Hypnotherapist
Specialist in Cancer Support
Specialist in Cancer Support
Recipient of the Penny Brohn Cancer Care Education Award 2007
Public speaking and presentations (glossophobia)
I probably see more people for glossophobia and these types of problems than almost anything. It surprises people when they realise that it’s often people who may seem very confident who also suffer from glossophobia or social anxiety. It can affect you as a university student, a lecturer, a tv celebrity, a company director, or whoever you are. In one well known survey in the USA, more people rated a fear of public speaking higher than a fear of death!
All the typical situations of public speaking can involve what is collectively known as ‘social anxiety’. This often involves feelings that the situation is perceived as ‘socially dangerous’, ‘I don’t belong here’, ‘I am being judged’, or ‘I’m different to them’. Glossophobia and social anxiety is all about getting self-thoughts out of perspective.
Hypnotherapy can help in several different ways, and the approach taken needs careful assessment to select the best way.
Firstly, being taught how to relax is a small, but key part of changing things. Secondly, boosting your confidence is important. Typically, visualisation will be used to include techniques that enable the negative thoughts about public speaking to be replaced with very positive thoughts. These approaches help to change and reverse the feelings.
If the problem is deep rooted, then an analytical approach may be recommended. If you want to address glossophobia or another social anxiety issue, book in for a free Initial Consultation, where we can look at things in more detail.
Hypnotherapy can help in several different ways, and the approach taken needs careful assessment to select the best way.
Firstly, being taught how to relax is a small, but key part of changing things. Secondly, boosting your confidence is important. Typically, visualisation will be used to include techniques that enable the negative thoughts about public speaking to be replaced with very positive thoughts. These approaches help to change and reverse the feelings.
If the problem is deep rooted, then an analytical approach may be recommended. If you want to address glossophobia or another social anxiety issue, book in for a free Initial Consultation, where we can look at things in more detail.
Typically, a set pattern occurs with social anxiety situations. There’s a ‘tigger’ situation, such as doing a presentation, attending a meeting, or talking in public. The anxiety starts to build at this point, sometimes even weeks before the event.
The beliefs are activated, such as ‘this is dangerous’ or ‘I don’t belong here’. The attention then starts to focus inwardly and you become more aware of yourself, rather than the task in hand or what’s happening outside yourself. This starts the symptoms. The symptoms can even be started just at the thought of the event. Here’s a typical cycle of events:
The beliefs are activated, such as ‘this is dangerous’ or ‘I don’t belong here’. The attention then starts to focus inwardly and you become more aware of yourself, rather than the task in hand or what’s happening outside yourself. This starts the symptoms. The symptoms can even be started just at the thought of the event. Here’s a typical cycle of events:
Typical symptoms can include sweating, fast breathing, blushing, racing heart and a feeling of panic. When the symptoms start, this reinforces the beliefs and the inward attention, creating a circle.
