A
female
age
30-35,
anonymous
writes:I've recently posted questions on here about doing presentations and some people gave some advice saying that I need to make sure that I am prepared and everything however I don't think this is the problem. Weeks before the presentation I get really panicky and on edge all the time and then a few days before or the night before I'll have a shortness of breath, I'll be really hot and start sweating and I'll start to feel really dizzy. I also start to feel sick and sometimes I actually am sick. The feeling I get is something I've never felt before this started happening. It's like a feeling of dread, like something really bad is going to happen and I don't know what and I can't stop it. When I'm doing the presentation all of the above starts to happen and I'll feel really sick. I know people are going to say its only a few nervous but it's getting out of control and I've never had nerves like this before. Before any presentation I make sure that I have prepared properly, I do practice runs at home, I prepare cards to read from and make sure that I read slow and clearly but this doesn't stop what is happening.It is starting to affect my day-to-day life and I'll start to panic before I leave the house and when I go to college. I feel like something bad will happen or that everyone is staring at me. I just don't know how much more I can take because it's controlling my life. Please can anyone help? x Reply to this Question
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female
reader, Abella  +, writes (1 April 2011):
 hi, i am very sorry that your feelings are coming in to give you such a dreaded feeling about giving a presentation.
Sounds like you are having a panic attack where your anxiety levels skyrocket when you start thinking about speaking to an audience in public.
Breathing can help calm you in these situations.
Find a quiet calm place. Take in a big deep breath. Hold it for 10 seconds and
exhale. Repeat this 10 times. That should start to calm you a little.
I googled 'panic attacks' to find you a definitive site. But so many sites (re panic attacks) were really good that i have confidence you will find some really good detailed advice from around the globe on overcoming panic attacks.
The first time i had to give a presentation in front of strangers (not people i had met before) i recall that my knees were literally trembling. I felt horrible all over.
And i knew presentations would continue.
So i joined a public speaking group that met once a month to improve one's ability to speak in public. And after each presentation a skilled adjudicator gave us a public assessment. My earliest assessments were terrible. But slowly i improved. And i picked up lots of tips, like speak slowly, have a structure. Tell them what you are going to tell them, tell them, then tell them what you told hem,
Practise the opening many times.
Practise.
Practise.
And now i love public speaking. And even if it is a talk i have done many times i still practise multiple times before the day.
Eventually you will overcome this.
But check out all the tips on panic attacks to see if that can address the temporary problem you are having.
Good luck,
Abella
A
male
reader, C. Grant  +, writes (28 March 2011):
 The other two responses are great. I'll just add, think about how you feel when you're watching someone else give a presenation. Are you sitting there hating them, judging them, thinking they're stupid? Or are you wishing them well, knowing how little they want to be doing it, and empathizing with how nervous they are? 99% of your audience is wishing you well, just as you are when you're in the audience.
I was just like you, until I got a job that required me to speak in public frequently. I also had to sit through a lot of dreadful presenations. That made me realize that the audience more or less had to be there, so if I could make the 20 or so minutes of listening to a presentation any more tolerable, they'd be grateful. And it's true.
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A
female
reader, TEM +, writes (28 March 2011):
 Did you know that, after death, public speaking is the second greatest fear? You are not alone in feeling this way. Most people dread getting up before a group to give a presentation.
Do you know that just about everyone else in your class is sitting there worrying about giving their presentation? Believe it or not, they are too busy being scared themselves to think about what you are doing.
Being prepared, as you have been, does alleviate a lot of fear for most people, but it doesn't sound like it is working for you. If this starts to spread to other areas, and you really feel that it's much more than jitters, perhaps you can make an appointment with one of the counselors at the college. If not with one of them, then perhaps with your doctor. People do not need to suffer with something like this today. Your doctor will understand. Many people have this fear.
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A
female
reader, anonymous, writes (28 March 2011): I used to be deathly afraid of presentations too. I've actually considered dropping college classes that required presentations but of course, this isn't an option if you're studying business.Seems like you're over thinking it. You probably psyched yourself out so often that you feel the physical effects. Ask yourself this: what is the worst that can happen? You know your material better than anyone else. Even if you blank out no one is going to laugh at you. Practice in front of a group of friends so you get used to feeling comfortable. Then you can picture yourself talking to friends instead of a whole class, and replicate this feeling during the actual presentations. I overcame my fear by telling myself how insignificant giving a presentation is in the big picture. Think about it this way: what are you doing when other people are presenting? Chances are you tune out sometimes. Reminding yourself that the class is probably not 100% listening might make you less nervous. Eye contact is important once you get more experience, but right now try looking between the students so you don't feel intimidated. Remember, you're one out of many and to the audience they're just listening to one presentation after another. Keep reminding yourself all that's gonna happen is you say your piece and sit down. Nothing will make you stand out in a negative way. I know this sounds weird but I used to tell myself the worst that can happen is my presentation will be so boring that people will tune out and forget I ever presented. Mind over matter.In the weeks leading up to a presentation try to keep yourself busy so you don't spend time thinking about it and getting nervous. I've had some of the most outgoing and athletic male classmates - people you never expect to get nervous. But when it came time to present, some of their hands shook so badly they couldn't hold up an index card. If you can't overcome your fear on your own, there are "Toastmasters" clubs available at many colleges that help with public speaking. You may want to join one. Sorry about the long comment! I've personally gone through this so I really hope I helped you somehow. Good luck!!
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A
reader, anonymous, writes (28 March 2011): Hi! I actually just did a presentation myself last week and before that day happened I was feeling all the emotions you are having. I'm not good at standing up in front of people and talk because of what they would think or say, but if you look at most of the students in class while someone is presenting most of them are either on their phone or doing something and not paying attention. So my advice is just get up there and have fun, as long as you have everything ready and you know what your talking about you'll do great! Now if you need to look at someone in class look at the teacher coz he/she will be marking you not the students. I wish you luck! Stop, breath, and smile! Hope that helps!
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A
male
reader, anonymous, writes (28 March 2011): The best way to improve this is practice, practice, practice. And what better way to practice than to do it with a bunch of other people in the same position! A very popular organization for this is called Toastmasters. It is very big here in the United States. I did some research and it looks like there is a branch in the UK as well (just Google Toastmasters UK). I recommend joining this because it will not only improve your confidence, but you will learn the nuances of simply giving an effective presentation. Good luck!
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A
female
reader, TwilightFan19 +, writes (28 March 2011):
Ok This can be very hard sometime but what I do cause I am also terrified of giving presentations is I take a deep breath befor I'm up and think to myself what im going to say I also look in a mirror and talk that's what u can do for practice its easy and simple the hard thing is I'm not very popular well I was but it was cause I was in a group but I stoped hanging out with them cause they weren't the nicest people so that's hard when no one likes u but I'm sure u will do fine just practice In front of mirror. I also say to myself no ones gonna pay attention I mean who like listing to people talk about books and crap I no I don't so I just space out but the thing is act like ur having fun up there cause then u look like u dont really care about what there thinking thats what I do and it ends up ok but don't be the last to cause then if u make a fool out of urself then people r gonna remember u so I always am the fifth or third one to go so I can get it over and done with. Hope this helped (:
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