Do I Have Glossophobia?

Do you worry weeks or months in advance of a speech or presentation?

Do you experience severe physical symptoms of anxiety during a speech, such as shaking?

Do you experience severe physical symptoms of anxiety during a speech, such as a quivering voice?

Do you experience severe physical symptoms of anxiety during a speech, such as dizziness?

Do you experience severe physical symptoms of anxiety during a speech, such as blushing?

Do you experience severe physical symptoms of anxiety during a speech, such as shortness of breath?

Do you experience severe physical symptoms of anxiety during a speech, such as a pounding heart?

Do you experience severe physical symptoms of anxiety during a speech, such as an upset stomach?

Do you have intense anxiety symptoms while speaking in public and is your ability to live your life the way that you would like affected by it?

Based on your answers, it is unlikely that you have glossophobia. Glossophobia is public speaking anxiety and is one of the most common social fears. Some people feel nervous about giving a presentation, but for someone who has social anxiety disorder, public speaking may have a great impact on their life.

Based on your answers, you may worry in advance of a speech or presentation, but you don’t experience physical symptoms during the presentation. Someone who has glossophobia has an intense fear of public speaking. The symptoms are the same as those for social anxiety disorder (SAD), but they only occur when speaking in public. The symptoms are the result of the flight or fight response: an automatic reaction of our bodies to prepare for danger. When there is no real physical threat, it may feel as if you are losing control. This makes it difficult to do well during the speech.

Unfortunately, you are displaying symptoms typically seen among individuals who have glossophobia. Glossophobia is public speaking anxiety, in which a person may worry weeks or even months in advance of a speech or presentation and has severe physical symptoms during the speech. Glossophobia may be diagnosed as social anxiety disorder (SAD) if it interferes with your life. Fortunately, glossophobia can be managed with therapy and medication. Therapy may be short-term and may consist of systematic desensitization and cognitive-behavioral therapy. These therapies will help you to successfully manage your anxiety symptoms.