Overcoming the fear of public speaking Pt.2:The causes of your fear

Does speaking in public fill you with fear and anxiety?

If your answer is yes, you are not alone. Fear is a common tendency among human beings and other living things. The Merriam Webster dictionary defines fear as; “An unpleasant often strong emotion caused by anticipation or awareness of danger.” The fear of public speaking otherwise called Glossophobia, is a very common phobia and one that is believed to affect up to 75% of the population.

Some individuals may feel a slight nervousness at the very thought of public speaking, while others experience full-on panic and fear. They may try to avoid public speaking situations at all cost or if they must speak in public, they endure shaking hands and a weak, quavering voice.      

Jeffrey R. Strawn, MD, FAACAP, associate professor of psychiatry and pediatrics at the University of Cincinnati, says; “The fear of public speaking is more common in younger patients as compared to older ones and may be more prevalent in females as compared to males.” He further explains, that the fear of public speaking often is present in individuals with social anxiety disorder. However, it is important to point out that not all individuals with a fear of public speaking have social anxiety disorder.

Most phobias seem to appear out of the blue, often starting in childhood or early adulthood. A phobia may arise because of a combination of genetic tendencies and other environmental, biological, and psychological factors. People who fear public speaking may have a real fear of being embarrassed or rejected. Glossophobia may relate to one’s prior experiences, Dr. Strawn says,

​“An individual who has a bad experience during public speaking may fear a repeat of that prior experience when attempting to speak again,” he admits.

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​Or if a person is told to speak to a group on the spot with no chance for advance preparation, and it does not go well, he or she may begin to fear public speaking and may never want to speak in public again.

Can you relate?

Keep on reading to learn more to help you be more like a jewel on God´s crown
¨ The LORD their God will save his people on that day as a shepherd saves his flock. They will sparkle in his land like jewels in a crown.¨ Zechariah 9:16 NIV
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Author

​​The author of this blog post is Pastor Melvin Parker, J.P. The devoted, kind, mission-driven and spiritual leader of the Bartons District of Seventh-Day Adventist Churches in St. Catherine, Jamaica. He is married to Sanya (a Science teacher) and the union has produced one son, Nathaniel. He lives by this philosophy; "If you can't overcome criticism, you will be destroyed by compliments."