Public Speaking Panic Attacks

[Guest]

In the past year I began suffering from "panic attacks" when talking in front of a group. The problem is I have to do this all of the time at work. When I was younger, I use to turn red in front of a group. Somehow I gained confidence for public speaking and seemed to get over it. I went into a job where I had to run or participate in meetings and give small lectures. I was actually liking it.. until one day, I had a panic attack in the middle of a speech. It was the worse day of my life... ever since then I have had panic attacks when talking in groups. This isn't good as I have purposely redirected my job to not having to talk in groups if I can help it... I have a feeling it comes from self-esteem and confidence issues... this psychological stuff is horrible... any ideas?

 

[Guest]

I had the same problems as a kid. I always would freak if I heard we had to do some sort of class presentation. After awhile, I just became really apathetic towards it..and just said what I had to really fast. Honestly, I don't remember how I delt with it..I think if the kids bothered me at all, I'd have my mom call the teacher and remind them that school is a place of learning, not a place of emotional belittlement.

 

[MorningStar]

Hi Marshall, I think what is happening to you is due to the 'flight-or-fight' response of the brain. Your experience of a frightful panic attack in the middle of a speech is stored in memory; whenever the brain anticipates a similar situation happening, it also expects the panic attack to follow. In the attempt to avoid the painful outcome, it then produces a flight response on your part.

 

[Guest]

This is absolutely incredible. Your comments appeared as though I had written them. I too was nervous when I was younger and in front of groups. I remember as a sophomore taking a speech class and being very very nervous. As I got older however, I became more confident and eventually my career took me to running meetings, speaking in front of large groups, and really liking the process.....until one day.....when out of nowhere, I had a panic attack while giving a presentation. From that day on, I've had increased anxiety and have purposely tried to avoid speaking situations completely. I'm lost, frustrated, confused on how this could happen, and it's completely affecting my current role. I too would like some assistance if someone could point me in the right direction.

 

[DDNatureLover]

When you had the panic attack in the middle of a speech, was that in front of the group you now speak in front of? If so, how did you handle it? Assuming the group is supportive, perhaps it would help to explain the situation? In some cases, people can be very supportive, but of course you have to be careful giving out information that can be used against you, especially if your workplace is not a supportive environment, and you don't think it would be well received.


I used to be very anxious about reading in class, public speaking, etc. They're still not my favorite activities, but I was able to work my way through it with a ton of practice and repetition. I used breathing techniques and visual imagery, as well as repeated rehearsals ahead of time.

 

[Amcrazygirl32]

I like the fight or flight reference. I think this is exactly what happens when we're faced with a situation that we might not be comfortable with. Anxiety is caused from being extremely uncomfortable so it makes perfect sense that our brain is wanting us to get out of the situation. I used to have this happen to me when I was younger but as I learned coping techniques and such, it got better through the years.

 

[hades_leae]

What did you do when the panic attack happened? Did you just freeze up or blurt out something you didn't mean to say? When ever I did interviews for jobs in the past, I used to freeze up and you would notice if you payed attention when looking into my eyes. When they'd be asking questions about my past work history, I couldn't speak on it right away, although I had a lot of experience.


The thoughts were just mixed up in my mind until I made myself come to my senses and get right.

 

[John Snort]

You need to find some sort of anchor, marshallmathers2835. Something which grounds you when you feel the anxiety attack coming. It's easier said than done I know but I've known someone who has social anxiety who was forced to get a job as a teacher. He would (previously) freeze up when addressing people but he was dead broke and couldn't get another job. Hate it though he did, teaching was the job for him. The first week was hard and he could have quit but the thought that his family would probably go hungry if he didn't get up each morning and go working . . . that's what kept him going — a motivation greater than his fear. That's why I said if you can get an anchor — that good reason why you can't freeze — you'll be able to fight and overcome the panic attacks.

 

[rz3300]

Oh I am terrible at public speaking, and I am sure that I am not alone there. I do like the idea of having an anchor, like John Snort mentioned above, and that certainly helps when you feel that dreaded feeling that the panic is coming. I have gotten better at getting them out of the way, so to speak, and I usually have a little mini panic attack while waiting in my seat while others are going, knowing that I am soon up. It also just depends on the day, and on the audience, and the subject, because the more comfortable I feel the easier it is to handle.

 

[xTinx]

Panic attacks before a public speaking event may have something to do with confidence but self-esteem is a different issue altogether. The thing is even the most popular performers and learned educators experience stage fright every now and then. The trick to just go through your source of anxiety no matter what and you'll realize that the panic is only temporary. Along the way, you'll gradually gain more confidence and enjoy the ride.


Self-esteem is different. People who appear confident may or may not have self-esteem issues (Some are just good at hiding). Confidence and self-esteem are not exactly two sides of the same coin but they are certainly related.

 

[Dilof]

In general I feel like anxiety speaking in front of a large audience is rather normal. I'm completely fine with people nowadays and I didn't use to be, but talking in front of a whole class or group of people with all eyes on me is obviously very uncomfortable and I stutter a lot. My coping mechanism for this is to just focus on the work and stop the repetitive thoughts in my head.

 

[shcoo]

I am in a weird middle ground here. I have terrible anxiety about public speaking UNLESS it is a topic I am really excited about and want to teach people about. My passion and enthusiasm are capable of trumping my anxiety there. However, of course I've had to give presentations on things that did not interest me at school and at work. That was rough. Having good note cards, taking deep breaths, and looking at the wall toward the back of the crowd instead of at their faces can help. Have a flow chart or structure of your speech in your head so you can have an ending in sight and not feel like you are rambling forever on stage. If you are bad at gesturing or talking with your hands or afraid you might be shaking too much, put them in your belt loops or behind your back.


Since you had the one bad panic attack, your body is probably conditioned and "triggered" by similar settings. Try to ease yourself back into it - practice your next presentation in front of a group of friends, or practice giving unrelated speeches or toasts at parties. Please know that you are judging yourself so much harsher than your audience ever will. It is not as embarrassing as you think. I wish you the best!

 

[DecMikashimota]

In the past year I began suffering from "panic attacks" when talking in front of a group. The problem is I have to do this all of the time at work. When I was younger' date=' I use to turn red in front of a group. Somehow I gained confidence for public speaking and seemed to get over it. I went into a job where I had to run or participate in meetings and give small lectures. I was actually liking it.. until one day, I had a panic attack in the middle of a speech. It was the worse day of my life... ever since then I have had panic attacks when talking in groups. This isn't good as I have purposely redirected my job to not having to talk in groups if I can help it... I have a feeling it comes from self-esteem and confidence issues... this psychological stuff is horrible... any ideas?[/quote']
The same happened to me. I used to shut down in front of crowds during high school classes, but eventually I got over how shy I was and learned how to speak in front of crowds. It was just recently that I had an attack during an open mic and couldn't remember any words or anything, I had was to run off stage and head to the restroom. It felt like one of the worst days of my life as well, and everyone was so confused because it wasn't my first open mic. Now no one brings it up even though they notice that I haven't done an open mic since that day.

 

[Deeishere111]

My fear was more internal. When I was in my early to late twenties I had to teach a class every week. On the day I had to actually teach I would get an upset stomach. When I actually got up to speak I was ok and could get through it. The problem was the wait and knowing that I had to do this. If that makes any sense. What I tried to do is to make sure I had good notes so I can start from there. If I kept focus and people started to respond to what I was saying I became very calm and had fun.

 

[Corzhens]

It was an almost panic attack when I first made a presentation of a project in the office with the vice president in the panel. My hands were so cold and I could feel my mouth feeling somewhat frozen so that I was talking like I had something in my mouth. And before I could excuse myself, the vice president spoke about the presentation that the visual chart I made was excellent. In an instant, my condition changed for the better maybe because I seemed to have been encouraged. After that incident, I consulted the supervisor of the training department. That near-panic attacked could occur again, right? I was advised to just be prepared with whatever topic assigned to me and have the confidence by thinking positive. So that clearly means that negative thinking can be the root cause of panic attacks. But that was so many years ago. I got used to public speaking although it is confined to the office only. I don't know if I can talk in public like in a political rally.

 

[ReadmeByAmy]

My experience talking in front of many people is during our autobiography speech in our Public Speaking class in college. I was really so nervous when it is already my turn to deliver my speech. I knew what I will deliver but I am not looking straight in front of my classmates while I am speaking. And then when I am already finished and our professor praised me the way how I delivered my speech then my fears and panic attack calms down. After that the next speeches we had I am at ease already and I am already confident with myself.

 

[Robilas]

I have a similar problem, I get very nervous when I need to talk to a lot of people, and it becomes quite frustrating after a while since I can't improve my ability to control myself when talking in front of a large group of people. It mainly happens at my college and I really need to find a way to deal with it or it may become a bigger problem for my education.


Usually during classes or oral tests I'm not nervous at all, even if I need to talk directly to the teacher or to smaller groups, but being in presence of 15+ persons makes me very nervous and I can barely speak.

 

[oportosanto]

I've been there too. When I had the need to speak in public I get extremely anxious, my heart was beating faster and I could not make a proper presentation. What helped me a lot in this particular was to do those presentations at home out loud in front of a mirror. That gave me confidence and I felt better when the real deal happened.

 

[Panic57]

I hated public speaking so much growing up. I failed every public speaking assignment because I would stutter, stare at the back of the room instead of making eye contact, or forget my speech completely. It's a myth that you can practice enough that you can remember your speech perfectly. When I went to college, I found that I could get through a speech if I could shut the lights off and have people look at a slide presentation. Then I'm fine. So if I can get away from it I do presentations in the dark.

 

[NormaD]

I am an aspiring life coach and motivational speaker, and I have joined the local toastmasters club where we learn and practice public speaking. I do quite ok when it's just us at the club, I think mostly because I am so familiar with those guys and they all feel like close friends and family to me now, but the one time we went out to speak in front of a huge audience, I got such a huge panic attack when my turn came that I couldn't go on. I haven't tried again since, but I will never give up my dream of becoming a transformational speaker.