[antisocialbutterfly]

Ok so in class today we were told we were going to be doing a speech after our break and I just do not want to do it. I hate public speaking, I always have. I've tried being confident, but it goes to crap, I shake like a leaf, my voice goes shaky and I go bright red. I literally cry and dread over the fact that I have to do this at some point. I can't do this anymore. I just don't want to go to school, then I could avoid all this crap and just do what I want to do. People are like "Oh everybody gets nervous - nerves help." But I just can't. Nerves don't help me at all, I've tried pretending i'm talking to a friend or pretending there is no one in the room, but it's no use. I just physically cannot get myself to do it. In the past, I would fake a sickie to get out of it until the point where I didn't have to do it anymore and I would just get an F and give no craps. But I cannot simply 'get out' of this anymore by being sick. I hate myself for being such a nervous wreck around people, but I just don't want to do this AT ALL. And I've even considered ending it all before a speech before, and I'm contemplating it again if I can't get the hell out of this. I need serious help.

I can understand how you could feel that way...... And I am sure you have heard the picture them in their underwear stuff. Or simply look "above" them (at the back wall) so you do not see any faces. And those can help.

For me it is a bit different. In some cases - I would totally freak out. But then again - I was the lead in several school plays...... so for me - I guess it is an attitude or a level of confidence that allows me to do it. And I had a LOT of fun in the performances.....

I hope you find that level of confidence too.

[SeekerOfLife]

Most of my life I felt the same way. A couple years ago I was asked to give a short talk about the need for counseling. Well, counseling/therapy has helped me a lot. Anyway, I figured if my speech was a flop, then no one would ever ask me to do it again. I kind of went in with that attitude. I did my best, but figured I was not good at this, and it was not likely to be repeated.

[shabur]

I was like you all through school; I never raised my hand, words fumbled out of my mouth when I was asked a question and there was no way that I could give a speech. I had no confidence in myself.

After I completed my schooling I worked in operations for a major retailer. I was the same way in meetings as I was in school. One day I realized that I needed to get over this fear to be able to progress into new positions, so I went to my boss and asked for help. He threw me right into it. I became a trainer for seasonal workers. I was comfortable in my knowledge I needed. Heck, I had written some of the policies that I was training.

My first class was AWFUL . I finished the first section in 2 hours instead of the allotted 4. That day I went home thinking what have I gotten myself into.

But I started to think more about it and I realized I had information that I knew very well that I needed to share with these new people. Each time I got better and better.

As I progressed up the ladder I was speaking to the senior management teams, in CEO meetings and large groups of people. If I became nervous I would always remind myself that I have information they don't have, but they needed to know to do their jobs better.

I was promoted from a store position to a regional one. I fell in love with that job. I had found my passion and speaking in front of people, regardless of who or how many, was very comfortable.

I didn't want to read from my paper, I wanted to talk to the audience so once I was comfortable with what I wanted to say I created a powerpoint that I printed out and used with the topics and bullet points of what was important. Also, I noticed I had a nervous, bad habit of fiddling with things like the paper clip that held my papers or whatever was in my pocket. So I left the paper clip in my office and took everything out of my pockets. I made sure there wasn't anything there that I could fiddle with.

I suggest to you that if you have a choice of what to talk about, pick something you know really well and are passionate about. Write out what you want to say and then practice-practice-practice. I did and I did it alone. And as you practice you can polish up what you have written.

Believe me, I know how hard it is, but it's one of those skills you will need as you progress through your life.

[Melmo]

Originally Posted by antisocialbutterfly

Ok so in class today we were told we were going to be doing a speech after our break and I just do not want to do it. I hate public speaking, I always have. I've tried being confident, but it goes to crap, I shake like a leaf, my voice goes shaky and I go bright red. I literally cry and dread over the fact that I have to do this at some point. I can't do this anymore. I just don't want to go to school, then I could avoid all this crap and just do what I want to do. People are like "Oh everybody gets nervous - nerves help." But I just can't. Nerves don't help me at all, I've tried pretending i'm talking to a friend or pretending there is no one in the room, but it's no use. I just physically cannot get myself to do it. In the past, I would fake a sickie to get out of it until the point where I didn't have to do it anymore and I would just get an F and give no craps. But I cannot simply 'get out' of this anymore by being sick. I hate myself for being such a nervous wreck around people, but I just don't want to do this AT ALL. And I've even considered ending it all before a speech before, and I'm contemplating it again if I can't get the hell out of this. I need serious help.

You need to talk to the teacher and see if there's anything you can do about not doing it. I'm the same way, I don't do public speaking.

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[clarehyun]

i am just like you, so far i have avoided 3 speeches/presentations this school year. i have numerous absences; pretending to be sick or actually getting sick from the anxiety.

there is another upcoming presentation i have to do and at this point i don't think i can escape it. i hate the feeling of being nervous and not being able to speak. my motivation is to just get it over with and pass the class. it's very difficult but i'm going to try to get through it. i suggest you do seek help, preferably talk to your teacher or find ways to motivate yourself. keep strong and good luck! heh, also hoping i don't mess up on my presentation.