For every person, there is always a turning point where you move from being generally anxious to having a panic attack. In the case of public speaking, this point might be when you think to yourself that you won’t be able to handle speaking in front of people.
Just one split second of self-doubt can send you spiraling into the anxiety and panic attack web. The adrenaline begins to rush and your anxiety begins to attack you like waves.
You can, however, control your anxiety, by reacting with confidence that speaking in front of a group isn’t a threat to you, you’ll be able to stop the anxiety and avoid a panic attack. Coping with panic attacks isn’t about controlling your body, it’s about harnessing the energy in your mind, and deflecting it into something more positive.
This new approach can be a powerful tool when controlling anxiety because you’re acknowledging your fear of speaking. You’ll feel nervous, and you’ll go with it and the sensations in your body, but they will go right out and won’t center themselves in a way that you cannot get free of them.
Usually, the hardest part of public speaking is the beginning, but if you can get through that, you’ll probably become much more comfortable as you continue with your talk. You have not let yourself down by feeling nervous, you’re human, it’s natural.
Think of the worst of your anxiety symptoms. It could be your general sense of unease or losing your breath.
You will have an automatic reaction that tells you that you are going to have a panic attack at first.
You might think, “not now”, I cannot have this happen now. It’s at this point that most people confirm that they are having a panic attack because of the way they are feeling.
This is how your thoughts create a cycle of anxiety that can lead to panic attacks and can cause you to blow your presentation.
Im often asked for anxiety tips with public speaking. What I tell the person is next time, you have that “not now” thought, let it pass and follow it up with a thought like, well, I was wondering when you would show up. That’s okay, because I am not scared of you at all. You can’t hurt me. I am safe and I will be safe.
By not pushing all of your energy down into your stomach, you will be able to move past it. Your body will be feeling slightly excited, which is how it should feel while you’re giving a speech, so you take that energy and put it to good use. Add it to your presentation in the form of positive emotion for the topic on which you are speaking.
Don’t push the extra energy into your stomach, put it into your presentation.
PS.Read my personal story on how I cured my severe anxiety. See My Anxiety Story
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