9 Methods to Conquer Stage Fear
5 Min Read
Esther
Have you ever been given a topic to speak about in school despite your refusal? Finally, you end up preparing your best only to go up on stage and feel frozen and your words start to fumble. Has that moment turned into one of the most embarrassing moments in your life? If yes, whatever you experienced was stage fright. Stage fright, also referred to as glossophobia, is the intense fear of public speaking, especially before an audience.
According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), approximately 73 - 75% of people experience glossophobia. This fear ranks higher than the fear of death, according to the research conducted by the National Institute of Statistical Sciences on the brain. Public speaking remains the No.1 social fear worldwide. This prevalence shows that fear is common among various demographics and cultures.
- Understand Why Public Speaking Feels Terrifying
The biggest thing that stops people from speaking is the fear of being judged, misunderstood and rejected by people. This “little voice” in the mind is what drives hesitation, avoidance and overthinking.
Public speaking can bring anxiety and fear because human brains are tuned to immediately scan judgment when in a new environment. In the first few seconds of a presentation, the audience is most sceptical. You automatically assume that people start to judge within seconds and that triggers nervousness.
Practical tip: See the audience as subjects who have come to listen and not to judge you.
