Public Speaking

Public speaking in one of the biggest and most common fears people have. I don't entirely understand why, even if I totally understand the feeling. I gave a presentation today in my English Language class on the use of 'than.' Now, it was only a five minute oral report done with a partner and practically layed out for me in a power point. But I have worried about it for the month and a half since I realized I would have to give one. Don't even worry, I still have a dialect report in April to stress over :)

Well, I didn't worry about it everyday or anything. But when I seriously thought about getting up in front of my class my stomach dropped. The class isn't very big-probably around forty people-but they are all older than me. I don't know this for a fact but I am fairly positive. Most of my classes have people at least a year or two older than I am. They seem to know so much more-I am hoping this is because of experience and in two years I will know as much :) I am conisdering this as a reason it scared me.

But what about everyone else and every other situation? Is it the fear of public humiliation? The whole, 'everyone makes mistakes' thing doesn't really seem to be a comfort. I think part of it is the blank faces staring at me. For some reason I hate people looking at me when I talk-at least in large crowds. I have trouble keeping eye contact with people when I am talking to them one on one. But that's just me...

When I really think about it, it shouldn't be that bad. Speaking in sacrament meeting you can basically read what you wrote-ignore everyone there (though, it does make it more interesting when you look up-but even then you can blur the faces), conducting a meeting there are certain things to say-you can even write that down to look at. Really, I just don't understand this issue I myself have.

So, being in school and having to research and back up everything, I looked up the top phobias in America. 'Public Speaking' wasn't on there, but 'social phobia' was. I've never heard of this site and have no idea how accurate it may be (it actually has a disclaimer that it is not approved or anything, but I found it to be interesting.) (http://www.phobia-fear-release.com/top-ten-most-common-phobias.html)

Like this site says, when it talks about social phobia, people are afraid of what others might think, afraid of being seen negatively. I think it's kind of sad that that is such a big fear-even for me.


'To be happy, we must not be too concerned with others.' -Albert Camus