How to reduce anxiety before public speaking? — Mindset Universe
Hi, Jon here from Mindset Universe and in this post I’m going answer the question how to reduce anxiety before public speaking. By the way, you can also watch the full video on this HERE.
By the way, how about another great way to reduce worrying and a FREE Anxiety Journal which I know you’re going to love.
So what is the most common anxiety fear? For many people it’s having to speak in public.
And this panic can manifest itself as panic and anxiety weeks or even months before the actual event but it doesn’t have to be this way!
So, what am I talking about when I say public speaking?
Well, it doesn’t have to mean the traditional ‘podium’ events with hundreds of eager listeners.
It can be as simple as a presentation at work or even something over zoom to your boss and colleagues.
Even simpler, you might just be expected to give an opinion in a meeting or be asked for an alternative suggestion.
Either way, these events can fill many people with absolute dread, but it doesn’t have to be this way.
So why do we panic during public speaking?
I’ve found that this stems from the fear of being incapacitated by anxiety and then being unable to complete what you were saying or worse, forgetting what you were talking about in the first place!
Let me share one of my recurring thoughts that made me ask how to reduce anxiety before public speaking in the past.
When it was getting near my turn to take control of the presentation at work, I would start to get nervous and then imagine that I could just jump through the window and run away.
Sometimes this ‘daydream’ was so vivid that I would have to give myself a shake to get back to reality!
So how should a person with an anxiety issue tackle public speaking?
These sensations are unlikely to go away overnight. You need to approach them in a new way!
Many top speakers have anxiety and some of it might be worse than what you and I have experienced.
But they manage to channel this nervousness and put on a ‘good show’.
So, try not to dwell on these feelings. Just accept them for what they are, feelings!
2. Is Anxiety dangerous?
Well, the great news here is that the average healthy person can experience very extreme anxiety and not be affected physically.
Even if you don’t fall into this category (join the club!) then you would be amazed at how much of the anxiety and panic that we can feel is just in the mind and will pass pretty quickly.
3. Do you think the audience even notices?
Again, a quick example from my past!
I can remember doing a lot of public speaking to small and large audiences.
And I can vividly remember feeling terrified and for some reason, my left foot tapping wildly when I was speaking!
But you know what, the audience never noticed.
I wasn’t the best speaker but was considered to be ok. That’s completely different to the way anxiety made me feel!
So what is the answer?
You need to keep saying to yourself that “I am not in danger and these sensations will pass”.
And realize that ‘anxiety’ doesn’t control you and is NOT a threat.
Anxiety and panic will come back only because you are afraid of the fear of anxiety.
What I mean is that you become fearful that the next anxiety attack will really knock your socks off and destroy your public speaking.
The great news is it won’t.
If you feel a wave of initial anxiety before your next public speaking event, then react with confidence.
Say to yourself that this anxiety is just a feeling and that it isn’t a threat. It’s a normal rush of adrenaline that even the most confident of people experience.
You can even think of anxiety like this:
“There you are, I’ve been wondering when you would arrive. I’ve been expecting you to show up and by the way, I am not in the least threatened by any of the strange sensations you are creating. I am completely safe here.”
So how do you feel? Has this helped with your public speaking anxiety?
Be sure to let everyone know how you feel in the comments.
Thanks for reading and try not to worry when you don’t have to.
Jon
Mindset Universe
Originally published at https://mindsetuniverse.com on February 21, 2021.
