Public Speaking Anxiety

Double-Helix, BSN, RN · Dec 9, 2012

Hi,

First, I'm sorry you're dealing with all this anxiety. I imagine it's very difficult to manage this level of stress, especially in face of the demands of nursing school.

But it's important to think about how this will affect you as a nurse in the professional world. You're describing a class assignment in front of a small group of your peers, and you stated it's causing you so much anxiety that you cannot perform well. As a nurse, you will often have to speak in front of doctors, patients and family members. They will ask you questions and you will have to give them answers. Not to mention you will have to interview for a position in front of one or multiple strangers before you are offered a job.

I am sure you know this, but I mention it because this is not a one-time problem. It's not as though you can get some advice about how to manage this one class assignment and you won't have to deal with speaking in public again. This is something that will seriously affect your professional career if it is not better managed. The only advice I can give you is to please speak with your psychiatrist/psychologist about ways to help you overcome this anxiety. If you don't have a psychiatrist/psychologist that you see regularly, you need to find one. Your school may have services to assist you in this. You might also consider discussing this with your instructor. It's possible that, if you provide documentation of your anxiety, she may allow you an alternative, such as a one-on-one practice interview with her. However, this would only be a solution to this one example. You'll still need further professional management of your symptoms to avoid this harming your career in the future.

Please seek the help of a professional. The level of anxiety you're experiencing is not healthy and you shouldn't have to live with such emotions. Best of luck to you.

grpman · Dec 10, 2012

Anxiety disorders run in my family and I so understand what you are talking about. I've had a few issues with anxiety myself. I have one family member who had the same thing happen to her in class and made it through. She would blush, want to run away, have her heart pound, etc. She is on medication just like you and still graduated nursing school. This condition has lessened some, but she still experiences it on a semi-regular basis. She went on to become an RN in a nationally ranked hospital and then became a PCC. She has won a national nursing award for a project she headed (and ironically presented). She is on several committees and now is taking more schooling to advance her career. She has even found more nurses (both in management and on the floor) where she works that have the same problem as her and they meet and laugh about how they react in certain situations.

The above poster means well but probably added to your anxiety. First, you probably don't have time to get clinical help that will affect you in time for your next class. Secondly, I understand that your condition is situation dependent. Talking in front of a patient or to another nurse probably doesn't affect you. So, your career path in not on the line. You are fine and can work through this.

So, what do you do? First, you will go to this class and face your fears. Scary? Yep, but doable. I've done it, my sis has, and so can you. You are not alone and someone in your class besides you has this same condition. Probability almost demands it.

Next, understand that you are beginning to fear anxiety itself more than the situation. Medication, albeit good, doesn't help this realization. At some point you have to acknowledge the anxiety while you are having it without trying to fight it. It's this fight that makes you so anxious. Let it come, acknowledge it's presence. Understand that is won't hurt you, it's just there. I recently had a class where I felt this coming on and acknowledged it's presence and it immediately left (felt like magic).

I struggle with this same issue and I am doing well in school and have made numerous presentations. I've made a few while turning red and sweating...lol. But I made them. I practice more than anyone else. My hadicap is anxiety; my peer's is a lack of preparedness. I'll take my anxiety with multiple hours more preparation.

I had someone tell me, "When you are going through hell, keep going." You do the same.

NightNerd, MSN, RN · Dec 10, 2012

I'm sorry you are experiencing so much anxiety and stress. Speaking in front of people isn't my favorite thing, either. I agree with Ashley that this is something that will probably be helped by seeking out a professional's assistance. Grpman is correct in that it won't be soon enough to make you feel overjoyed about this project, but long-term it may do you a lot of good.

In the meantime, here's what I think:

-Speaking in front of people is a problem that will never go away. And that stinks, but just remember that practice and exposure will eventually make it easier and easier for you. Despite the fact that your classmates aren't being very helpful or supportive, you can take comfort in the fact that you get to mess up and make mistakes in front of them first. Listen to the feedback of professors and the classmates you trust and respect; let the rest of it roll off. No one is perfect at public speaking, especially when they are inexperienced/anxious, so don't make their expectations out to be unreachable.

-Learn to admit that you're afraid. Yes, to your audience, if you must. I find that doing that makes me instantly more comfortable because they will understand an occasional "um" or a pause as I try to remember my next point. At work just yesterday I had to do that. I was giving a tour of our hospice unit to a patient's family. I hadn't realized how many of them there were until we all stepped out into the hall and 10 sets of wet, sad eyes were looking at me. So I said something like, "Gosh, there are a lot of you. Cue my stage fright." It broke the ice a little bit, and we got on with the tour. I asked them to interject at any time with questions, and occasionally I would ask something open-ended if I needed a moment to collect my thoughts. As you speak more, you will be able to read your audience's cues and better figure out what information you need to give, no more, no less. It just comes with practice.

-As far as mock interviews go, check online for common nursing interview questions and prepare some outlines for yourself about your answers. Nothing wrong with that! Also have a copy of your resume and/or a list of experiences/points you want to make during the interview. Again, even during an interview, there's nothing wrong with saying, "I'm a little nervous, because I'm really interested in this position." (I know it's a mock interview, but this will help in the future too!) You can also always play the angle of, "Since I get a little nervous at interviews/in presentations, I prepared a few notes that I may glance down at occasionally. That's one thing you can count on from me: I come prepared!"

-Do not blow off the presentation. If you must, go to your instructor beforehand and just mention, "I have a lot of anxiety over this presentation, and I'm worried that what I do up there won't reflect the work I've done to prepare for it. Do you have any suggestions?"

I hope this goes much better than you fear! This semester will be over soon :)

xxkmpxx · Dec 10, 2012

I have the same exact problem. My dr prescribed me Xanax and it totally helps!!

grpman · Dec 10, 2012

I'm really curious to hear from you and to see how your day was. Let us know.

lei77 · Dec 11, 2012

i have always had a similar problem, not extreme anxiety but major nervousness and it is very visible. i just hated my speech class. you've gotten this far in your schooling, pre-req's, and nursing courses..don't let this one thing get you down. truth is, no one else cares how you do when you are speaking. good luck