Ways to Beat Public Speaking Nerves without Drugs or Alcohol

Speaking in public in front of groups of people you don’t know or even know can be more than nerve racking – it can be downright scary. For some the thought of having to do it is enough to make them self medicate to calm their nerves. Some people self medicate by what is thought of as liquid courage- alcohol. Others use a variety of drugs, some legal, some not. Both ways of alleviating the stress of public speaking can lead to abuse and later addiction.

If you stress out about speaking in front of groups, you are not alone. Most public speakers, even the experienced ones, are nervous on some level about making a mistake and/or being laughed at. Nervousness before a performance is your body’s way of making sure you do well. Adrenaline can actually help you focus.

Some people experience more severe worry and stress. They may feel cold or sweaty, get butterflies in their stomachs and feel like they can’t think straight. Rather than taking something to calm you down, whether it is a prescribed tranquilizer or something illegal, try some of the following techniques.

Be prepared. If you practice enough and know your material, you’ll do much better. If you can, practice in front of another person, if not, use a mirror. Think positive. Look yourself in the eye and say, “I can do this”, and believe it. Make sure you get plenty of sleep the night before and eat healthy. Feeling better physically, will help you psychologically.

Learn some relaxation techniques. Some people rely on yoga and deep breathing exercises. Some compile a list of soft listening music that puts them at ease. Some people need to be active to relax. If that sounds like you, take a nice long walk or a run, followed by a warm shower. Find out what works best for you and then use it.
Check on tips from the experts. There are DVD’s, CD’s, books and on-line information about how they deal with pre-performance jitters. Believe me, stage fright is not new and it is something that most speakers deal with constantly. Whether you are giving a talk in school in front of other students, at work in front of a group of your peers, or in a room full of strangers, you can do it. Not only can you do it, but you can do it without drugs.

If you need help, are struggling with an addiction, or know of someone who is, please contact A Better Tomorrow today. We are here to help.
http://www.abttc.net/
Phone: 800.971.1586
Fax: 800.401.8464
24 Hour Addiction HelpLine
Tel. (800) 396-9389 (7 days 24 hours)
e-mail: info@24houraddictionhelp.com
http://www.24houraddictionhelp.org/

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