Public speaking... anxiety. Or rather, sheer terror.

I have to do a 5-minute presentation on Wednesday, and I'm sick at the prospect of it. I've been pushing it out of my mind for a week now, but tonight I've come to the realisation that I am going to have start preparing for it. The problem is, I've never done a presentation in my life. Or at least, as far as I can remember. Moreover, I'm in a class of absolute geniuses (genii? I don't know...), and I have always felt as though they are more intelligent than me, so having to present MY thoughts to them is even more daunting, as I'll probably end up making really basic points.

To put it bluntly, I'm bricking it. I really don't want to go to the lecture, but I don't want to let myself down. I know I have to get over this fear sometime, and this would be a great opportunity, but like many times before I have a feeling that I'm doing to panic and run at the last moment.

//pathetic.

Reply 1

unfinished sympathy

15

Anonymous

I have to do a 5-minute presentation on Wednesday, and I'm sick at the prospect of it. I've been pushing it out of my mind for a week now, but tonight I've come to the realisation that I am going to have start preparing for it. The problem is, I've never done a presentation in my life. Or at least, as far as I can remember. Moreover, I'm in a class of absolute geniuses (genii? I don't know...), and I have always felt as though they are more intelligent than me, so having to present MY thoughts to them is even more daunting, as I'll probably end up making really basic points.

To put it bluntly, I'm bricking it. I really don't want to go to the lecture, but I don't want to let myself down. I know I have to get over this fear sometime, and this would be a great opportunity, but like many times before I have a feeling that I'm doing to panic and run at the last moment.

//pathetic.

i was like that, so i got an elastic band and played with it whilst i spoke. The tension you feel is placed upon the bands and thus taking your mind of your fear and onto the bands :smile:

bonne chance :smile:

it does work, i aced loads of orals using that method

Reply 2

somethingquitewonderful

2

Hey! Sometimes I go red when I speak in front of people but if you pretend you're alone in your bedroom it goes smoothly! Try it. :smile:

Reply 3

Fusion

20

Think about it when your watching other people talk in front of the class your not really paying 100% attention to them and looking at their bad points. Everyone fears public talking, its just a vital skill to have in life so look to the long term.

Reply 4

unfinished sympathy

15

somethingquitewonderful

Hey! Sometimes I go red when I speak in front of people but if you pretend you're alone in your bedroom it goes smoothly! Try it. :smile:

have you seen the Couplng episode where Jeff is nervous about a job interview and sees everyone naked, he goes to the interview and where e stands there is a mirror in front of him, so he sees himself in the nude and gets all nervous again :biggrin:

cos he thinks they can see him in the nude :p:

Reply 5

Anonymous #1

OP

unfinished sympathy

i was like that, so i got an elastic band and played with it whilst i spoke. The tension you feel is placed upon the bands and thus taking your mind of your fear and onto the bands :smile:

bonne chance :smile:

it does work, i aced loads of orals using that method

I've never heard of that before, but it sounds very psycho-babble-ish to me :P: I'm willing to try anything though, so thanks for the suggestion!

Reply 6

username47781

20

I don't enjoy presentations at all, but i know someone who got a job as a sports lecturer had to do i think it was an hour presentation.

Reply 7

unfinished sympathy

15

Anonymous

I've never heard of that before, but it sounds very psycho-babble-ish to me :P: I'm willing to try anything though, so thanks for the suggestion!

i know, but it works, i always get A's in my presentations!

Reply 8

Hev456

11

i hate doing presentations as well, but how i got through my orals was to just imagine that everyone else is in the same boat - that they're there feeling empthy for you being up at the front of class, rather than thinking criticisms.

good luck! :wink:

Reply 9

melquíades el gitano

9

haha, I know the feeling - heart jumps, all eyes on you, about to fluff lines and the world's about to end. Strangely I quite like going up to speak now, even though it scares me ****less - I see it as a challenge, to see if i can ride through the fear. I like the adrenalin rush too, which only truly comes from being genuinely afraid..

Reply 10

qwerty_st/n

11

what's your sense of humour like? I usually find that a bit of subtle wit helps to win the respect of your audience, which makes it easier to deliver your presentation to them.

Or you could try what some people in my group at uni do, and that's to make sure everyone knows how nervous and scared you are, so that they have pity on you, and say encouraging things to you throughout your presentation, thus not actually listening to a word you've said or criticising your point of view when you've finished.

Reply 11

Anonymous #1

OP

How can people possibly enjoy presentations?! Seriously, even thinking about doing one makes me die inside. Though from what I've seen so far, everyone who's done their presentation in my class did it so effortlessly. It makes me wonder...

Anyway, I think I'll do it. I want to at least attempt it. Must.think.positive.DAMNIT!

Reply 12

Camford

12

5 minute presentation for? It's easier if you only have a small audience... say 20 to 30 people. It'll be more difficult... anxiety wise if you are speaking to 200 to 300. I have done... maybe 2 or 3 presenations before, one is for a group project I did earlier this year. Remember to write down what you are going to say. Read it through, time it and make sure it falls within your time limit... if you have a strict time limit that is. If you have a friend in the audience, when you have to face the audience, just shift your focus to your friend. And remember not to talk fast. Think Robert Winston and David Attenborough. If you don't have too much stuff, talk at their pace will be fine.

Reply 13

SunburnedCactus

11

Definitely humour, if you can try not to take it as seriously (even if it is serious) it will help you relax and enjoy it, and the audience will be more attentive.

Reply 14

andy_cole2

14

humour is the daddy of all presentaitons, think of something funny for the start make them laugh and ul relax, i used to hate them then i developed a sense of humour now i don't even care :p:

and don't think about the brains or lack of them in ur class or urself ur standing up to tell them something ignore the fact that they probs don't care try and look past them concentrate on something in the distance yeah play with something but elastic bands mite hurt if they break...

Reply 15

Alice 00

speak as though u are writing the words on paper. that will help u keep a slow pace and make little mistakes

speak with expression and look lively

think of the presentation as an act; part of a film. Don't look anyone in the eyes, look at the people u are talking to but just in their direction.

x

Reply 16

Anonymous #2

take some betablockers...... stops your heartrate increasing..... keeping you relaxed

Reply 17

bobbob

11

I can't offer much advice, but I'm probably worse than you. I shake violently (so much that any paper I hold makes noise) and I get incredibly nervous (my voice keeps breaking) and forgetful.

On the upside, I have done it! I introduced a presentation to over 200 people in a lecture hall, I've introduced work to a panel of industry experts, and did stuff for my chemistry class a couple of years ago so even if you're the worst person in the world at it, it's definitely still doable

I actually found them all equally difficult, strangely. It's not really the quantity of people when it goes beyond 10 or so.

Reply 18

leannemarie

11

When I was 15 I was in a debate with 3 other 17-18 year olds in front of all the upper sixth in my school and I was so scared, especially as it was on tory politics. But we won and that boosted my confidence, as did another debate that I did with a friend. Since then, I have spoken in front of the entire school (800 people) twice and I felt nowhere near as nervous. I still find doing prepared presentations and oral exams in foreign languages nervewracking but I'm fine if it's unprepared since then you're expected to mess up. I'm hoping to get the courage to join a model united nations but I'm not sure yet!

Speak slowly and clearly, focus on a fixed point if that helps and remember that it will all be over shortly. When I do them I try to act confidently for five minutes! Someone's advice to me once was to imagine all the audience naked but er I never tried that one!

Reply 19

tortured

8

Thanks for all the advice... I'm not a very funny person though, so that's probably off the cards. The presentation is to a small group of about ten, so not too big. I don't know why, but the thought of doing it in front of a huge lecture theatre of people is somehow less daunting -- probably because the audience are not as close, and I don't know them all individually! Plus I'd be on a stage away from them all, instead of sitting at the same table as them.

Beta blockers sounds like a good idea, though aren't they prescription medicine? :p:

Public speaking... anxiety. Or rather, sheer terror.

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