Public Speaking Panic Attack Problems
This article sheds some light on panic attacks and public speaking. How do you prepare for public speaking if you are prone to panic attacks? If you have a panic attack while speaking in public, what do you do and how do you recover?
Public speaking and panic attacks
It’s a fact – for people who wouldn’t normally venture to speak at a public convention, panic attacks can appear so quickly that they immediately feel as if they can’t breathe.
A public speaking panic attack can be one of the more troublesome of all the different kinds of panic attack. If a person is lucky enough and gets through it the first few times it happens, the real problems can be averted. However, that’s not the case with many people.
It’s true that most people have had this kind of panic attack. I mean – who wouldn’t panic at the thought of speaking in front of a crowd of people? The problems come when we don’t manage to overcome the fear and things just get worse. There’s usually the feeling of not being able to breathe properly, often accompanied by a dry mouth. Then comes confusion and fear, followed by strange irrational thoughts of disaster and catashrophe.
If these panic attack symptoms sound familiar to you, you’re one of many who suffer from public speaking panic attacks.
The real danger with public speaking panic attacks is that they can grow so that panic sets in even when there is no public speaking. Eventually, the anxiety practically takes over the person’s life.
A lot of people who have suffered a public speaking panic attack can laugh about it afterwards – that is once they realize they haven’t actually died from the experience. But in truth, some people will suffer the after-effects for years. It’s important that these people contact a medical professional and seek guidance for dealing with the panic attacks.
Public speaking panic attack recovery
If it’s been a few hours or so since your public speaking panic attack and you are still suffering, it may be an idea to talk about it to someone else. It’s a proven fact that sharing your experience with another person who understands your situation can help a lot. If the panic attack symptoms persist even after talking to someone else, please do consult a doctor or medical professional.
Explain the details of your public speaking panic attack and the fact that it hasn’t gone away. It may be that your doctor can resolve the issues in one visit, but don’t worry about it if they can’t. It’s not uncommon for counseling to take a few sessions to have the desired effect.
The main thing to remember is that this is a curable condition and given enough time and understanding you can be cured of your public speaking panic attacks.
7 Responses to “Public Speaking Panic Attack Problems”
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I used to have huge panic attacks when giving speeches, but I started working with hypnosis and yoga and a few other things. Thankfully I got through it after some work. Great info!
I’m in middle school and I started having panic attacks this year. Its been hard to find helpful information to help me get over panic attacks. My worst problem is speaking in front of my class for reports. Thanks so much for these tips.
I cannot speak in front a crowd of people at all because My voice starts to shake and get broken up and I get really nervous about it. I’m not sure if I should go to the doctor or not. I don’t know if these are panic attacks or that I’m just nervous. I’ve had this for about two years now. Can someone help me please??
Hi Dave.
I also have fear of public speaking. It was so bad I took a course with toastmasters of america. After attending a number of meetings and not speaking in front of the group I realized that it didnt help. What I do now is be really well prepared beforehand. Practice the speech many times. Do some deep breathing (slowly) right before you talk so you have a lot of oxygen and your wont lose your breath. Also I tell the people that I am alittle nervous and they relax and it loosens me up.
Hey I have the same exact problem as Audrey and Dave.
I used to have a LOT of insecurities, that is what caused the panic and anxeity but I got over them. But I didn’t get over my panic attacks. I’m a freshman and I cant do this for the rest of my life it has taken over and I can’t let it. I need help. Should I go to a doctor? Can my doctor perscribe me pills?
Because of this I feel I like I just want to give up on school and I cant. I’m so social and very liked at my school I am just not good at public speaking, I lose breathe, get woosey and my voice shakes it’s embarrasing. I am so strong and it tears me down when people see my weaknesses.
HELP PLEASE!
I’ve just started college a few months ago and my first project is coming up on Monday. It’s a group project and we will all have to talk about the bit that we were responsible for. Each person is given 2 slides each and a minimum of 2 minutes to talk about it. It may seem silly but I’m not even sure I will be able to do those 2 min.
I’ll will let you in on where I developed my fear. It all started in secondary school where a guy called Fergus had this problem (6 years ago)… He would be asked to read in class and after about 30 lines or so his voice started to shake quite noticeably… Everyone giggled when it happened. I was so embarrassed for him. I used to hate listening to him read because it made me nervous. After a year or so of this I was asked to read one day in class… I felt fine for about 30 seconds when I started to feel like I couldn’t breath, it got to the stage where I had to ask the teacher to pass the reading on. At the time I remember covering it up by saying I had a sore voice but that excuse didn’t last long.
For years I dodged reading until I got into the top English class where the teacher love it so much he used to do it everyday. What annoys me so much is that in that class that teacher knew I had the problem but he felt that the best way for me to get rid of it was to make me read every other day instead of talking to me and teaching me things like breathing. That year I felt so down.
Now it is at the stage (I can’t believe I am saying this) where I dread a 2 minute speech? Monday is the last straw… If I don’t get through that I definitely need help.
I have been dealing with this since my freshman year in college. Now I am 32. I have moved along with my career. I have moved to middle management, but there is still the uncertainty with the future. I hate presentations and I am working on my doctorate degree in business (my 4th degree). I have a genius IQ (130+) but I’m ultimately controlled by my thoughts. Panic attacks set in and completely handicap my ability to become an executive. I constantly get praised for my work and panic sets in when I have to present to upper management. In college, there were times where I had to have someone speak for me during class. I feel I could be much more advanced in my career if I didn’t have panic attacks, but I feel intelligent people will make their way. I have always dreamed of being a professor, but my classroom anxiety keeps me from that. I am a social person…so it is confusing to me how I react in a classroom setting. I am an upper middle class guy, but I feel I have the ability for more, My anxiety holds me back. I would love to hear more stories like mine….at this point in time (being 32), I feel there will never be an answer for me…