I n certain social conditions, it's completely normal to feel anxious. Going on dates or giving a presentation, for example, can trigger butterflies in your stomach. However, normal experiences of social anxiety, commonly referred to as social phobia, create a lot of self-consciousness, tremendous worry, and shame since you are afraid of being under the microscope and harshly scrutinized by others.
Public speaking anxiety is highly prevalent; in fact, many people fear it more than dying! The sensation varies among individuals, ranging from mild anxiety to complete fear and confusion or paralysis. Those who suffer from social anxiety disorder are more likely to be afraid of public speaking. Regardless of whether we're giving a formal presentation to an assembly or requesting a raise from our employer, being able to talk in front of a group is a crucial ability to master.
Read and understand your topic so you can get back on course if you stray off track, and so you can answer questions more easily when you've done your research.
Create a brief outline of important points. Don't read it verbatim; instead, use it as a guide to the next point. Organize all of your documents and ideas. If you're using a slideshow or other tech, test it the day before, if feasible, or well ahead of time, so you're ready to go if the system fails.
Practice your speech by saying it aloud in front of a mirror. Symptoms of Social Anxiety like problems making eye contact, stammering, awkward silences, fumbling, convulsing, perspiring, looking away, voice quaking, out-of-place hand gestures, etc, will all get better if you practice your presentation enough times. You can also record yourself and then rate how well you believe you did on a scale 0-10. Do it as if you were watching someone else, view the video deliberately, be judgemental, but try to dismiss all mean ideas about yourself slowly. If you're still upset after watching, watch it again, and if you're still upset, watch it again after a brief interval. keep watching until you can be easy on yourself. Reevaluate your performance. Practicing your speech in front of a friend or significant other is a great method to shake off the nerves.
Before the presentation, try some breathing exercises that help with anxiety and nerves.
Once you begin presenting, concentrate on your breathing and relax. This will assist you in developing a natural speech rhythm. Use short pauses between statements and try to keep your phrases as short as possible so you don't find it difficult to voice them. Keeping your points slow will help you stammer less and not forget.
Visualize yourself standing quietly, speaking boldly, and envisioning how you want things to proceed. Allow your desire for an overall success to motivate you rather than your dread of the worst-case scenario. You may have been invited to participate because somebody believes you have important knowledge to give - trust that
What if you forget your position or misunderstand a word? Knowing what can occur and how you'll deal with it can help you avoid being caught off guard. The majority of people in the audience have made blunders during a speech. They probably won't notice minor hiccups since they're listening to learn, not to pick faults most people deal with while presenting. Take a few moments to get back on track if necessary, and if you lose your place, look at your note cards (even seasoned presenters have notes - it's fine to peek at it quickly). Your 5-second delay may seem like a decade to you, but it may appear to the listener as a well-planned and necessary break for them to process the information presented thus far.
A little exercise before bed will help you get your blood flowing and deliver oxygen to the brain. Do some mild stretching or go for a quick walk. This will help you to stay fresh during the presentation.
After the speech, give yourself a little pat on the back for addressing your concerns and being constructive in your preparation! Remember sometimes even the president makes mistakes in public appearances.
If these techniques don't help you overcome your concerns regarding public speaking, seek expert help. Anxiety can be treated with cognitive behavioral therapy. So don't be hard on yourself! It's completely normal.
That was all you needed to know about how to give a presentation if you have social anxiety. Good luck and remember, you got this!
