Glossophobia: Fear Of Public Speaking

Most people experience some level of anxiety and panic before going on stage to address a gathering. This can be a speech on stage, a simple presentation or even addressing a familial gathering. However, people who suffer from glossophobia will try and do anything and everything they can to avoid such situations. They will try and avoid situations in which they would have to address a gathering. This condition is not a serious or a chronic disorder but it does put a block on a person's professional life. This phobia of public speaking is a very common phobia and it affects up to 75% of the population.

"The fear of public speaking is more common in younger patients as compared to older ones and may be more prevalent in females as compared to males," says Jeffrey R. Strawn, MD, FAACAP, associate professor of psychiatry and pediatrics and director of the Anxiety Disorders Research Program in the Department of Psychiatry & Behavioural Neuroscience at the University of Cincinnati. "We know that some individuals tend to have more anxiety related to certain circumstances in which there may be a fear of evaluation and embarrassment."

For those affected by this disorder, speaking publicly will cause excessive sweating, shivering and other symptoms that are often associated with anxiety disorders. The people who suffer from glossophobia are often known to have suffered a nervous breakdown when asked to speak in front of a gathering. Glossophobia is often associated with social anxiety disorders. The person affected, when asked to address a gathering will have the undying urge to run out of the room and reach a place that does not cause them that stress.

The sufferers are not only uncomfortable in speaking in front of a large gathering but also small meeting, classrooms or their own family gathered in one place. This fear of speaking often tends to affect their relationships because the sufferers might not be able to express their feelings and ideas.

This is a pretty harmless disorder but if left untreated the sufferers might suffer from depression, loneliness, low self-esteem, etc. Sufferers of glossophobia might suffer from other mental illnesses, like anxiety, depression, etc, but it is not necessary for the sufferers of the mental disorders to suffer from this phobia.

Symptoms of Glossophobia:

When threatened the sufferer's body goes into fight or flight, this is the body's way of defending itself. At the moment of being asked to do a presentation, the sufferer's body releases a lot of adrenaline and steroids. This leads to high blood sugar levels, energy levels to increase. This increases the blood pressure and the heart rate increases as a result.

Common Symptoms include:

• rapid heartbeat

• trembling

• sweating

• nausea or vomiting

• shortness of breath or hyperventilating

• dizziness

• muscle tension

• urge to get away

Cause and Treatment of Glossophobia:

Most phobias arise out of the blue, in early childhood or in early adulthood. But most of them have been known to have any genetic, physiological or environmental causes. People who suffer from this disorder might have a real fear of being embarrassed or rejected. This might usually occur due to earlier trauma related to public speaking. The phobia is treated using therapy and the sufferers are usually asked to face his fear.

Every person while being asked to speak in front of a crowd will be a little anxious and might also panic a little if the crowd is too big or if the person has not prepared anything to speak about. People who suffer from this disorder do not have the mental strength to face an audience and talk to them. It is vital for them to get out of their fears and embrace the presence of the crowd and acknowledge the fact that nothing can go wrong.