Fear of public speaking or Glossophobia is an anxiety disorder in which a person feels intense anxiety and fear in the event of speaking or performing in front of a specific audience. This is associated with the individual's fear of being evaluated or perceived in a negative way in social situations. Glossophobia can often be based on factors such as an individual's lack of self-confidence, fear of being evaluated negatively, sensitivity to social pressure, or negative speaking experiences in the past.
Glossophobia can limit an individual's personal and professional development, negatively affecting their ability to cope with job interviews, presentations or other public situations. However, this fear is usually treatable. Therapeutic approaches such as cognitive behavioral therapy, conversation practice, relaxation techniques and desensitization methods can help an individual cope with their fear of public speaking.
Symptoms of Public Speaking Anxiety
Symptoms of public speaking anxiety can occur at emotional, physical and behavioral levels. These symptoms are often focused on public speaking situations and can negatively affect an individual's daily life. Symptoms of public speaking anxiety:
- Excessive anxiety and fear of speaking situations.
- Feelings of embarrassment associated with fear of being evaluated by others.
- Experiencing intense excitement and nervousness before or during the speech.
- Feeling trembling in the hands, body or tone of voice.
- Excessive sweating of the hands, forehead or other parts of the body.
- Abdominal pain, nausea or digestive problems.
- A tendency to avoid or minimize public speaking situations.
- Voice trembling, stuttering or difficulty speaking.
- Avoidance of eye contact or not looking directly at others.
- Negative scenarios, fears of failure and worries about being criticized.
- Visualizing negative events and creating bad scenarios.
- Blocks of thought or forgetting words during speech.
These symptoms can vary from individual to individual and are related to the severity of public speaking anxiety. Professional support can be an effective way to understand and deal with these symptoms.
What Causes Public Speaking Anxiety?
Public speaking anxiety is a complex condition that can be caused by the interaction of many factors. The causes of this anxiety can vary from individual to individual, but generally the following factors can play a role:
Negative Experiences: Previous negative public speaking experiences can cause a person to avoid such situations and experience anxiety.
Performance Anxiety: The individual may be constrained by the constant worry of being evaluated. Meeting the expectations of others or the fear of being subjected to a negative evaluation can increase anxiety.
Social Phobia: Public speaking anxiety may be related to social phobia or social anxiety disorder. The individual may find it difficult to cope with the fear of being negatively evaluated or criticized by others.
Low Self-Esteem and Insecurity: Lack of self-confidence can increase public speaking anxiety. The individual may experience doubts about gaining the approval of others or being perceived in a positive light.
Cognitive Factors: Cognitive factors such as negative thought patterns, fear of failure or embarrassment can trigger public speaking anxiety.
Expectation and Perfectionism: Setting excessively high expectations for oneself and always wanting to perform perfectly can increase anxiety.
Genetic and Biological Factors: In some cases, genetic factors or biological factors can also be effective in the emergence of public speaking anxiety.
How to Overcome Fear of Public Speaking?
There are several effective ways to overcome the fear of public speaking. First, it is important to prepare well. Plan and work on your speech in detail. Gain confidence about your topic by doing research. Practice can also reduce the fear of speaking, as can starting by speaking in small groups.
Use breathing and relaxation techniques to calm down and deal with automatic negative thoughts. Starting slowly, taking small steps and seeking professional help are also important strategies. Finally, evaluating the positive feedback you receive can help you overcome the fear of speaking by increasing your confidence.