oldMan
02-15-2016, 09:15 AM
I’ve had a dreadful fear of public speaking and it has affected my professional life for many years. I have struggled with medications, therapy, group discussions, classes, psychiatrists and what not. After many years of struggle & experimentation I have finally found a solution that works (for me). The solution is a mix of medication and self-therapy. Others may find it useful.
First of all, I go into meetings well prepared. I rehearse presentations. I anticipate questions and issues and mull every angle of my presentation. I carry a belief that this is the best possible preparation I can make. I acknowledge that there may be an unknown zone but the possibility of that affecting my presentation is remote.
Secondly, I go with the knowledge that I will have a little bit of stage fright to begin with. However, instead of being a bane, this bit of fright is supposed to actually help me keep focus.
Thirdly, I take 1.5mg of Alprazolam about an hour before my presentation. Any less does not help me while any more makes it hazy and I tend to forget what happened in the meeting afterwards. Note that I do not take medication other than when I am to do a presentation. I practice meditation. I exercise.
Fourth, I try to keep myself relaxed and positive. This includes deep breathing, sitting in a relaxed manner, keeping my mind off sudden changes in the environment.
Lastly, when I am about to start the presentation, I read out the first few lines straight from my memory while consciously ignoring the stare of the public.
Initially my doctor had asked me to find out what started my stage fright and why do I continue to fear public speaking. I guess the first instance, the ‘beginning’, is often trivial compared to what we turn ourselves into by practicing our fears over time. A little bit of introspection helped me a lot. In my case, the issue developed during my teens. And although the cause was taken care of subsequently, I continued to have the fright out of years of habit.
First of all, I go into meetings well prepared. I rehearse presentations. I anticipate questions and issues and mull every angle of my presentation. I carry a belief that this is the best possible preparation I can make. I acknowledge that there may be an unknown zone but the possibility of that affecting my presentation is remote.
Secondly, I go with the knowledge that I will have a little bit of stage fright to begin with. However, instead of being a bane, this bit of fright is supposed to actually help me keep focus.
Thirdly, I take 1.5mg of Alprazolam about an hour before my presentation. Any less does not help me while any more makes it hazy and I tend to forget what happened in the meeting afterwards. Note that I do not take medication other than when I am to do a presentation. I practice meditation. I exercise.
Fourth, I try to keep myself relaxed and positive. This includes deep breathing, sitting in a relaxed manner, keeping my mind off sudden changes in the environment.
Lastly, when I am about to start the presentation, I read out the first few lines straight from my memory while consciously ignoring the stare of the public.
Initially my doctor had asked me to find out what started my stage fright and why do I continue to fear public speaking. I guess the first instance, the ‘beginning’, is often trivial compared to what we turn ourselves into by practicing our fears over time. A little bit of introspection helped me a lot. In my case, the issue developed during my teens. And although the cause was taken care of subsequently, I continued to have the fright out of years of habit.