social phobia and university...AHHHH!!

symbiosis · Posted: Tue Apr 13, 2004 2:03 am Post subject:

Hi there,

That's a really good suggestion terresap re handouts - keep the audience looking at bits of paper instead of the speaker!

Public speaking is hard...even for the majority of the population, let alone SPs..... I've always struggled with it, but get a HUGE feeling of accomplishment when I challenge myself in this area. I've also found practicing helps - if you know your stuff, you're less likely to stuff up!

Cheers, Helen

sullen89 · Posted: Wed Apr 14, 2004 12:53 am Post subject:

Presentations are actually quite easy for social phobis once they realize that they are in control. Just know the material better than everyone else. Social phobia hits you much harder in the workforce when you have to be there at least 8 hrs per day. University is actually one of the easiest environments for shy people. The really shy neurotic types become the doctors in every subject. The neurosis actually makes you much better at studying and remembering when you are not around people or during tests.

symbiosis · Posted: Wed Apr 14, 2004 2:03 am Post subject:

Good point Sullen89 - SPs seem to a high achieving bunch, on the whole. It's like we can control our learning and are determined to be really good at it, even if we are "less than good" with the whole social thing!

Can be a problem though, I did two two uni psych topics last year and was determined to get >80% for everything, or why bother.....huge pressure and lousy impact on other aspects of life. Am now confused whether to continue uni study at all - ridiculous, hey??

sickgirl · Posted: Sat Apr 17, 2004 6:33 am Post subject: Presentations

I am in my second year of university also, this year i had to give too presentations. At the beginning of the year i found this out and i was terrified, i didn't that i would be able to do it. But the first presentation was a group one and i only ended out talking for about 10min so it wasn't too bad. I made myself cue cards a week before and practiced over an over. First by myself, i recorded it on my computer with my mic. I kept doing it till i was satified with how it sounded. Then i practiced a few times infront of my family members to boost my confidience. Then before the presentation i practice infront of close friends and finally met with my group and did a run through an hour before. By the time i gave the speech i was like a robot, i got through it with out mistakes but i did the whole thing monitone. But i realized that when i was waiting to do my presentation i was not paying attention to anyone elses, then after i still was not paying attention. I was so relieved, i was thinking of what i was going to have for dinner, or what i was going to do later on. It helps to realize that most people don't even care what you are saying in class presentations, they all are nervous and have other things on there minds.
It actually felt really good right after it was over, i kinda liked the rush.

About a month later i had to give a presentation to my class, but this time it was independant. It had to be 20min long, I did not think that it was possible for me to talk about something for 20 whole minutes. My presentation was on Human Cloning. The worst part was there was no time to prepare. It was right by exams so i only had a weekend to research the topic, write a 15 page paper on it, and then make a powerpoint presentation and practice it. The paper took 2 days, so i only hade sunday for the presentation but it was amazing how well i could do under pressure. I think because of all the extra stress it took my mind off worrying about the presentation. I worked so hard on the paper, and I made sure that the presentation only contained the interesting parts of it. This way i would not forget what i was saying because it was something that i enjoyed thinking about. Keep it simple so that everyone can follow, then they will not have any difficult questions to ask. Also figure out what interests you about the topic and try practicing discussing it with people you are comfortable with.

Good luck to anyone in this situation!

marmite · Posted: Sun Apr 18, 2004 9:23 pm Post subject:

Hey,

Wow..thanks for all the support, theres alot of good tips there that I shall try and use somehow.

Someone asked 'what is it specifically that worries me about the speech'..suppose mainly its the fear that i might blush. This is something that has crippled me over the years, and have found that i blush very easily, particularly when doing presentations. I have managed to deal with them before, but they were in groups, so the pressure was less intense. But the thourght of having to do this on my own next month is really eating away at me.

I have decided I will use the valium, but am also having some 'suggestion therapy' from my hypnotherapist before hand.

Marmite

little one · Guest

hey maybe try something natural too,bach remedies are really good i hear, you can get ones specifically for confidence building.may be worth a try? a friend of mine used to have panic attacks and she took the rescue remedy and it really helped her. I hate giving presentations and like you i have a small time left in my second year,but when i think im not sure if i can do this anymore i think how annoyed with myself i'll be and how good i'll feel when i've completed my degree. you've done so well to get this far soooo many people dont even last one semester! also i definately agree about people not really listening to whats said in presentations, they just switch off or are too worried about their own to focus on what else is going on.and they're all in the same situation so they'll understand how nerve racking it is. and how important are they in comparison to the rest of you're future?! you can do it,

Guest · Posted: Fri Apr 23, 2004 4:32 pm Post subject:

Heh I just found this site and I've found a topic ready made for me.

I find being at university makes me feel extremely anxious.I get so fearful of embaressment and ridicule almost everywhere in my university.I cannot sit in a lecture theatre without feeling somebody is watching and judging me.I have to sit alone if I can, otherwise will become agitated.I feel people don't forget stupid incidents or accidents and strive to avoid contact wwith them,since I believe they will remember what I have done.

I never try to go anywhere in the campus where lots of people are.It just makes me nervous.I have to find a seluded work space in the library.I cannot go into large crowded computer labs either ,again fear overules.

Time · Guest

I would recommend a beta blocker like propanolol as being better than a tranquillizer as it just deals with the physical symptoms of fear like sweating (and blushing) but doesn't knock you out mentally. I've tried both and I much prefer a Beta blocker - try it before the talk

terresap · Newbie User Joined: Apr 06, 2004 Posts: 43

emma · Guest

I was wondering if anybody else is having the same problems as me.I am so glad that I have found this website as I have been looking for somebody to help in for ages.
The problem for me is, any way in which i have to talk out in front of anyone, especially if I am called upon in a seminar by a lecturer for any reason at all I cant handle the thought of it never mind doing it.
I am just about to start my second year at my degree, during my first year i couldnt go to the seminars because of this fear so i just attended the lectures and past the year.
Now that im about to start year two I know that i need to go to these seminars but i am so scared that im afraid im going to fail or drop out even though i so want to finish this degree badly, I am trying to convince myself that I will be able to go even though deep down i know i cant. Even so, if i do the same as i did last year, will i get wrong for doing this? Or will I be able to pass again like i did last year!
This is such a fear i dont know what to do, and i was wondering if anybody else has got this same fear as me, or has had it before and knows what to do if they have succeeded in getting over it.

If any one has any advice i would really appreciate it, i am really distaught. I have even seen a hypnotherapist to try and hypnotise me for more confidence, but it didnt work.

Please if someone knows of any help. Thanks