everyone can understand what you are saying, even if they don’t have prior knowledge of the subject matter. Social phobias, mental disorders, slight nervousness, negative evaluations, racing heart, fear of public speaking and quavering voice aren’t always something you can opt out of.

9. Don’t Let Fear of public speaking Stop You. Consider therapy:

When fear takes over, it can be hard to move forward with your presentation. The negative evaluation may have negative near term mental health impacts. You might face physical symptoms and blood pressure might rise, you could see rattling knees, audience members might lead to negative thoughts, and you may forget key points. Try to focus on the positive aspects and remind yourself why you are doing this.

10. Have Fun regardless of the public speaking situations:

Most importantly, try to remember that public speaking is an opportunity for you to share your ideas and knowledge with others — so have fun with those rattling knees! Keep a sense of humor during your presentation and don’t take yourself too seriously.

Yoodli makes public speaking fun and playful for people who suffer from glossophobia. Practice impromptu speaking drills, overcome your anxiety with fun games, and use diagnostic and statistical manual to overcome what’s called social phobia of public speaking! You can sign up for free at www.yoodli.ai. Turn that racing heart from nervousness to excitement!

In conclusion, treating public speaking anxiety and the fear of public speaking requires practice, treatments, and deliberate health efforts

If you need more help in public speaking situation, choosing therapy, clinical neuroscience or medications is always a good option. Recent research has experimented with options like virtual reality, statistical manuals and relaxation techniques. But remember to do more research. Medical reviewers, treatment options glossophobia, and other statistical manual based treatments may also help be an effective strategy to help build confidence.

By following these 10 tips, you’ll be well on your way to giving presentations, increasing your self worth and health, and overcoming your fears of public speaking. With a bit of practice and the right attitude, you’ll be an experienced speaker in no time! Good luck! And remember, it’s OK to feel nervous sometimes.

Sources to learn more about glossophobia:

Toastmasters: https://www.toastmasters.org/magazine/magazine-issues/2021/april/scared-of-public-speaking

Mayo Clinic: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/specific-phobias/expert-answers/fear-of-public-speaking/faq-20058416

Harvard Business Review: https://hbr.org/2019/09/to-overcome-your-fear-of-public-speaking-stop-thinking-about-yourself

Yoodli: https://yoodli.ai/

Health Line: https://www.healthline.com/health/glossophobia