Giving presentations to a class while dealing with anxiety

Anxiety is a very common emotion with which people deal many times for various reasons, one of which is public speaking. It is a general emotion and way more common than people accept it to be.  Some common physical symptoms of anxiety are palpitations, sweating, irritability, and feelings of stress. You might see people laughing nervously, shaking their legs or playing with their hair or hands. 

The sense of uneasiness, nervousness, worry, fear, or dread of what will happen when a person has to face a certain situation is a completely normal reaction. The best part about having anxiety is that IT GOES AWAY!!

Public speaking anxiety, also known as glossophobia, and is extremely common. While there are options for medical treatments and therapy that have been proved to be quite helpful and effective. But here are some unexpensive ways you can try:

• No scripts: I cannot stress (no pun intended) enough the number of things that can go wrong with memorizing a script. You miss a single word and your entire presentation goes down the drain. Even cue cards are a big no because they are distracting and do more harm than good.

• Prepare for hecklers: You are well aware of the class you are going to present in, in case you are not let me tell you, hecklers are inevitable. Whatever the comment or reaction maybe do not lose your calm, always show that you are poised and unaffected.

• “Practice makes a man perfect”: Practice, practice, practice! Even people who are confident and have public speaking as a profession practice their speeches and acts. Rehearsing your speech or practicing your presentation will help you get it right and instill confidence.

• Be positive: keep telling yourself that you will get it right. Tell yourself that you will not screw it up. Tell yourself that you will nail it. And trust me 9 out of 10 times you will.

• Accept it: Accepting that you have a problem will solve a lot of things for you. Once you accept you have anxiety your mind will subconsciously be a little calmer. Accept that it is normal and common for everyone, even professionals.

• Know what works for you: Impromptus, breathing breaks, jokes whatever helps you get through. You will not get it right initially but after a few times you will get a hang of what works for you.