7 Key Signs You Might Have Glossophobia (Fear of Public Speaking)
Recognizing Public Speaking Fear and Anxiety
Glossophobia, or the fear of public speaking, is more common than most people think. While some nerves before a presentation are normal, for those with glossophobia, the anxiety can be intense and debilitating. It can affect personal confidence and kill a career.
If you suspect you may have glossophobia, here are seven key signs and symptoms to look out for:
1. Avoidance – You go out of your way to skip events that involve speaking in front of others.
2. Build-up of anxiety before speaking – You feel dread or panic for hours or even days before speaking in public.
3. Severe physical symptoms – You come close to panic: rapid heartbeat, over-breathing, shaking, sweating, or feeling faint.
4. Freezing or blanking – Your mind goes blank or you lose your train of thought while speaking. You can’t make sense of something that beforehand made perfect sense.
5. Managing or manipulating situations – You try to control who’s in the room, when you speak, or what topics are discussed in an effort to reduce your anxiety when speaking.
6. Irrational negative thoughts – You fear being judged, humiliated, or making mistakes, even without any real threat.
7. Obsessive rumination afterward – After speaking, you replay what happened and criticize yourself excessively.
If these signs are familiar to you and they are significantly impacting your life and career, then you may have a diagnosable case of glossophobia.
Recognizing these symptoms is the first step toward addressing them. Whether you're experiencing mild nerves or extreme public speaking anxiety, know that help is available and effective treatment is closer than you think.
With our powerful and effective Public Speaking Program you can break free from stage fright, overcome public speaking anxiety, and regain confidence in every speaking situation.
