The Career Doctor™
by Dr. Jacqueline Hornor Plumez
Looking for a first job? Thinking of changing careers?
Facing a lay-off? The Career Doctor™ is a Larchmont psychologist
specializing in career counseling. If you'd like to ask a question of
your own, use our anonymous form, and she
might answer you here. Read more about the Career Doctor here.
Contact information is here.
OVERCOMING A PUBLIC SPEAKING PHOBIA
Dear Career Doctor:
I have just been promoted to a position where I have to give reports to my group. I have
always hated public speaking and it is getting worse. When I stand up, my knees and hands
start shaking, I get all red in the face and my throat feels like it is closing up. My
voice is shakey and I feel like a fool. Someone told me to picture "my audience" in
their underwear. It didn't help. I am afraid I will get fired if I can't overcome this
problem.
Nervous
Dear Nervous:
Public speaking phobias affect about 90% of the population. If you don't believe me, watch
any speakers' hands. Almost all speakers get shakey hands when they start
addressing an audience. I know this doesn't help, but at least you know you are not
alone.
There are a variety of psychological techniques to help people overcome phobias. But
for public speaking phobias, here's a quicker fix: one inderal tablet an hour before your
presentation.
Most of the symptoms you describe are high blood pressure symptoms caused by your
"anticipatory anxiety." You anticipate being nervous and making a fool of yourself and
that raises your blood pressure, causing those symptoms which make you feel foolish -- a
whole vicious cycle. An inderal tablet blocks your high blood pressure symptoms. When
you know you willl not have those embarrassing symptoms, you can start anticipating that
you will feel fine and speak well, thus creating a new healthy anticipatory cycle.
Tell your physician that you have a public speaking phobia and that you would like to use
inderal just when you have to make a speech. If you do not have low blood pressure, you
will probably get a prescription.
If for medical reasons you can not take inderal, there are many psychological
techniques to overcome your problem. I have used them for years with
patients and can recommend them, but they take much longer to work than
inderal. Next week's column will go into these other techniques.
The Career Doctor
Comments on the article? Give us your thoughts
The Career Doctor™ is Larchmont
psychologist and career counselor, Dr. Jacqueline Hornor Plumez.
Her office is at 90 Beechtree Drive in Larchmont, 914-834-1982.
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