Public speaking fear

public speaking fear

Overcoming the Fear of Public Speaking

Fear of public speaking is a common issue that affects people of all ages and backgrounds. Whether it’s giving a presentation at work, speaking in a meeting, or delivering a speech at a wedding, the anxiety can be overwhelming. The fear can cause physical symptoms like sweating, trembling, or even feeling dizzy. Fortunately, there are effective strategies to manage and reduce the fear of public speaking. Hypnotherapy can play a key role in overcoming this common problem.

What Is the Fear of Public Speaking?

The fear of public speaking, also known as glossophobia, is the intense anxiety or nervousness experienced when faced with speaking in front of an audience. It can range from mild apprehension to a severe phobia that disrupts your daily life. For some, the fear is so strong that they avoid situations where they might have to speak in public. This can limit career opportunities and affect social interactions.

Why Do People Fear Public Speaking?

People often link fear of public speaking to a fear of judgment or embarrassment. The thought of making a mistake or forgetting words can lead to feelings of panic. Past negative experiences, such as being embarrassed while speaking, can also reinforce this fear. People with high levels of perfectionism may feel extreme pressure to perform flawlessly.

The fear is not just psychological. When faced with a stressful situation, the body reacts with a “fight-or-flight” response, releasing stress hormones like adrenaline. This can cause physical symptoms such as a rapid heartbeat, sweating, and shallow breathing, making it even harder to articulate.

Symptoms of Public Speaking Anxiety

The symptoms of public speaking fear can vary, but they often include:

  • Increased heart rate

  • Sweating or clammy hands

  • Shaking or trembling

  • Dry mouth

  • Nausea or upset stomach

  • Dizziness or light-headedness

  • Difficulty breathing or a feeling of tightness in the chest

  • An overwhelming urge to escape the situation

These symptoms can start days or even weeks before the speaking event. The anticipation of the event can be as anxiety-inducing as the event itself. This anticipation often leads to avoidance behaviours, which only reinforce the fear.

How Hypnotherapy Can Help with the Fear of Public Speaking

Hypnotherapy is an effective method for reducing the fear of public speaking. By accessing the subconscious mind, where many fears and negative beliefs are stored, hypnotherapy works as an effective method for reducing the fear of public speaking. Hypnotherapy helps to reframe these beliefs and replace them with more positive and empowering thoughts.

During a hypnotherapy session, the therapist will guide you into a deeply relaxed state. In this relaxed state, the subconscious mind is more open to positive suggestions. I can use suggestion to help you visualise yourself speaking confidently in public. These visualisations can reduce the anxiety associated with speaking and build your confidence. If you’ve been severely embarrassed by experiences – often associated with school days. The rewind may be appropriate to scramble the connection between emotion and memory.

Techniques Used in Hypnotherapy for Public Speaking Anxiety

Therapists can employ several techniques during hypnotherapy to help reduce public speaking fear. These include:

  • Relaxation Techniques: The therapist may use deep breathing and progressive muscle relaxation to help you achieve a calm state. This can help reduce the physical symptoms of anxiety.

  • Visualisation: Visualising yourself speaking confidently and successfully can help to “trick” the mind into believing you are already capable of it.

  • Suggestion Therapy: Positive affirmations are used to change the negative thoughts that fuel your fear. For example, replacing “I am going to fail” with “I am prepared and confident.”

  • Anchoring Techniques: These techniques help you to associate calmness with a specific action, such as touching your thumb and forefinger together. You can then use this action during public speaking situations to reduce anxiety.

  • Rewind/Reframe: To scramble connections and instil positive thoughts.

Benefits of Hypnotherapy for Public Speaking

Hypnotherapy offers several benefits for those struggling with public speaking anxiety:

  • Targets the Root Cause: By addressing the underlying beliefs stored in the subconscious mind, hypnotherapy goes beyond treating the symptoms. It helps to change the thought patterns that create fear.

  • Improves Self-Confidence: Positive suggestions during hypnosis can help to boost your confidence, not just in speaking, but in other areas of life.

  • Reduces Physical Symptoms: techniques like deep relaxation and anchoring can lower the physical symptoms of anxiety, making it easier to stay composed.

  • Long-Lasting Results: By changing your mental approach to public speaking, the benefits of hypnotherapy can be long-lasting, even after the sessions have ended.

Additional Techniques to Overcome Public Speaking Fear

Besides hypnotherapy, there are other strategies you can use to help manage and reduce your fear of public speaking.

1. Preparation and Practice

Thorough preparation can help reduce anxiety. Practising your speech multiple times will help you feel more familiar with the content. The more familiar you are, the less anxious you will feel.

2. Breathing Techniques

Controlled breathing can help to calm your nervous system. 7/11 breathing for example. Inhaling for seven counts, and exhaling for eleven counts. This type of breathing helps to activate the body’s relaxation response through the vagus nerve.

3. Mindfulness and Meditation

Mindfulness helps you stay in the present moment rather than worrying about the outcome of your speech. Meditation can also help to calm your mind and reduce the symptoms of anxiety.

4. Positive Self-Talk

Replace negative thoughts like “I can’t do this” with positive affirmations such as “I am well-prepared and capable.” Positive self-talk can help change the way you think about public speaking.

5. Gradual Exposure

Start by speaking in front of a small group of friends or family members. Gradually increase the size of the audience as your confidence grows. This approach helps to desensitise you to the fear in a controlled way.

How Many Hypnotherapy Sessions Are Needed?

The number of hypnotherapy sessions required will vary depending on the individual. Some people experience significant improvements after just a few sessions, while others may need more to fully overcome their fear. Typically, a course 6 sessions is recommended to achieve lasting results.

Why Choose Hypnotherapy for Public Speaking Fear?

Hypnotherapy offers a holistic approach to overcoming public speaking anxiety. Unlike medications, which only address the symptoms, hypnotherapy tackles the underlying causes stored in the subconscious mind. It is a natural, non-invasive approach that can bring long-term benefits. The techniques learned during sessions can be applied in everyday life, offering ongoing support.

Get Help with Your Public Speaking Fear Today

If you struggle with public speaking anxiety, hypnotherapy could be the solution you need. Take the first step towards overcoming your fear and improving your confidence. Contact us today for a free consultation and discover how hypnotherapy can help you speak confidently in any situation.

 

Case study for sales manager

John was promoted to senior sales manager at an international furniture company. Their head office in High Wycombe was open plan and performing any sales talks to potential clients sent his anxiety souring. It triggered memories of being made to stand up and talk at school. His mouth would go dry, his throat would tighten and he felt light headed. He developed stress headaches and migraines and had regular massages to cope with the fear.

The massage therapist suggested working with me using hypnotherapy. But it took quite a few weeks before he finally became convinced. He didn’t take well to the MP3 at first, deciding it was too fluffy. So I gave him a progressive relation mp3 which was more straight forward relaxation.

Over 6 weeks we worked on tools such as breathing, anchoring, reframing, confidence building and positive visualisations. He rehearsed on camera and watched it back being mindful of any negative thoughts he might have and turning them to more positive ones.

Taking a long holiday to relax and enjoy playing with his children, he went back to work, straight into a sales meeting with no problem.

“Workplace Anxiety

I had 6 sessions with Penny to help me address workplace anxiety, particularly when presenting. Penny uses a number of different techniques and tools to address ‘the problem’ I now feel more relaxed, less stressed and more confident in my capabilities. I would not hesitate to recommend Penny!”

Case study 2 for public speaking fear

Sally had been promoted at work and part of her new job was to do presentations in front of her colleagues. She came to me because her fear of public speaking caused her to a) Forget all the presentations and b) shake.

We spent 5 sessions over 4 weeks with the last session the day before her next presentation.

Using the rewind we scrambled the couple of bad experiences she’d previously had and used visualisation to help her rehearse the next presentation without panicking.

She also put together a plan of rehearsal which also included her husband, so she could learn everything off by heart and he could make sure nothing was missed. When she had completed her presentation she sent me a card thanking me and said it had all gone to plan.

Case study 3 for public speaking on zoom

Steve was a project manager for an IT company and during the pandemic in 2021 was conducting all his meetings on Zoom. As time went by he became more and more panicky and couldn’t understand why things should suddenly change. It was making work life very difficult.

On approaching me, I wondered if there was a clash of values between him and the industry in which he worked. Over a period of 6 weeks I taught him many tools to use which prepare him for Zoom meetings. Using the hypnotherapy I helped him lower his general stress levels around his job. By session 3 he had realised that the company were making lots of cutbacks and he didn’t feel that they gave good customer service and it was this which was really worrying him, not the Zoom meeting. He decided to look for a new job.

New things happening

By session 4, Steve had several interviews under his belt and told me that the hypnotherapy had helped enormously with his confidence levels around that.

At the last session he told me he had passed an interview and was starting his new job the week after. Success all round.

Here’s what he had to say about his experience…

A great experience and positive results  
Steve on November 17, 2021 at 08:34:14
I started seeing Penny to address some anxiety and stress issues that I was having. I was in quite a low place and totally at a loss as to what to do. So I thought why not give this a try and I am so glad I did. Penny has a calm confident manner which makes you feel comfortable discussing your circumstances. Her approach friendly and practical and it is clear that she is there to help you help yourself. She has given me numerous tools and techniques which I can use if need in future. The hypnosis sessions were relaxing and empowering leaving me feeling confident and positive. Overall I feel that Penny has helped me to make lasting changes which I expect to continue as time goes on. Highly recommended.