Social Anxiety Support

shy67 · 11-02-2009, 10:12 PM

This semester is the worst. I have three oral presentations. And two are in the same class and one is an individual one. I am so nervous b/c I haven't done an individual presentation since high school. Also, I've been planning to go to some club meetings but keep putting it off and then feeling depressed about it. What do you guys do to get ready for presentations?

chunkylover53 · 11-02-2009, 10:23 PM

I psych myself up, i.e. "You can do it. You can do it". Over and over again. Then I think about the worst thing that could happen... which is really not much. You might stumble, you might blush, you might cough... but if you observe your classmates, they're all doing these things too and they won't care if you do as well. Also, in my experience, the only person who actually bothers to pay attention to your presentation is the lecturer; everyone else is thinking about what to have for dinner and what to watch on TV.

94hours · 11-02-2009, 10:27 PM

I used to take phenibut xt before doing presentations, which worked great, but I stopped taking that a few years ago. Now, if I can I'll make a powerpoint presentation, and stand as far off the the side as possible, while reading straight from note cards and not making eye contact with anyone.

The only way I really prepare anymore, is just rehearsing multiple times until I have everything memorized, to minimize stumbling over all my words, sorry but thats the best advice I can give.

malone · 11-03-2009, 01:51 AM

I had three oral presentations this semester and funnily enough, I got the highest marks in each one. They're easy marks, that's all you have to think about. Don't speak too fast, be loud enough to reach the back of the class, make eye contact and confident body posture - all of which sound impossible, I know, but once you're up there you just have to give it your best. No one besides the teacher is paying attention anyway.

No matter how confident I manage to be whilst I'm speaking, after wards I shake uncontrollably that sometimes I have to leave the room.

Just think, you're only up there for about four minutes max -that fly's by ! Just muscle up the confidence for those four minutes, that's all you need. Good luck ! <3

VipFuj · 11-03-2009, 02:24 AM

I usually write out what I would like to say if I wasnt a spaz and if i could have a perfect speech, try to remember as much of it as possible, then write key words on a note card to help me remember what I want to say.

that being said, 80% of my speeches suck. I did well on a couple last semester when I had a bunch to do, I eventually got more comfortable.

Had one this semester (10-15 minutes) that went pretty bad. Just wanted to get up and get down, so I didnt really divulge into anything like I wouldve liked, just gave people the bare minimum to get by...blanked out on one part and just kept talking. i dont even remember what I said or if it made sense,haha.

I get a like an out of body feeling whenever I present where Im not really controlling or thinking about what im saying

probably not the best pep-talk but i felt like getting that off my chest. Been a week and im still obsessing about it in my head. luckily it isnt that big of a percentage of my overall grade, but its still discouraging that I suck at presenting stuff

liilliiliilllil · 11-03-2009, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chunkylover53

but if you observe your classmates, they're all doing these things too and they won't care if you do as well. Also, in my experience, the only person who actually bothers to pay attention to your presentation is the lecturer; everyone else is thinking about what to have for dinner and what to watch on TV.

Quote:

Originally Posted by malone

No one besides the teacher is paying attention anyway.

Read those two quotes over and over. No one really cares about what you're saying except the Prof. Everyone else is worried too about their presentation or is daydreaming/thinking of something else or is texting.

00Athena00 · 11-03-2009, 02:32 PM

Unless eye contact and engaging the audience are a large part of the grade, I would just write down exactly what you are going to say on note cards and read it word for word. My rational is that I don't care if people are entertained, I just want to get through it. If you lose a couple of points for not looking at the audience, it's no big deal as long as the rest of your presentation is well done.

Drink water and don't forget to breathe, that will help with your nerves. Public speaking is the #1 fear, so people understand if you are anxious. You won't come across as nervous as you think.

Ing · 11-03-2009, 03:57 PM

I always try to plan the best I can. I think if you know the speeches really well you will be more confident about it while presenting, probably improving you speech further.

I know what you mean about the clubs. I joined a few also and often feel stressed about them, but I think that they are overall more helpful than anything.

11-02-2009, 10:12 PM	#1 (permalink)
shy67 Status: SAS Member Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 62	Three presentations... This semester is the worst. I have three oral presentations. And two are in the same class and one is an individual one. I am so nervous b/c I haven't done an individual presentation since high school. Also, I've been planning to go to some club meetings but keep putting it off and then feeling depressed about it. What do you guys do to get ready for presentations?

11-02-2009, 10:23 PM	#2 (permalink)
chunkylover53 Status: Marvellous. Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Sydney Gender: Female Age: 28 Posts: 135	I psych myself up, i.e. "You can do it. You can do it". Over and over again. Then I think about the worst thing that could happen... which is really not much. You might stumble, you might blush, you might cough... but if you observe your classmates, they're all doing these things too and they won't care if you do as well. Also, in my experience, the only person who actually bothers to pay attention to your presentation is the lecturer; everyone else is thinking about what to have for dinner and what to watch on TV.

11-02-2009, 10:27 PM	#3 (permalink)
94hours Status: SAS Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Michigan Gender: Male Age: 22 Posts: 49	I used to take phenibut xt before doing presentations, which worked great, but I stopped taking that a few years ago. Now, if I can I'll make a powerpoint presentation, and stand as far off the the side as possible, while reading straight from note cards and not making eye contact with anyone. The only way I really prepare anymore, is just rehearsing multiple times until I have everything memorized, to minimize stumbling over all my words, sorry but thats the best advice I can give.

11-03-2009, 01:51 AM	#4 (permalink)
malone Status: SAS Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Australia Gender: Female Posts: 60	I had three oral presentations this semester and funnily enough, I got the highest marks in each one. They're easy marks, that's all you have to think about. Don't speak too fast, be loud enough to reach the back of the class, make eye contact and confident body posture - all of which sound impossible, I know, but once you're up there you just have to give it your best. No one besides the teacher is paying attention anyway. No matter how confident I manage to be whilst I'm speaking, after wards I shake uncontrollably that sometimes I have to leave the room. Just think, you're only up there for about four minutes max -that fly's by ! Just muscle up the confidence for those four minutes, that's all you need. Good luck ! <3

11-03-2009, 02:24 AM	#5 (permalink)
VipFuj Status: SAS Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Caulifornia Gender: Male Age: 22 Posts: 278	I usually write out what I would like to say if I wasnt a spaz and if i could have a perfect speech, try to remember as much of it as possible, then write key words on a note card to help me remember what I want to say. that being said, 80% of my speeches suck. I did well on a couple last semester when I had a bunch to do, I eventually got more comfortable. Had one this semester (10-15 minutes) that went pretty bad. Just wanted to get up and get down, so I didnt really divulge into anything like I wouldve liked, just gave people the bare minimum to get by...blanked out on one part and just kept talking. i dont even remember what I said or if it made sense,haha. I get a like an out of body feeling whenever I present where Im not really controlling or thinking about what im saying probably not the best pep-talk but i felt like getting that off my chest. Been a week and im still obsessing about it in my head. luckily it isnt that big of a percentage of my overall grade, but its still discouraging that I suck at presenting stuff

11-03-2009, 02:32 PM	#7 (permalink)
00Athena00 Status: SAS Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Iowa Gender: Female Age: 24 Posts: 86	Unless eye contact and engaging the audience are a large part of the grade, I would just write down exactly what you are going to say on note cards and read it word for word. My rational is that I don't care if people are entertained, I just want to get through it. If you lose a couple of points for not looking at the audience, it's no big deal as long as the rest of your presentation is well done. Drink water and don't forget to breathe, that will help with your nerves. Public speaking is the #1 fear, so people understand if you are anxious. You won't come across as nervous as you think.

11-03-2009, 03:57 PM	#8 (permalink)
Ing Status: SAS Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: United States Gender: Female Age: 19 Posts: 61	I always try to plan the best I can. I think if you know the speeches really well you will be more confident about it while presenting, probably improving you speech further. I know what you mean about the clubs. I joined a few also and often feel stressed about them, but I think that they are overall more helpful than anything.