Fear of Public Speaking Medication

The rate at which many people fear public speaking is alarming and this has made many ask questions such as, Is there medication for fear of public speaking? Well, the sad reality is this, people will always be bothered about the fear of public speaking. Questions such as the one above have drawn us to discuss the fear of public speaking medication.

The quest to overcome glossophobia (the fear of public speaking) has really kept many in search of medication for glossophobia. It is also important to note that the fear of public speaking is not a chronic disease and one can easily overcome it. One thing it does is this, it triggers anxiety and discomfort which is expressed through sweating uncontrollably or a racing heartbeat.

Causes of Glossophobia

People get afraid to speak publicly for one reason or the other. Most times, the reasons are associated with stage fright or lack of self-confidence. Nonetheless, to better solve a problem, a deep knowledge of the cause of the problem is essential.

Three reasons could be said to be the causes of glossophobia and people fear peaking in public for one or two or even three of them. They include:

Judgment

People who do not wish to be judged tend to shy away from public speaking and these people find the art of public speaking difficult to master. In other to avoid tongue-lashing, they avoid public speeches. This is the major cause of fear of public speaking and can be associated with a lack of self-confidence.

Embarrassment

This is another cause of glossophobia and those who suffer from this suffer the most. They do not even come out to speak at all how much more allowing themselves to make mistakes that lead to ridicule. Embarrassment is something that six out of ten people will do everything humanly possible to avoid.

People would rather have themselves shot than being embarrassed. For this reason, they fear public speaking. Unpreparedness can also lead to embarrassment. For instance, when someone is called out to come and render a public speech without prior notice, the person may be forced to fluff as a result of unreadiness.

Rejection

The fear of rejection is a cause of glossophobia. Nothing demoralizes people than rejection. It rings a bell in your head whenever you remember what you went through. Of course, people avoid speaking publicly for fear of rejection. Rejection could be said to mean “hey man, you are not qualified” or inferiority complex.

The above-mentioned causes of fear of public speaking are simple social phobias and has not been proven if they are hereditary. Although the human brain process information at different speeds, this means that peoples’ response to words/comments about negative actions is different.

Does Glossophobia Have A Cure?

As uncomfortable as it may seem, the medication for fear of public speaking may be very near to all who seek it. But they may not have discovered it, for this reason, we put you through in this post. Anxiety increases with time and has a way of playing out in your dealings.

When you fear public speaking to an extent that your fear interferes with your daily living, it is advised you consult your doctor. With the help of your doctor, a treatment plan can be developed to help you overcome your fear of public speaking.

What is the best way to treat Glossophobia?

The fear of public speaking can be treated in two ways – medically and non-medically

Non-Medical Treatment of Glossophobia

1.      Proper Preparation

To effectively speak publicly without intimidation, proper preparation is required. This entails all-round preparation so as to not fluff. Well so many who have failed in public speaking could be attributed to lack of preparation.

Adequate preparation for over a long time is better than an emergency fix and it will pay better in the long run. To ward of anxiety be it in public speaking or not, preparation is key. Taking up a class in public speaking may be a proper way to prepare. Below are essential preparation tips.

·         Know your Material

To deliver a good speech, you should be able to understand the content of the material. You do not have to memorize your presentation but have the key areas covered. Make scripts for your presentation and rehearse the script.

·         Feed Well/Properly

To prepare properly for a presentation also requires taking proper meal. Eat well-balanced diet containing fresh fruits and vegetables and ensure you eat when necessary. Do not take alcohol or reduce your alcohol, nicotine or caffeine intake.

·         Exercise Regularly

Make out time to exercise as it will help to enable blood circulation and at the same time help in digestion. Also perform regular self-care such as relaxing activities and planned breaks.

·         Get To Sleep

Getting enough hours of sleep will easy anxiety and help you overcome your fear of public speaking. Your brain tends to relax during sleep and processes data faster when given enough rest compared to when stressed. Allowing yourself at least 8 hours of sleep will definitely easy nervousness.

2.      Psychotherapy

Another great way to treat glossophobia is by cognitive behavioral therapy. One good thing about working with a therapist is that it helps you to figure out the cause of the problem and proffer solutions to the problem. Most actions we take in our old age is primarily due to what we went through at young age.

A therapist is essential in overcoming most of these negativities as he guides you through them and teach you ways to reshape the negative beliefs. Psychology is one thing that kept so many in the place of regrets. People tend not to do things that they would want to do naturally because they don’t believe they can do them anymore.

Most people who shy away from public speaking do not do so because they have tried and failed woefully. Rather, they do so because they believed they cannot speak in public. A therapist comes handy in this case, because medications (drugs) are not required to solve this type of problem. What is required is one-on-one talk and proper routine check.

Psychotherapy is one known non-medical way to cure glossophobia and have been applied and proven over time. Well… get a mentor to help you get over your fear.

Medical Treatment of Glossophobia

The use of medications such as antidepressants to treat depression have become an unsolicited norm. However, if the non-medical treatment methods have been tried and proved useless in treating your fear of public speaking, then resorting to the medical treatment method may become inevitable.

To this effect, taking medication should never be a personal decision, consult your doctor. In any case, some of the following medications have been mostly used as antidepressants. These medications can be classified as long term use medications or immediate use medications.

1.    Long Term Use Medications

The long term use medications include

  • Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs)

These are a class of medication for the treatment of depression. Although they have become less popular due to the existence of improved depression medications. They are still used though and are associated with some side effects. These side effects have contributed to the majority of the reasons they became obsolete.

Some of these side effects include fatigue, insomnia, nervousness, dizziness, high blood pressure and so much more. For these reasons, MAOIs are the least recommended for the treatment of depression.

They are rarely prescribed for children. It is also advised that the inception of administering antidepressants, the patient should be observed to ensure there are no negative mood changes. It is also important to see your doctor before you start taking antidepressants and before you stop taking antidepressants.

  • Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)

This is arguably the most common form of antidepressant and is considered safe. They have fewer side effects when compared to MAOIs mentioned above. The full effect of the SSRIs takes time to be felt because they are long term use medications. The dosage can be adjusted on prescription by the doctor if after about two months no significant improvement is noticed on the patient.

The potential side effects of Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) include the following.

  • Insomnia
  • Headache
  • Rashes
  • Drowsiness
  • Nausea etc.

2. Short Term Use Medications

The short term use medications include:

  • Beta-Blockers

Beta-blockers are medicines used for the control of the physical symptoms of glossophobia. They are primarily made for high blood pressure and most heart disorders. Their actions are to temporarily inhibit the body’s stimulus responses. By doing so, these medicines reduce body stress.

They are also associated with some side effects which include:

  • Fatigue
  • Nausea
  • Weakness
  • Dizziness
  • Weight gain
  • Back or joint pain
  • Abdominal cramp etc.

 

  • Benzodiazepines

The benzodiazepines are drugs with benzene rings in conjunction with the diazepine ring. They are a group of psychoactive drugs that lower brain activity. Examples include Xanax and Ativan. These drugs are also associated with different side effects which include:

  • Drowsiness
  • Fatigue
  • Confusion
  • Nausea
  • Memory impairment etc.

The benzos are quite addictive and patients are advised to be careful about how they take these drugs. Another disadvantage of using benzos is that over a long period of time of usage, the body may develop resistance against them. When this happens, higher doses are required to treat associated health conditions.

They are used in the treatment of

  • Anxiety
  • Nervousness
  • Insomnia
  • Seizures etc.

Conclusion

The fear of public speaking medication is not an issue to be taken lightly especially when the use of drugs is the only resort. The use of medications for glossophobia should be the last resort for the patient and as such, proper consultation with the doctor is necessary before taking up this step.

Having treated the various causes of glossophobia and the best ways to treat the fear of public speaking, we would like you to share this post to help others gain from this information.

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