In need of public speaking opportunities/ideas for an SAD sufferer.....

Here's the deal, i suffer from social anxiety disorder and the best way to treat my condition is to get used to situations. I've won with regards to interacting with people socially whereby when I was young I was afraid to even go to the mall and to socialize. My biggest fear right now is speaking in front of an audience. Whenever I stand in front of people, my heart starts beating very fast, my hands start trembling and i speak fast. Normally people get a little nervous before giving a speech but for me it is extreme. So therefore I have Social Anxiety disorder. I joined toastmasters a few weeks back and will give my first speech in 2 weeks time. I'm nervous about that. But toastmasters meetings only happen twice a month. In addition to toastmasters, I was thinking of finding another way for me to speak in public, say every Saturday? I was hoping you guys can give me ideas that I haven't thought of for me to speak in front of a lot of people. I believe it will be extremely hard for me in the beginning but I am motivated to do it because my line work will require me to do presentations once I get promoted in the near future. The first idea that came to my mind is to maybe teach students/kids how to use a computer. What do you think?

Regards

What about joining a drama club? Prob one of the best ways for anyone to leave their comfort zone.

I find a little hard liquor makes me more socially confident. Problem is, the more 'confident' I become, the more incoherent I sound

Elfreako's suggestion is good. Maybe try improvisation classes/groups?

To become an MCT (Microsoft Certified Trainer) one has to do a course (3 days) called Train the Trainer, this course helps in giving you techniques with how to use your nervous energy to carry your voice as well as to look and sound more confident.

I found this to help a lot, currently have my third Tech-Ed behind me which entails speaking to groups of +/- 300 people in the big sessions on stage.

Sly21C said:

The first idea that came to my mind is to maybe teach students/kids how to use a computer. What do you think?

Regards

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I don't think that will work. I've been standing in front of a class of about 40 kids 8 times a day for the last 6 years. Yet when I have to speak to all of them in the hall I still get very nervous.

The key is preparation & rehersing x100.

Nervous people shouldn't just prepare 2 times more than other people. We have to prepare a lot more than other people.

Kareoke? If you can ridicule yourself in front of a lot of people by singing, speaking will seem easier.

You can also join another toastmaster which has their meeting on alternate weeks.

Yet you have 1500 posts so you are still able to talk . Here is my theory then. You are not afraid to speak when it is anonomous even with the same username. Therefore you are afraid to speak when your own person is at stake (the one you just can't reset or reload when it goes wrong). So the problem then is self perception.

So stop bluddy well thinking so highly of yourself and stoop to our level for once and just SPEAK! otherwise we think you are just trying to embarrass us with your fancy talk.

Nah seriously though all I can say is I was always a nervous speaker until I just stopped caring. Not to say I had SAD though.