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Signs & Symptoms of the Fear of Public Speaking

The fear of public speaking is so common, it has a name: glossophobia. According to the website Speech Topics Help, speaking in public ranks as Americans' biggest fear, above even the fear of death. It is normal to be afraid or stressed before speaking in front of a group. It becomes a debilitating phobia when the fear becomes so extreme that you limit your career or relationships to avoid it, according to Way2Hope.org, which provides resources for serious, life-changing problems.

  1. General Anxiety

    • While most people become anxious just before speaking in public, people with a fear of public speaking become more anxious as the presentation goes on, according to WebMD. Additionally, when the talk is over, they feel even more anxiety. In contrast, people who don't have glossophobia become less anxious during the presentation and feel relief when they are done. Some anxiety is actually a good thing, according to communications professor Dr. Paul L. Witt in an WebMD article. A little nervousness helps us to focus. People with a normal amount of anxiety will get used to speaking publicly. People with a high amount of anxiety do not get used to it.

    Signs of Anxiety

    • People who have a fear of public speaking tend to focus on what is wrong with them. Some signs they notice are trembling hands, sweatiness, dry mouth, knocking knees and a quivering voice. When people with glossophobia get those symptoms, they get stuck because they cannot focus on speaking, only on their problems, making matters worse.

    Dealing With Anxiety

    • Dr. Witt says that people with high anxiety cannot change who they are, but they can change how they react to their anxiety symptoms. He recommends that people who are afraid to give an upcoming speech should first visualize giving the speech. High-anxiety people need to run through the process in their mind first. People with high anxiety should also practice the speech in front of a supportive peer. The better you know your material and subject matter, the more relaxed you will be.

    Remedies

    • When the inevitable symptoms occur, there are specific measures you can take. For example, for trembling hands during the speech, clasp them together. For sweatiness, don't sweat it, so to speak, because no one is likely to notice. For dry mouth, pause and take a sip of water. For knocking knees, shift your weight somewhat, and for a quivering voice, smile and take a deep breath. In fact, breathing is very important for reducing anxiety. Everyone, prior to making a speech, should take 10 deep breaths, breathing in from the nose and slowly breathing out from the mouth.

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