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Physical Characteristics of Speech Anxiety

Speaking in front of a group of people is difficult for most people. For most, it creates a high stress situation but for some, it can lead into full anxiety attacks. This fear of public speaking called speech anxiety leads to very real physical reactions that make completing the speech even more difficult. Speech anxiety is a perfect example of how fear creates serious physiological responses that can render someone paralyzed.

  1. Definition

    • Communication apprehension is very different from speech anxiety. Most people experience a healthy level of stress when preparing for and delivering a speech. Others experience speech anxiety, the fear of public speaking, officially referred to as glossophobia. It is derived from the Greek words glossa and phobos. Glossa means tongue and phobos means fear. It is a very real anxiety disorder.

    Three Stages of Anxiety

    • There are three stages to a speech that may lead to an anxiety attack. The first is the orientation of the speech. This includes how long a person will speak, number of people in the audience and use of any visual aids. The next stage is arousal which is a physiological response. This occurs most often moments before the speech and increases as the speech draws closer. The arousal stage subsides for most once the speech begins unless the third stage is activated: the fear stage. This stage is entirely dependent on the interpretation of arousal. If it is perceived as fear, the person may have an anxiety attack.

    Physiological

    • The Autonomic Nervous System regulates physiological responses to stimuli and stress. With speech anxiety, it signals a "fight or flight" response making the psychological perspective one of life or death. Blood pressure increases with heart rate racing rapidly. A person will get sweaty palms and be highly sensitive to all sensory input. Someone may also experience a shortness of breath and work themselves into hyperventilation if the anxiety is not controlled.

    Verbal Manifiestations

    • One of the most frustrating components of an anxiety attack from a speech is that one of the first manifestations is a problem speaking. Shortness of breath can make audible voice projection nearly impossible. Even if it is audible, it may go up in tone, speed and comprehension. Stuttering is another common experience as well as speed talking. Because this is a fight or flight response, the person is trying to get out of the fearful situation as quickly as possible.

    Non-Verbal Manifiestations

    • People will slouch or slump to try to make themselves less visible. They may also have many twitches that pop up including clearing the throat, finger tapping and pacing. Eye contact is nearly impossible. Many who experience speech anxiety pull at their clothing at times even cinching up a skirt until there is no cloth left to pull at. A person will play with his or her hair or fumble with water and visual aids. Essentially, things that the person fears will happen does, causing a greater flight desire.

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