How to get over the fear of speaking

[Sooyunggg]

im 19 years old and for 18 years i spent nearly everyday in an environment where i would be in my own mind to cope with my physical surrounding. i moved out February 1st 2019 and i feel amazing but at the same time. everything is anxiety. I don’t know how to be around other people without feeling the need to hold my breath and tiptoe so im hidden. if you were to ask me a question, i’ll smile and respond but inside im shaking and crying because everything is hard to be around

[Youre1]

I also had a fear of public speaking, making even a simple presentation in front of a group would have me so nervous I would be up all night worrying about it. Until I did a course with Toastmasters. They teach how to get up in front of a crowd and getting over that fear. They run practice speeches in front of the workshop group. This has helped me tremendously, I now don't worry at all about public speaking and I am an instructor which requires me to speak in front of groups for a living. I thoroughly recommend you do a Toastmasters course. It will give you the skills and confidence to get up there and speak well and confidently.

[Aaronsis]

Hey Sooyunggg

I am so very glad that you have reached out here and that you have come to get some support and some comfort on this issue, I don't understand as I am an extrovert, talking is my thing, however the reason your post jumped out at me is the very reason I am here at BB and reaching out to wonderful people like you. See I lost my brother in July last year, he died by suicide, he was 19, he said in his note "I just wish I could have talked to people, I feel like I am a stranger even around my best mates, I say the same 8 words and you will start talking about you, so I don't ever have to talk about me, I know my mates want me to be around but do they?"

So I have to be here now talking to young people like you and saying "I hear you"..it is so hard to find your voice when you feel so terrified to use it, for fear of being judged or criticized or perhaps just terrified of being heard....as I said, I don't know what that is like but I can only imagine the pain it must cause and the fear and the anxiety. I am so sorry that you are going through this but so very proud of you for coming here to chat.

That is so fantastic that you have moved out and you are feeling so very good, I hear what you say about how you feel when people do ask you a question and that is so very hard.

If you would like to chat some more to me I would love to hear more about you and I would like to try to help you through this with even a few things to try that might help you, they may not also but we can try.

You are in such a safe place here and will only be supported so please share as much or as little as you feel comfortable with, we are here for you Sooyunggg.

Huge hugs

Sarah xx