If you consider the facts available regarding public speaking and fear, you may be lead many to believe that these two things are joined at the hip. However, the real truth of the matter is that public speaking doesn't necessarily have to lead to an overwhelming level of dread. Fortunately, with the information you'll find within this article, you'll be better prepared to meet your public speaking goals without having to stress about, well, stressing about it! Getting over fears of public speaking is within the grasp of everyone, as long as you're willing to give it all you've got.

But before we can really give you the keys to help you successfully manage panic and anxiety when it's time to engage in public speaking, it's first necessary to figure out what level of fear speaking in public inspires in you.

The Fear of Public Speaking: A Broad Definition

Many people equate fear with panic attacks, and while that is a condition suffered by some public speakers, most of us will likely suffer from a much milder problem. What's the difference?

Well, a panic attack is an intense and sudden feeling of fear and anxiety that is often associated with physical symptoms such as rapid heart beat, trembling, shortness of breaths, feeling pins and needles as well as the possibility of feeling faint. The on-set of a panic attack may leave you in fear that you'll suffer to the point of collapse or even death. The worst of panic attacks lasts from around twenty to thirty minutes and are often linked in a series of recurrent, unexpected episodes of severe anxiety and distress.

Of course, not everything we call a "panic attack" is a real panic attack, and anxiety of public speaking can come in multiple forms. Indeed, when it comes to the fear of public speaking, there are many different names you might hear connected with anxiety.

Some call it performance anxiety, stage fright, panic, phobia of public speaking, speech anxiety, speech phobia, or, of course, just plain shyness. However, it should come as no surprise that there are so many different names for the fear of public speaking when you take into consideration the fact that in the US and the UK, the fear of public speaking surpasses even the fear of dying!

So, What Exactly Is The Big Deal?

Statistics like that can leave you questioning why the fear of public speaking is so crushing all across the board. At the root of the problem is the fact that there are increased trends for even ordinary, everyday citizens to find themselves in positions of having to offer speeches, reports, and presentations in front of groups at work, school and other arenas of life. And most ordinary people feel woefully incompetent when it comes time to inform a crowd, even if they happen to be highly qualified and successful members of their particular industry or organization.

Where does this fear come from? The fear of public speaking stems from our natural ingrained flight and fight instinct. And while speaking in front of an audience isn't quite a threat to our survival, it IS a very real imagined threat to our egos, confidence and capability.

When suddenly called upon to confront a crowd, you may find yourself experiencing some (or any combination) of the following symptoms:

• A shaky voice
• Blushing or flushing
• Inability to make eye contact
• Inability to speak
• Nausea
• Rapid breathing
• Shaky hands and/or knees.
• Shortness of breath, or
• Sweating