Public speaking nerves

I've tried breathing exercises and taking myself through it etc, but it just doesn't appear to be working. I'm getting worse in fact.

Another thing to remember when you speak, kind of like the picturing people in their underwear mantra only not as stupid, keep in mind that you genereally know more than most of the people you're talking to. They view you as the expert. They're not there to criticize your speaking style, they're there to get information from you. Also, remember all of the really bad speakers you've heard in your life, even at the senior level. Now, you're better than they are! You're doing just fine.

I'm just wondering does anyone use some kind of sedative or anxiety drug to help with this? For example, would half a valium or something help take the fear of the fear out of the situation and allow you to start building up a bit of confidence in your ability to speak publically? Could you then stop taking it after a period and find, hey presto, you're a wizz at this kind of stuff? Or is that ultimately an unhelful road to go down?

1. Like others have said, you're generally speaking cos you know more. Remember that your audience *wants* you to succeed / communicate well - not to fail.

2. Don't be afraid to speak to the speaking process. I quite often state that, because I want to make sure that I want to get, say, all three points across, I've made a couple of notes. Then I look at them, and number my thoughts. Like "first, there's the matter of...". This sense of structure helps you, but also your audience. Comments like "I need a moment to gather my thoughts" are also fine.

3. I wouldn't go down the drugs route. Not because they're intriniscally bad, but because it means that you're creating other opportunities to cloud your head with thoughts other than the basic information you want to impart. (ie "do I seem normal? or maybe drugged?"). For me, anxiety comes from being too self-aware of other impinging factors.

4. Remember that people really don't notice as much as you think they do. A trembling lip, or sweating, or a voice cracking...these seem catastrophic to you, but my (grad) students do this stuff everyday, and I really don't even see it anymore.

It happened again today and I felt like pretending to faint just so I could get out of the situation. I didn't though because I reckon once I start resorting to stuff like that, I may as well give up. I was really upset afterwards though.

The best way to get good at it is to keep doing it - but try to get some objective criticism on how to improve as you go.

Check with your doctor, but beta blockers could be the answer - they slow your heart rate down and make you less panicky. I've been prescribed them a few times when I've had stressful situations coming up, and they've been really effective.

I don't know if I put that right...someone who knows more can explain better, but that's the solution that was offered me when I was having anxiety attacks from the public speaking aspects of teaching. (Unfortunately I can't remember what type of medication it was suggested I try.) I eventually decided to give up my career ambitions rather than go through the daily torture of doing a job I didn't love enough otherwise, and I admire you for sticking with it. To get through the teaching until a time I could quit, the deep breathing Huck described helped immensely, as did reassuring myself that the anxiety attack would pass (simple as that sounds, it wasn't obvious when in the midst of panicking). Also it helps to remember that other people probably don't notice nearly as much as you do--they're more often concerned with how they're coming across instead.