I have anxiety. I get so nervous when i want to speak that i pause or mumble, etc. What should I do?
338952
Currently I am taking Xanex and Lexapro. The Lexapro is working so well that I rarly have to use the Xanex. Lexapro has side effects as all drugs do, and they are super bad for the first few days (nausia, tired) but once you get past that it is great. I have been on it for 2 weeks and I went to the bank today without freaking out, and without Xanex.So I love it. I took Zoloft for a while and it made me feel different. In a bad weird way. I love the way that Lexapro makes me feel. Well I am not as sexually aroused and can't climax right now, but hey it's not perminant and it is going to fix things.
45971
Practice. That's the main thing that will help. I have that problem, and it helped me to remind myself that the person I am talking to is just a human - exactly like me... absolutely no more special, and therefore should have no power to make me nervous. Another thing I do that has helped is observe people with really good social abilities. It doesn't exactly make you more calm, but it shows you more options of how to act in situations when talking to people - which over time will make you more confident in yourself as you become more comfortable with the "talents" you've learned.
197480
The best way to be confident about what you speak is knowledge and passion. Forget about planned speeches. Know the subject you're going to speak about, "do your homework" so to speak, and maybe make a few note cards. Find something about which you have to speak that you can feel passionate about. I used to be terribly shy as well, but after a while, it came into perspective: what does it matter how people think about your public speaking? Many of them are probably as nervous as you are. Just do it. Don't overthink it; you'll just make yourself panic.
633240
Just try slowing down.  A brief pause while you collect your thoughts is perfectly acceptible.  It's nice when someone is answering a question if they pause first and give their words some thought.\n\nFocus on what you are trying to say, and don't feel rushed.  Maybe it would help to have a drink to use whenever you needed a moment to pause.\n\nhope that helps!
204399
calm down! it will be ok. i hate presenting too and i get really nervous and get the sweaty palms and everything. but i usually concentrate on what i have to say and hoping that i dont screw it up.hope i helped!
992720
If you are taking drugs, stop!! Even then it will take time before the voices stop talking to you. If it's not drug induced then you have a disorder, maybe schizophrenia. And you need to see a phschactric physician for this. Medication will alleviate it. Go to a mental health facility, before your so called friends have you doing something you cannot believe you did.
552150
FEAR OF SPEAKING IN PUBLIC.  This was really bad - I was even afraid of interviews (that's only one person), so I guess I was afraid of strangers, especially a whole bunch of them in an audience.  Yes, I conquered it. How?  I tried just trying to relax, think of the audience as just some people similar to me (didn't work for me.)  I was a basket case, couldn't even SIT in class and take my turn reading something out loud. Tried a tranquilizer too.  You can't fool your defense mechanism, and after a couple of years I discovered that what I was afraid of was being nervous and obvious, like shaking head, hands, weak legs, hard to talk, so that made me nervous and therefore afraid.  I went to a seminar designed to bully you into ridding your fear.  Long story short, I joined a Toastmasters' Club, shook with nervousness the first time the Table Topics leader called on me to give an opinion on the day's topic, I was so embarrassed.  But I went to all the meetings, did my speaking assignments, and overall it worked great, took about a year to gain the confidence I needed.  Won some speech contests beyond the club setting, held office in the club, and even became president.  My phobia stemmed from childhood feelings of inadequacey, inferiority, being afraid whether my mother approved of what I did.  Well, we're adults now, and have to just go forward.  Yes, I'm sure I'm not still bugged by it, because I've had plenty of experience in not being afraid. But I know what you mean.  In the beginning even after successes, I'd always think, "What if I'm afraid again?"  I would think of my successes, no matter how big or small.  Then I decided, "Well, if I do, I'll just speak anyway, the nervousness will go away and not be noticeable."  I also learned that when extremely nervous, we try to hold ourselves stiff so as not to shake, especially the head and neck.  We don't breathe enough, and that makes it worse.  Long winded, aren't I?  Just wanted to help.
157149
Eat a little something about an hour before your presentation - you don't want to pass out from low blood sugar due to your anxiety first of all. \n\nSecond, practice some breathing and relaxing exercises before your speech. Take a slow deep breath in with the nose, slow exhale from the mouth. Then do several mouth exercises - say the vowels A,E,I,O,U with very exaggerated facial muscle use - stretching each one as far as you can while saying them out loud. This will relax the facial muscles that you will use to speak as well as smile.\n\nForcing a smile, even when you don't feel it on the inside, really can improve your mood. \n\nDon't look directly at the people you are speaking to. Look just above their heads - they will not realize you are not actually looking at them.\n\nTry to relax. People are just people. To put it bluntly, we all still sit on the toilet, barf when we're sick, blow boogers out of our noses, do stupid things, have problems at home, etc. etc. etc. Don't ever put anyone on a pedestal, no matter who they are - it's easier to speak to people when you realize they are not above you.
574873
Its always good to break the ice with a joke or witty remark. Dont worry about being nervous and shaky, if you are doing a speech for school everyone knows what you feel like. Be your natural self - dont try to be extremely proper or news anchorman like. Just be yourself, study what you wanna say, so you dont have to use to many notes. Use gestures and mimik where appropriate.
1157754
I always get interrupted when talking and I hate it! Can't I at least finish a sentence. It's very irritating when someone cuts you off, I wish I weren't so afraid of what  someone would say because then  I'd tell them of! If it's an emergency then go for it but don't be rude about it.
1082879
Speak slowly and clearly, turn up your microphone's sensitivity, plug in headphones, and eliminate background noise. Your results will be much better.
946407
Practice your speech in front of friends/family first.  They will give you good practice and help suggest things you might not have noticed like you're moving your hands around too much.\nPut the speech in perspective.  Talk as though your speech is the most important thing in the world and you need to get out there and let the world know what you have to say.\nYou are too focused on what people will think and truthfully no one will really remember.\nAlso practice daily visualization of your perfect speech.  Imagine over and over how well it will go.  Don't negativity into your mind.  And just do it!  Turn your fear into a nice rush.\nEverything will go okay.
721921
Well, what brings it on? Do you get nervous in crowds? Is it being around too many people that gets you this way?\n\nIf it usually happens when you're in front of other people (and because you're in front of people), you might have an anxiety disorder. You can have those anxiety attacks at home, alone, too. Talk to your doctor. If that's what the problem is, there are some good anti-anxiety medications that might help you.
18640
Maybe when you are stressed out, you tend to yell quite a bit, and resolves in to losing your voice. You should definatly see your doctor, and talk to him about what happens......
386733
If your friend really wants to and desires to be a public speaker,then practice,practice,practice will better him.Yes,he will get nervous and stutter possibly,but the more you practice,the better he will get,and eventually he will get over his nervousness.I used to HAVE TO,get up and make public reports in High School,and then in College,and was sooooooooooo scared and nervous,but as i've gotten older,i've grown out of that fear of speaking my mind,anywhere,any time,which it is a freeing thing for me,as i used to be EXTREMELY SHY,now i'm as bold as a lion,and i dont do public speaking for a living,i just grew out of my shy,nervous shell that's all.
409003
If there is anyone that has ever had the kind of stage fright where you stop exhaling while you are talking and have a shaky voice, oh yeah, that's me.  \n\nI had the worst kind.  It started while I was reading a bible passage at the lecturn at my church when I was 17.  My voice was shaky, my face turned red and I just kept breathing in and not exhaling at all.  I thought I would pass out.  then in college I had to take speech class to graduate (I almost didn't take the class cause I didn't want to embarrass myself again).  Well, I took the class and ended up one of the best speakers in the class and got a 4.0.  Here is what I did:\n\n1)  when you are in front of everyone pause a few second and look at your audience and wait till you feel comfortable (if you have time for this).\n\n2)  BREATHE.  This is the ultimate best advice.  If you remember to breath in and out without stopping then your shaky voice will most likely only be recognized by you and not your audience.  Even when your body shakes.  The audience won't pick up on it.  Only you will.  Most people that have stage fright think that they see what you are feeling and noticing.  But, they really don't.\n\n3)  Remember that many of the most popular speakers in the world have had the worst stage fright.\n\n4)  Be confident and proud and that will help.\n\n5)  When you initially feel nervous and get the stage fright, just breathe, remember that they don't notice your physically nerves going, and especially remember that within the first 30 seconds to a minute the stagefright completely disappears.  You will actually feel it going away (I didn't believe it until it happened to me).  Just get through that initial fright and you will be fine.\n\nOne of the most proudest things in my life was getting over stage fright.  Well, I experience it every time I have to speak in front of people but just focus on those 3 things:  audience doesn't know your shaking, breathe, and know the stagefright will go away after 30 seconds or so.  I always focus on that and I do well.\n\nGOOD LUCK AND KNOW YOUR NOT ALONE.
605364
Think about being efficient.  Everytime you feel yourself getting excited about a topic and wanting to elaborate, hold off.  This may mean trying to limit your responses to 5 or six pleasant, well- planned words.  Try not to use adjectives- those can get on people's nerves.\nYou can contact a therapist or like it has been noted, a speech pathologist.  Those can be expensive- just try your friends and family, I'm sure they know about your chatty habit and all probably have a few opinions on how you can slow down.  Just like smoking, it will be a hard thing to quit, but you can do it!  And you will probably LOVE the results.