[MrsDarcy]

So, I'm not sure what to do about my anxiety...I can barely speak to people one-on-one. I start blushing & I can't look them in the eye. I can never relax around people, so I usually just stay alone, reading all the time.

I've been more upset about this lately...I'm a language major, yeah I know, silly right...& my grades have lowered, because of my poor performance in speaking in front of the class. We usually do presentations every week, plus class participation. It's so difficult to get up in front of the class & try to do my best. I never back out of an assignment, but it gets worse every time. I even have heard laughter (for real, not imagined) in the class before my presentations.

I can't go to therapy right now, because I'm too uncomfortable with the situation (among other reasons)..is there any way to get past this without therapy & medicine?

[Rhapsody]

I would suggest that YOU look into taking VALERIAN ROOT (a natural herb for depression, anxiety and sleep) and that YOU try to work on your fear by making sure that you go out into public at least one time a week and make sure that you are in places where you must interact of with other people, strangers will work well.

Good Luck....... Read as much as you can about ANXIETY online.

LoVe,
Rhapsody -

Yea it is possible I went from total panic if someone said something to me to speaking out publically against child sexual abuse without taking medication and without seeing a therapist for it. How I did it was one step at a time. first I started by giving people a quick smile if I was picking up the mail and so on and then when that became habit I started saying - "good morning" and "Hi" to those I recognized in passing. then after that became habit I would have very short and quick conversations by saying "Hi how are you today" and letting the other person do ost of the talking. you would be amazed by how much other people like to talk about themselves just by my saying hi how are you I learned so much about my neighbors and others on my street. From there is was all ok and just a matter of talking a little bit more each time.

Hang in there

[Perna]

I would do a lot of practicing with people you don't know; chat with the grocery store clerk (tell her your problem) and others like that. I'd go out each day and find someone to talk to (library check out people are good or reference librarians even better, go ask for help "searching" for something -- maybe materials about public speaking? If you can share your problem it might not make you feel so alone.

I think were I, at this time in my life, to hear laughter, I'd look in that direction and say something out loud like, "I hope that was supportive, nervous laughter?" and kind of chuckle myself. Ignoring things does not make them go away or help with them. I'd pretend my problems doing presentations were a monster in a dream chasing me and turn around and address it head on (if you get to pick your topics for your presentations, "make up" a dream and translate it?). I don't know anyone who actually had the thing chasing them in a dream catch them? But I do know people who confronted it and had it go away. Maybe write a story about conquering your problem?

Another thought, can you go to your teacher and share your problem and ask for her advice/help? I had trouble when I was taking French in high school, in the language lab, I was nervous and couldn't remember a thing in my head because I knew the teacher was listening. She went out one lesson and just left the lab tech and I didn't realize it but left it tuned in to me and because she had left I did much better at listening and following/responding. When she came back, because the mike had accidentally be left on I heard her and the tech discussing me and how much better I was doing as a result of the teacher leaving. That made a good connection in me that the teacher was trying to help (as opposed to being "out to get me" :-) I wasn't quite as scared after that. Talk to your teacher and, depending on her response, you might feel better and less pressure?