Overcoming Social Anxiety and Public Speaking
An Interactive Work Shop Presented by
Corinne Frontiero, and Hosted by the Motown Writers Network
Date: Saturday, September 12th, 2009 , beginning @ 10:00 a.m. at the
Barnes and Noble Located on the Campus of Wayne State University
Detroit , Michigan
On Saturday, September 12th, 2009 , on behalf of the Motown Writers Network, I presented an Interactive Work Shop on Overcoming Social Anxiety and Public Speaking. While we are busy at work on the Pod Cast (my “Videographer” is a student and very, very busy) in the interim, I would like to provide you some of the pictures from the presentation and provide you some important tips and pointers having to do with overcoming social anxiety and public speaking.
Being the sweetheart that I am, I gave away my notes at the Workshop. LOL! Alas, my handy dandy computer had my index cards and so it is with this information that I will bullet or outline the major points from the presentation:
(format will be Question [Q] and Answer [A] to indicate).
Due to the length of the speech, obviously, it will have to be broken up into Parts:
Part I:
Overcoming Social Anxiety and Public Speaking . . .
Workshop Ice Breaker:
“Ice breakers”, at least this speaker believes, are key interactive activities amongst group members that can “break the ice” of the nervousness of public speaking for not only yourself, but your audience members, as well. In some forums, some individuals may be there against their will (i.e., as an in Anger Management Group). Tom Jackson’s Activities that Teach, has some didactic ice breakers that may be utilized. For this particular Work Shop, the ice breaker utilized was The Wright Family Exercise.
Q. What is the difference between a Social Phobia
and Social Anxiety Disorder?
A. Formerly known as “Social Phobia”, but is now known as “Social
Anxiety Disorder”
In 1994, the diagnosis was changed by the DSM-IV (Diagnostic Statistic Manual-IV) to recognize how broad and generalized these types of disorders can be.
Q. What’s the DSM? What is it used for?
A. The DSM is a Diagnostic Coding book that the mental health profession uses to diagnose mental health illnesses and to bill your insurance company with.
Though often still the terms are interchangeable, the politically correct current usage is Social Anxiety Disorder.
Q. What are the “Ills” of Social Anxiety Disorder?
A. SAD makes life extremely difficult.
Socializing is one of life’s greatest joys, and to constantly experience anxiety and fear in social situations can be rather awful.
Q. How can you differentiate between regular anxiety about public speaking and a SAD?
A. Although it is natural to feel excited before any type of presentation, SAD is something entirely different. Those with SAD often have difficulties in other areas: meetings at work, public speaking, even groups of friends can be difficult.
High levels of anxiety created by SAD, keeps the attention locked on the “self” which is exactly the opposite of what is required to experience the joy of socializing.
Q. How is public speaking anxiety defined?
A. Public-speaking anxiety is a disturbance of mind regarding a forthcoming public speaking event and is also known as “glossophobia” As a fear, it ranks higher than the fear of death. May that be used as a measure to determine the extent of your own anxiety about public speaking.
While public speaking anxiety is universal, it does not prevent successful speeches.
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