Anxiety symptoms may well be prompted by a number of conditions, but a lot of people experience severe stress and anxiety that’s rooted in the fear of public speaking. Public speaking anxiety is usually brought on by lack of experience on stage, being scared of failing, along with many other reasons. A lot of factors tend to be centered on the person’s basic belief system with regards to the situation. The following are some ways to reduce fear of public speaking and the risk of having a panic attack on stage:

1. Prepare yourself for the speech you are going to make beforehand. Going onstage unprepared will raise the risk of having stress from public speaking, therefore do whatever you can to lessen the risk of suffering from excessive stress whenever it is your turn to go on stage. Rehearse your pre-written speech with a friend or in front of a mirror if you need to so you know just what the viewers will be seeing.

2. Exercise breathing “big belly” style. The University Center Rochester (UCR) research shows that there are many techniques to be able to deal with stress and anxiety associated with delivering presentations in front of an audience. Experts at the University point out the benefits of ‘big belly’ breathing since anxiety generally slows the respiratory system that then makes it a challenge for one to focus. ‘Big belly’ breathing will clear your lungs and therefore encourage the flow of oxygen throughout your entire body.

3. Move around as you speak publicly. Keeping yourself in a fixed location during your speech will bring about anxiety from public speaking, therefore you must plan to move around whilst you’re making your speech. Working with your hands or moving throughout your stage would also help communicate your message better with your audience.

4. Have breaks and pauses. A common mistake which several individuals commit when they are prone to experiencing anxiety over public speaking is that they tend not to take the time to take a break or pause in the course of the session. This is especially important if you happen to be using visual aids simply because you would need to direct the viewers from point to point.

5. Refrain from excessive caffeine and sugar. Caffeine such as that from coffee and soft drinks may cause you to be more nervous than you are supposed to whenever you are making your presentation, and also if you have encountered anxiety over public speaking before, you should steer clear of products that contain a lot of caffeine and sugar. Both these substances can make your heart race, make you sweat, as well as make it hard to concentrate on a task.

6. Wear comfortable clothes and shoes. You do not want to worry about pulling your shirt or moving certain ways for you to look relaxed and composed when you’re on stage. Some people experience anxiety over public speaking simply because they aren’t relaxed when they’re up onstage. Prepare what you’re going to wear ahead of time to give you the chance to see what you are going to look like on stage, as well as how comfortable you may feel with the outfit you have chosen.

Minimizing anxiety over public speaking can certainly be a difficult task, and it’s going to take some time and practice to overcome this fear. Make use of these tips that will help reduce your own chance of an anxiety attack just before you go onstage so that you can deliver a very professional speech or presentation that your target audience can appreciate and remember you for.

If you have ever suffered from anxiety when socializing with people, or have fear of leaving your home, there is good news. A non-pharmaceutical anxiety treatment that can help you to free yourself from the unsettling thoughts that may lead to panic attacks.