Sweaty palms. Upset stomach. Lightheadedness. Short breaths. Fast heartbeats. These might sound like symptoms of the flu. But if you have a fear of public speaking, you may know the feeling.
First, know that you are not alone. Fear of speaking in public is very common. It includes fear of:
However, a bit of fear can actually help you be a better speaker. You can use it to push yourself to success!
You can overcome your fear of public speaking. Try these tips:
The National Speakers Association
http://www.nsaspeaker.org
Toastmasters International
https://www.toastmasters.org
Canadian Management Centre
https://cmcoutperform.com
Canadian Institute for Knowledge Development
https://cikd.ca
Public speaking tips. Toastmasters International website. Available at: https://www.toastmasters.org/resources/public-speaking-tips. Accessed June 24, 2021.
Social anxiety disorder. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/condition/social-anxiety-disorder. Accessed June 24, 2021.
Speech anxiety. University of Pittsburg website. Available at: https://www.comm.pitt.edu/speech-anxiety. Accessed June 24, 2021.
30 ways to manage speaking anxiety. University of Iowa website. Available at: https://counseling.uiowa.edu/self-help/30-ways-to-manage-speaking-anxiety/. Accessed June 24, 2021.
Last reviewed June 24, 2021 by EBSCO Medical Review Board