A phobia is an extreme, usually irrational, fear of, or an aversion to something. And when the phobia is activated symptoms include everything from mild anxiety to sheer panic; and avoidance of the specific activities that will activate the fear.
The most common phobia is fear of public speaking or speech anxiety. Recent statistics say that 74% of people suffer from this fear. And suggest that the fear is more intense than fear of death. So what helps? If you HAVE to speak in public from time to time, and are terrified like most people are…well, 74% of people, the two things that help the most are thorough and thoughtful preparation and practice. And “exposure” — typically the more you try the behavior that’s so challenging — in small and manageable doses — and then process and affirm success, the more likely you will manage the anxiety.
And naturally I suggest some short term therapy to help you through the process. I have helped clients get up the courage to join toast masters where they have the opportunity to practice as well as learn excellent skills. And in therapy you can often access the core, initiating event that put the fear in place — things like those command childhood performances in plays at school or church that went terribly wrong! And things like intense adult expectations that you may have felt you failed to live up to….regardless, you can get to the sweet spot where you can speak in work and social settings when called upon to do so with dramatically reduced anxiety.
And just in case the whole phobia thing interests or concerns you, here are the top ten things we fear.
Glossophobia — public speaking
Necrophobia — death
Arachnophobia — spiders
Achluophobia or mycctophobia — darkness
Acrophobia — heights
Sociophobia — people or social situations
Aero Phobia –flying
Claustrophobia — confined spaces
Agoraphobia — open spaces
Brontophobia — thunder and lightening
So do you have any of these phobias? Personally, I truly hate spiders and get a vague feeling of being off balance in really high places — AND have been stuck on elevators three times so am a little jumpy there as well!
The point: if any fear limits you it’s worth examining and perhaps talking to someone who can help.