Major sources of developing Glossophobia and treatment technique

We are breathing in the epoch of fierce competitive climate where persuasion is an important attribute. In present scenario public speaking skills has immense significance as well as a professional must develop knack to persuade others to achieve our life objectives. But not all people can fluently deliver speeches or elaborate themselves in public gathering, conferences or seminars. Major reason is the Fear of public speaking which is prevalent in our society and pigeonholed as a common social phobia. These individuals may disappoint at work or at school because of nervousness.

IT professionals, students or even health experts suffer Glossophobia in their life. As it is observed that in many IT degree syllabuses, they do not include any communication theme. This trigger major problem for future professionals as they hold graduate degree and join giant multinational without indispensable public speaking abilities which trouble them in new corporate set-up.

Glossophobia, another name of speech anxiety, is basically the fear of public speaking. It is a matter of immense importance regarding public speaking especially in corporate world, as professionals are highly responsible for business speech for the growth of company.

Glossophobia is a speech anxiety. People develop fear to speak publicly who suffer from glossophobia. They tend to halt in front of any audience, even a couple of people. Their mouth dries up, voice become weak and body starts trembling. Some persons may even sweat.

People gripped with glossophobic cannot control the irresistible nervousness, and may have a nervous breakdown whenever provoked with such mass speaking. The fear is not necessarily restricted to big stage experiences, but they have nervous breakdown in a small group. They often evade public speaking situation.

Anxiety is one of the strong obstacle for speakers, but it is beneficial also as it can be channelled into good, positive feelings, in order to make a speech more fervent and engaging.

Most common symptoms of glossophobia:

It is observed that people suffering from glossophobia exhibit symptoms of blushing, sweating, trembling, palpitations, nausea, stammering, and rapid speech.

They show following signs when gripped in phobia:

-       Extreme anxiety before verbal communication with any group.

-       Avoidance of events which focus the group's attention on individuals in attendance.

-       Physical distress, nausea, or feelings of panic in such circumstances.

-       Constant thoughts and nightmare of having a public embarrassment during speaking.

-       Muscle tension around neck and back around such public speaking environment.

-       Declining tone of voice and feeling energy less.

-       Intense panic attack during a public speaking experience.

Major grounds for developing glossophobia:

-       Glossophobia can be due to related trauma or distress.

-       It may be due to genetic factors. Glossophobia may develop if person has family history of such phobia.

-       Stage freight: It stems from nerves and the fear of being judged. When many eyes are looking at the speaker on stage. It is quite normal that person is anxious.

The underlying truth about glossophobia:

Fear of public speaking adversely impact on career of people and create hurdles in realizing goals of life. It can affect uniformly on men and women as this phobia often start with shyness in childhood or pre-adolescent period and progress gradually in adulthood.

It is not true that feeble or common people may develop this phobia. When we review the history, many great people struck with this phobia. Abraham Lincoln in his letter wrote that public speaking is the cause of his nervousness but he overawed this fear and delivered electrifying speech to persuade the audience.

Another eminent personality, Winston Churchill had terrific fear of public speaking but he spent hours to correct his speech. At the peak of his career, Churchill delivered eloquent speech which transformed the history. We can also drag example from India. The great, Mahatma Gandhi was also afraid of public speaking as he was very shy in nature. But in South Africa, he was able to overcome this fear and delivered impressive speech that made stunned to audiences.

Treatment options:

People who are under grip of glossophobia can choose myriads of techniques to improve public speaking abilities.

There are some techniques to lesson Glossophobia, which can be categorized into short term solutions and long term solutions. Generally, short term Glossophobia solutions are associated with the physical trait of the human body. There are many physical exercises that release adrenalin, a hormone that has direct stimulant effects that can assist a better performance. Long term Glossophobia solutions are perfect for specialists, since they also help to develop some traits which are needed in business profiles, such as leadership and confidence.

A professional can also reduce the impact of Glossophobia by changing his mind set so as to always seek self-improvement in communication skills. There are many speech opportunities that are presented in day-to-day life, and by facing each of those opportunities as a learning experience, instead of as a pitfall in exposing weaknesses, many valuable lessons can be learned. Self-motivation and ambition also play an important role regarding this topic.

Glossophobia can be treated through a combination of psychotherapies and medicines. Exposure therapies are effectual techniques to treat the fear of public speaking. The counsellor/therapist guides through regular exposure sessions where the person need to face public speaking situations.

Another dominant way to throw out fear of public speaking from mind is practicing meditation. Meditating regularly can have a soothing effect on physical and mental state of person which can make speaking in public less traumatic. People can overcome fear of public speaking through knowledge, practice, conversation, movement and friendly faces.

Wrapping the facts, it is an acknowledged fact that Glossophobia is very common among world populace. It is a category of social phobia that has negative consequences on personal and professional life of people. To get rid of this fearful feeling is challenging for people but through effective therapies and medicines, people may get relief.

Important:

This article is based on environmental information and personal views of writer. Writer is not responsible for any disagreement.