Please send good thoughts this way...
 

I have a presentation to give in front my professor and other PhD students.
Unfortunately, I really dislike public speaking. By dislike, I actually mean that public speaking creates so much anxiety for me that I even refrain from asking questions in class--much less openly participate. I know that in retrospect, this is really not as big as I make it out to seem, but I completely blank when I'm in front of people and it doesn't matter how much I prepare, or how well versed I am on the subject, the second I'm put in front of a group of people I absolutely panic and I'm unable to form coherent sentences. I've tried writing down everything I want to say, however the second I lose my place---I panic---or even stutter my way through a sentence. Please keep me in your thoughts tomorrow...I'm probably going to stay up all night practicing.

Thank you all.

When I was in school I hated making those presentations. But now it's part of my job to do occasional presentations. My only suggestion is that the more comfortable you are with the subject the smoother your presentation will be. Good luck!

Sending good thoughts for a wonderful, stress-free presentation. If you start to feel jittery, take slow, deep breaths. Just think of how well you will do and then you will come here and tell us all about it. Good Luck!!!!

Good luck, I hope it goes well. I used to hate public speaking but then I started working in a job where I represented the government at trade shows, eventually I had to start presenting to small groups. One day I walked in and the other girl was sick, they told me I had 5 minutes prepare to present to 25 of the biggest reps in the department. After that (and the fact that I survived) I have never been afraid to speak.

I try to envision I'm just explaining what I'm saying to one person, rather than the group. it comes out more enthusiastically and I feel less stressed.

Let us know how it went.

Best of luck! Like someone else mentioned, the more familiar you are with the subject, the more confident you will feel.

Am sending lots of good thoughts and remember, your audience is just a group of people just like you.

I'm sending my best wishes for you to have a very successful presentation!:)

-Thank you for the advice. It's not a lot of people I'm presenting in thankfully- the lighting is just really terrible...I think the flourescent light bulbs make me feel like I'm under interrogation.

That is just it. I have to use scientific terms that I'm not very comfortable with just yet...

Thank you!!

Everything I'm presenting is my own work...I think that only adds to the anxiety :/ And, I have to use a lot of scientific jargon I'm not well acquainted with yet.

I might be jittery considering all the caffeine/lack of sleep I will be on by the time I present!

Thank you...I will try my best...:embarasse

Good luck, friend!!! Am sending good thoughts. Hey, have you ever asked your doc about taking 10mg of Inderal before public speaking? It's a great med for helping w/ speech anxiety...actors, speakers, politicians, and just everyday folks take it for this.

Off-label use info is where it talks about the stage fright: Propranolol - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Before you start speaking, picture all the people in the room in their underwear. Put the most intimidating man in Spiderman briefs and instant stress relief.

That sounds interesting. I don't have a regular doctor that I go to because I have health insurance through my school so I'd have to set up and appointment to see how that works.

Uh oh...if I randomly start laughing in the middle of my presentation they'll think I'm nuts!:eek::)

Best of luck. You will do great. Picture your audience all sitting in their skivvy drawers! The first word is the hardest, and then it is all downhill. Focus, breath, pause......it will start and end.....and life will go one! Get a good nights sleep. You already know everything there is to know!

Oh boy does this bring back memories. I understand your fears all to well. Good luck tomorrow. I'll be thinking of you.

I have a problem speaking to a group also. A few things I've found that have really helped me get through:

one, I pick a person on the right side of the room and a person on the left and that's who I direct my speech/presentation to. Knowing that when I look up I have specific people that my eyes are going to go helps me keep my place in the notes. I switch out and look left first and then right first but always to the same spots and then back to my notes.

Two, and this helped sooooo much, don't look them directly in the eye. That's what really intimidates and distracts me, is looking so many people directly in the eye. Instead, as you are looking across the room from one side to the other, look at the middle of their foreheads. from a few feet away it looks like you're making eye contact and they'll never know the difference, but it'll take that intimidation factor out of the situation.

Three, plan when you're going to look up from your notes. Put a little asterisk * or some little symbol or note to yourself, leave a space, whatever, that at such and such a point you'll look up. Especially helpful if you plan these spots at the end of a note card. Can't lose your place if you look up between cards instead of in the middle of one. If you're using full sheets of paper, leave a big gap at the points where you are going to look up so it's easier for you to find your place again when you come back to the notes

Four, unless it's inappropriate for the topic of your presentation, smile. It does help you to relax.

Good luck. You're not alone, fear of public speaking is the #1 phobia out there.

I will keep positive thoughts for you to give a great presentation. I know how you feel I have the same fear/anxiety. I do much better if I sit down, as soon as I have to stand and present I'm a wreck.

Good thoughts coming your way from New York City...

sending good vibes your way!
I know how you feel I used to be terrified I would blank but my counselor in h.s. made me take a public speaking course and that helped so much, he told me either you sign up for it voluntarily or I'm going to sign you up for it. best thing I think he ever did for me, I've been nothing but grateful since.

I hope all goes well!

About an hour until my presentation...:eek:
Thank you all for your thoughts.

Just finished.
I lost my place several times, got extremely nervous, and wasn't able to be as extemperaneous as I wanted to be, BUT my paper is good! I should be getting an A on it (not sure about what grade I will get for my presentation though lol)

YAY! I knew you could do it.

I'm glad it's over for you.:)

GOOD LUCK! I hate public speaking for sure too... I hated it in class and I hate it at work. I can sit at my desk or seat and speak to a room of people but I can't stand up in front of them and speak. Makes me so nervous! Good Luck today though! :)

I am so glad it is over for you.

Whew! Thank goodness it is behind you now! Hope you get the A!

Update: My professor approached me by the elevator a couple of hours after the presentation and he said "you didn't look nervous during your presentation"

I said, "Are you kidding? Of course I did."
He said, "Okay you're right, but not more nervous than the average person."

THIS IS A HUGE MILESTONE FOR ME!!! On my evaluation letter last semester, the department wrote that they were incredibly happy with my research, but that I needed to work on my presentation skills...that I have difficulty expressing my ideas...

And NOW no comment about my inability to present ideas, only that I was a little nervous. You do not understand how happy this makes me! I'm making progress...slowly but surely!

See it eventually gets better :) Glad it went well for you.

Practice makes perfect.:D