Help..... I am making myself SICK

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Feb 28, 2008

I have always had difficulty speaking and presenting in front of others. Speech class was a nightmare for me when I had to conjure up a topic and speak on it in front of a classroom. I'd shake, tremble, experience palpitations, and my voice would quiver (read: major anxiety).

I have not fully overcome this issue. However, I find that exercise helps me feel less anxious, more relaxed, more calm, and peaceful in my interactions with the outside world.

Guest717236 · Mar 13, 2008

Try checking with your local adult education office, many

learning connection programs offer short courses (a few days)

in public speaking. It is a skill like many others. Practice really helps

and you may find it will help with your feelings of anxiety.

crb613, BSN, RN · Mar 13, 2008

How about a trip to your doctor.....let him/her know whats going on. They can give you something you help...in addition to doing self help exercises.

Good Luck & please don't just suffer in silence!

Liddle Noodnik · Mar 13, 2008

... I've been known to down play myself inorder to keep from offending others. I know that is selling myself short, but how does one overcome that?
Is anyone else going through this? If so, how are you handling it?

It IS tough to shine when there is so much mediocrity all around you, ROFL!

Seriously - The group stuff is partly to get you ready for the 'real thing' when you are teaching pts and their families. The thing to realize is that everybody else feels nervous too ... if that doesn't work, picture 'em naked is one thing I've heard... focus on just one listener when you present as if they are the only ones in the room. Slow deep breathing before hand... PRAYER - ("Lord let there be a fire drill and let my teacher forget to call on us when we get back..."). Humor - a very good tool when used appropriately.

I've had chronic anxiety pretty much all my adult life and one thing I do when I present is to overcompensate - if I feel intimidated I speak more powerfully and "as if" I knew what I was doing ROFL ... and - if it's a topic I really love and have researched, that helps w/ the confidence issue too.

Bottom line is, you are going to have anxiety but it is just a feeling - "what's the worst that can happen" is that you can make a fool of yourself and fail the project, and have to be dragged out in an ambulance when you pass out and hit the floor. Ok, well that's not likely - so just figure that most likely your voice will shake and that's ok ...

Anyone in the class who can be your secret cheerleader, that will "buck you up" just before your turn comes up?

And yeah, practice makes perfect.

Good luck -

AmericanRN · Mar 13, 2008

Hi All,
First, let me begin by saying that I am in no way looking for medical advice. That said, I am really interested in hearing how anyone in these forums are dealing with anxiety(providing that you are stuggling with it, that is).
I believe myself to be a very capable and somewhat intelligent person; however the minute that I have to share my opinions and thoughts with a group or to someone that I view as being "smarter" than I am, I get this excruciating pain in my stomach and chest, which sometimes make me sound like a confused, inarticulate bone head .
I know that I capable of doing so much more, but for some reason everytime I start to speak, or know that I am going to have to speak in front of a group I get really anxoius to the point that I feel physically sick.
My schools requires that students participate in group projects all the time, Although I make sure that I am prepared on "paper", I still have difficulties when it come to the actual presentation. This is the case even at work, I've been known to down play myself inorder to keep from offending others. I know that is selling myself short, but how does one overcome that?
Is anyone else going through this? If so, how are you handling it?

OMG sounds like go to the same school. I still can't get the hang of group presentations, well the speaking part at any rate and I literally am in one every week. In my case I practice breathing exercises prior to getting up there. I also am making sure to stay on my vitamin regimen and to eat before class. What is wierd is I used to help do talks on cultural diversity at colleges but once I went to college myself I started "freaking" out mentally if I have to talk in front of people on any topic except for cultural diversity in education.

I have MVP and I have noticed that anxiety aggravates it and usually I have no symptoms until I get nervous about something. I do well with props so to speak. Like handing out things while I am talking, once I did a presentation on nutrition in preemies and I gave out things that were "preemie sized" and passed around pics of preemies next to "normal sized objects." Before I had time to be scared I had presented everything and they were still ohing and ahing over baby pics. Ok so this wouldn't work in front of NICU nurses I"m sure but it worked great in a nutrition class.

Liddle Noodnik · Mar 14, 2008

Ok so this wouldn't work in front of NICU nurses I"m sure but it worked great in a nutrition class.

It's a good idea! keeps them busy with not just staring at you lol - and they retain better that way too.

Nurse_Advocate · Mar 26, 2008

First of all, I applaud you for bringing this subject up! I can totally relate. Talk about "being prepared on paper but when it comes to talking about it...not so much" -- I have struggled with this my entire adult life.

Personally, I've anaylized "my own" problem to death...it boils down to several things for me.

1. I have a great need to be perfect. I compare my speaking ability (in front of groups) with other peoples' ability to speak in front of groups. In other words, I compare myself to others...I just can't do THAT! I MUST only compare myself to MYSELF.