Performance anxiety… I have a presentation for school coming up, it’s on PTSD and I am comfortable with that topic but I am terrified about speaking in front of my classmates. College sucks, for real. It is not like speaking for work when I do that in public, though that terrifies me as well. I need tips. I have suicide as my out constantly but what the hell! Why should I let a stupid presentation kill me. Shouldn’t something romantic kill me? Anyways, I am really impulsive and I keep envisioning my car racing headlong into a tree the night of this presentation… I am scared $h!tless. HELP!
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Alright jj, here is some presenting advice:
– Practice your presentation in front of a mirror, this will help you out with the nerves.
– Use a PowerPoint for your presentation (make bullet points not paragraph text), if you get lost/confused, make sure you gesture towards the slide, while reading one of the points, this will help you get back on track.
– Incorporate a graph/infographic in your presentation, this will help you have something to refer to and talk about, without having to memorize text, since the graph displays all the necessary information. Hear are some graph/infographic links: http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2013/01/charts-us-veterans-ptsd-war-iraq-afghanistan
http://www.veteranventures.org/infograph-ptsd/
You need to form this PowerPoint and just practice using it. Put it on your phone and walk around the house practicing your presentation while referring to the respective slides.
– Last Point: What ever you forget to mention, WILL NOT BE KNOWN BY ANYONE! This means that if you accidentally skip ahead in your speech, just continue on and maybe circle back if you have the opportunity but do not stop mid sentence and fumble back, just push on like a hero.
Good luck jj, this is just one more challenge in life, persist and give it your best and no matter the outcome, I’ll be glad you tried!
Hey man, I must be one of the most introverted people I know but I facilitate training for a living and found I loved it! Maybe you will too…maybe this is something you’re really good at. I never thought I would even have the guts to do it but I love it! Lsari’s advice is good but one thing I learnt which really helped is take a few slow, long deep breaths before you start, it helps calm your body systems down and relaxes you more. A bit of nerves is good, it keeps you on your toes but the breathing just lowers your anxiety. Just remember most people in the room are just as nervous as you are at public speaking so more than likely they’ll be empathic. It may be your first time and that’s always really hard but it’s a learning experience also. Good luck man, you’ll be ok 🙂
lsari gave wonderful advice. Goodluck with this!
Speaking to an audience is rough.
Pretend that everyone listening is naked. You’re talking to a group of naked people. (They actually are naked beneath their clothing).
You’re at the podium delivering your speech to a bunch of naked dipshits. That’s how I get through it. Whatever THEY think is superfluous.
The fear of public speaking is the second thing most people are afraid of – the first is being buried alive. Lsari made great points. And remember when you have the podium, you have the power.
Thank you all for your input – I’ll let you know how it goes