Anyone else have a fear of public speaking.

[makaveli25]

I have an anxiety disorder that has plagued me since I was a little kid. Certain situations like giving presentations, being the center of attention, confrontation with people of authority really skyrocket my anxiety. I would like to get better at public speaking. I have really embarrassed myself a few times by almost waking out of a class when the teachers would make us give one. I get so nervous I feel like I'm going to have a heart attack. I know I need to desensitize myself to it. Any getbiggers have any tricks to help with this?

[Bindare_Dundat]

I have an anxiety disorder that has plagued me since I was a little kid. Certain situations like giving presentations, being the center of attention, confrontation with people of authority really skyrocket my anxiety. I would like to get better at public speaking. I have really embarrassed myself a few times by almost waking out of a class when the teachers would make us give one. I get so nervous I feel like I'm going to have a heart attack. I know I need to desensitize myself to it. Any getbiggers have any tricks to help with this?

Yeah. Lay off the weed.

In all seriousness, 90% of the people in the room feel the way you do. How go you feel while they are presenting? Are you being totally critical? Probably not and chances are they are not either so stop being so hard on yourself, grab the situation by the balls and give'r.

[Soul Crusher]

I have an anxiety disorder that has plagued me since I was a little kid. Certain situations like giving presentations, being the center of attention, confrontation with people of authority really skyrocket my anxiety. I would like to get better at public speaking. I have really embarrassed myself a few times by almost waking out of a class when the teachers would make us give one. I get so nervous I feel like I'm going to have a heart attack. I know I need to desensitize myself to it. Any getbiggers have any tricks to help with this?

1.  When you realize that 90% of the audience shares the same fear they will be receptive. 

2.  Keep it short and sweet 

3.  Start with a joke or something funny and everyone will loosen up. 

 

[freespirit]

You'll be fine if there are no getbiggers in the audience. 

[Montague]

I have an anxiety disorder that has plagued me since I was a little kid. Certain situations like giving presentations, being the center of attention, confrontation with people of authority really skyrocket my anxiety. I would like to get better at public speaking. I have really embarrassed myself a few times by almost waking out of a class when the teachers would make us give one. I get so nervous I feel like I'm going to have a heart attack. I know I need to desensitize myself to it. Any getbiggers have any tricks to help with this?

Honestly, personality is a BIG part of it. Being born with a natural ability to address a crowd well is a major determining factor.
Many people aren’t.

Like most things, practice will help. The more you do anything, the more comfortable you’ll feel doing it.
Look for a platform that offers you the chance to speak before others.
A town hall meeting is a good place because you’ll probably get fired up over some asshole’s ideas about how your tax money should be spent, etc. and the motivation and adrenaline will assist you in your delivery.

Anger/passion can be your “training wheels,” so to speak. Eventually, you’ll grow accustomed enough to speaking that you won’t give it much thought and you'll be doing it rather effortlessly.

[makaveli25]

I'm very sensitive to adrenaline. The huge surge causes me to shake and really look like an idiot. I think people are laughing at me or they think I must be crazy so It makes it a million times worse. I just need to practice it more I guess. I'm going to sign up for a public speaking course.

[Soul Crusher]

I'm very sensitive to adrenaline. The huge surge causes me to shake and really look like an idiot. I think people are laughing at me or they think I must be crazy so It makes it a million times worse. I just need to practice it more I guess. I'm going to sign up for a public speaking course.

Look up toastmasters 

[dustin]

I'm very sensitive to adrenaline. The huge surge causes me to shake and really look like an idiot. I think people are laughing at me or they think I must be crazy so It makes it a million times worse. I just need to practice it more I guess. I'm going to sign up for a public speaking course.

Beta blockers, my man.

Cutting back on the ganja definitely helps, as does practicing public speaking. But I was AMAZED at how well beta blockers worked for curbing the shakes. As it's name implies, they literally do the exact opposite of things like ephedrine. I don't get too edgy when I take ephedrine, but if I take beta blockers I'm calm as FUCK and nothing can agitate me.

I took them because of my migraines even though I knew I wouldn't take them for long because you can get fat easier on them. But it was an amazing experience even on a low dose. I never thought of having too much social anxiety, but I could talk to supervisors and managers with supreme clarity.

If I have interviews or anything like that I'll take some the night before and then before the event. I gave some to my dad for his class 1 road test and he aced it. It's good to keep on hand for things like this. In the end though, you should still try working on it sans drugs but consider them for hugely important events like job interviews and stuff.

[sync pulse]

Look up toastmasters 

Indeed Toastmasters,...its a group for people who want to practise public speaking,...and some people actually develop a "fan following."  Dale Carnegie is another...

[Montague]

I'm very sensitive to adrenaline. The huge surge causes me to shake and really look like an idiot. I think people are laughing at me or they think I must be crazy so It makes it a million times worse. I just need to practice it more I guess. I'm going to sign up for a public speaking course.

It sounds like practice is still your best bet.
A PS class is a good idea since most people will be there for similar reasons.
There’s no reason to be intimidated by them because they’re in the same boat as you.

I think you really just need to overcome a mental barrier: maybe you’re giving your audiences too much credit.
Consider who you’re speaking to; don’t underestimate, but try not to overestimate people, either.
There’s no need to worry as if you’re addressing Parliament…unless you’re addressing Parliament.

[sync pulse]

Don't go underground for this,...use a doctor,...if you use the wrong beta blockers or too strong a dose you can stop your heart.

[Radical Plato]

I have an anxiety disorder that has plagued me since I was a little kid. Certain situations like giving presentations, being the center of attention, confrontation with people of authority really skyrocket my anxiety. I would like to get better at public speaking. I have really embarrassed myself a few times by almost waking out of a class when the teachers would make us give one. I get so nervous I feel like I'm going to have a heart attack. I know I need to desensitize myself to it. Any getbiggers have any tricks to help with this?

Just get real angry, I can say anything to anyone when I'm angry  
Oh, and the speaking isnt the problem - your projections about how you might be negatively peceived create anxiety increasing your chances of being negatively received creating a viscious circle - You need to remember the homos you are talking too are just as fucked up in life as you are - their shit stinks just as bad - and the majority are probably more full of shit than you.  Accept that you may not be well received.  Also it easy to talk about something we are truly passionate about, perhaps the topic sucks.  I am a great public speaker, only because I believe everybody else is less intelligent than me, even if they aren't.  And if they dont like what I have to say, well, they can go hire a shrink.  Fuck em, just pretend it's Wrestlemania, and you're Hulk Hogan - Go get em Tiger - PS Maybe watch some Anthony Robbins

Tony was good enough for Chuck Lidell

[ Invalid YouTube link ]

[makaveli25]

A lot of good replies here. Thank you all.

[Tapeworm]

I imagine the audience picturing me naked.

[haider]

I imagine the audience picturing me naked.

[Deadpool]

I imagine the audience picturing me naked.

lololoz

[newmom]

shockingly I never had a problem with speaking in public

[Radical Plato]

shockingly I never had a problem with speaking in public

Yeah, and us men have been trying to get women to shut the fuck up since.

[_bruce_]

The only thing that can really desensitize you is changing the thought of being a person that has these issues.
I've been living for a long time with anxiety(various), though different from yours, and repeated exposure to the "threat" ain't really a cure. Setting a different mind set and transforming yourself into it over time helps. The repeated exposure helps to keep "cool" during the action, but most of the time the buildup before that happening can override any adopted sovereignty.

[Butterbean]

Some good responses in this thread (although I know nothing about beta-blockers so I can't comment on that).

- You need to remember the homos you are talking too are just as fucked up in life as you are - their shit stinks just as bad - and the majority are probably more full of shit than you.  Accept that you may not be well received.  Also it easy to talk about something we are truly passionate about, perhaps the topic sucks.  

Also, there is alot of wisdom in the above quote....though I may have worded it differently 

[BayGBM]

I have an anxiety disorder that has plagued me since I was a little kid. Certain situations like giving presentations, being the center of attention, confrontation with people of authority really skyrocket my anxiety. I would like to get better at public speaking. I have really embarrassed myself a few times by almost waking out of a class when the teachers would make us give one. I get so nervous I feel like I'm going to have a heart attack. I know I need to desensitize myself to it. Any getbiggers have any tricks to help with this?

This a common "fear."  The only way to get over it is to do it.  A lot.  I got over it when I started teaching.  Lecturing to students in groups large and small gets you over the public speaking thing real quick.  At least it did for me.  I recall when I was in grad school there was a woman who ended up leaving the program because she could not handle lecturing in front of students.  She had your disorder to the nth degree.  Since teaching was a required part of the program, she ended up quitting.  A shame. 

[Heisenberg]

Back in school, I used to gladly take zeros on projects that required presentations, Then, I discovered drinking before stressful situations gave me tremendous courage, but you have to try really hard not to slur, lol!

[theheman]

I think people are laughing at me or they think I must be crazy so It makes it a million times worse. I just need to practice it more I guess.

That's similar to the way I feel if I want to approach a woman that I like and want to get to know better.  I just avoid it by telling myself I just need to lean down more and build up more muscles.  I know that doesn't help your situation any but I just wanted to share that.

Makaveli you seem like an intelligent fellow it doesn't seem like you have lack of things to say.  Do meditation and hypnosis, find that moment where you're like at peaceful and calm.  Keep referring back to that moment whenever you feel anxiety kick in.  Some people take a deep breath and put a certain look on the face that makes them feel confident.  Main thing is you have to have a reference point in your life where you can refer back to feel whatever you want to feel.

[Nirvana]

I can speak/perform to large audiences easily.

it's 1 on 1 conversation where I get awkward.