New and have problem!!

[Aned415]

Hi every one. I am new here and I wish I can find some help to overcome my shyness.
Although I am a teacher! I feel very nervous to talk to people, especially strangers.

In one week time I should give a presentation to all the staff in my shcool and really I am feeling sick and very nervous of doing that.

I guess my fearing is building as usually I forget words while talking and my mind goes blank sometimes. I remmember one time when I was giving a presentation to my class mates and suddenly I fall down unconscious as a result of me trying to remmember the right thing to say but couldn't get hold of it.

I tried several times to stop thinking and focus on what I am going to say but suddenly some thing happens inside causing my heart to start beating so badly and losing the focus of the talk.

I wish I could stop thinking in other people's thoughts about me and focus on what I am doing once in my life. My panic attack is really holding me from being a successful person!

any help?

 

[trombone_babe]

Hi, I'm a teacher too and I know exactly what you mean. I'm fine standing up talking to a class of kids but I could never give a presentation to the staff!As my depression got worse I found myself withdrawing from the other teachers although I was still absolutely fine chatting away to the kids.

As far as advice goes for the panic, have you tried anything like Bach's Rescue Remedy, it's meant to reduce anxiety. I've not tried it myself but I know people who swear by it. If something like that doesn't help, maybe have a word with your GP and see what he recommends.

 

[timamu]

You are going to be fine. Really.

What is happening is that you are focussing on what it feels like to fail and by doing this you are making it more likely to happen.

Instead, visualise how it would feel to do this successfully. Really picture how it would feel to walk on feeling confident, deliver your presentation and sit down again having done a good job.

Do all your preparation, remember you don't need to learn it word for word - Use a small card with a list of bullet points as an aide memoire.

All the best x.

 

[Aned415]

Thank you for sharing your experiance and advice. I'll try to think that way timamu and see how things might go. Ill let you know once I give the presenation next wednesday.

trombone_babe I never ried something like that or any medication before. It just seem strange to me as some times I feel very confident that I can do any thing, while some other times (and that is the most of the time) I lose every thing!!

Infact I tried several times to force my self to talk loudly especially in meetings and when lots of people are around, but the max I can go is to say 8 to 10 words that I have prepared to say before I talk. for example to ask a question in a conference. If the discussion goes any further then I get stuck again and lose focus trying to end the conversation very fast.

 

[diddypinks]

hi here is a book that helped me a lot overcoming social anxiety and shyness by gillian butler good luck diddy

 

[Aned415]

I did it!!

Today I did the presentation in front of large number of my school staff. In fact, at the beginning I was terrified and wanted to run away from the meeting. But when I started just after 3 minutes I felt very confident and talked very smoothly and in a way I never expected I would ever do!

I tried to believe that I own the world before I started the presentation in order to overcome my shyness and it seemed work for me very well!! so I think it is all about a mind game.

 

[keepsafe]

Well done what a great step to have taken.