Fear of upcoming presentations

[kghayesh]

I have 2 upcoming presenatations this month. It's not my first presentation as I already did 4 before. But, these 2 will be the longest as I am supposed to talk for about 10 minutes. Before I only talked for about 3-4 minutes.

I really hate presentations, whenever I hear I have to make a presentation my mind gets stumbled and I almost don't stop thinking about this presentation till the moment I finish it. It makes me so worried all the time. From the moment I know that I have to do a presentation, I count the days remaining for that presentation and the first thing I think about everyday I get up is "how many days are remaining for the d-day !! "

Sometimes I thought of taking with the instructor about it and telling him that I prefer not to present or even just not showing up on that day, but no I am not a kind of guy. I will do the damn presentation.

I just don't like this huge feeling of stress. I never get stresssed before anything such as before a presentation !! And of course the reason is known (Stu****ing) So, does anyone have any advice or any stories that you can share it ??

Thanks,

[happy7117]

Do not out, but do talk to the instructor for advice. Avoiding the presentation will just make the fear and stress worsen. The more a person faces fears, the less of a fear it becomes!!

Deep breathe, use note cards, good breakfast, good night sleep, inform your audience you stutter..but talking to your instructor is probably a best idea!! Tell him you do not want to wimp out from presenting, but you would like advice to ease your fear of presenting, and ways to prepare for it......

[chocolate]

Hey=)
Happy7117 is right. I think it's not a good idea to tell the instructor that you don't want to present any more. Quite in contrary! I think you can grow a much when you do these presentations. The more presenations you make the less excited you will get.

When you are presenting, indulge in some breaks between your sentecens. That makes you calm and confident. Practise your speech at home so that you gain more certitude and confidence. Than I think nothing can go wrong:-)

[Standingtall]

I had to do an 20 minutes presentation once, did not have time to put an powerpoint presentation together. I was asked at the last minute, because of the other speaker did not show. You have had other successful presentations, so you should have no problem with this one. Sounds like you have a lot of pride, so do not be a wussy, you have a speech to make so do it. Once you become comfortable with talking in front of people, you will have less stress, the only problem you have to get use to it before you feel the less stress.

[divisi]

Hi, kghayesh, I'm currently in a simmilar situation: I've been teaching classes for several months now, and I've become very used to my students and to the subject I'm teaching, so things are going fine. However, recently I've been told to also teach another subject in the next months... this will mean new students, a new class.. and I admit I feel a bit afraid because changes are usually bad for the stutter. But, I've a lot of hope, so I believe things will be fine (even if my fluency isn't as good as I'd like).

As you can see, we're in simmilar scenarios. I wish you a superb presentation!!

[happy7117]

Hi, kghayesh, I'm currently in a simmilar situation: I've been teaching classes for several months now, and I've become very used to my students and to the subject I'm teaching, so things are going fine. However, recently I've been told to also teach another subject in the next months... this will mean new students, a new class.. and I admit I feel a bit afraid because changes are usually bad for the stutter. But, I've a lot of hope, so I believe things will be fine (even if my fluency isn't as good as I'd like).

As you can see, we're in simmilar scenarios. I wish you a superb presentation!!

I bet when you first started teaching, you had fears because everything was new, you did not know the students, and you probably were not familiar with the subject you were teaching. But after a while, I bet you felt comfortable and at ease with what you were teaching and who everyone was....

Your new classes and students should be just like that....when we do new things--we are fearfull of the unknown, of how others will react, and if we are knowledgeable enough of whatever it may be to be able to teach it....

Just remember that things are heavy and fearfull and first, but new things always are...once you get into a routine you will have confidence building and you will say "where as the time gone"!!!

Change means growth!!! It is also a learning experience to try new adventures!!

[divisi]

I bet when you first started teaching, you had fears because everything was new, you did not know the students, and you probably were not familiar with the subject you were teaching. But after a while, I bet you felt comfortable and at ease with what you were teaching and who everyone was....

Your new classes and students should be just like that....when we do new things--we are fearfull of the unknown, of how others will react, and if we are knowledgeable enough of whatever it may be to be able to teach it....

Just remember that things are heavy and fearfull and first, but new things always are...once you get into a routine you will have confidence building and you will say "where as the time gone"!!!

Change means growth!!! It is also a learning experience to try new adventures!!
Thanks a lot for your nice post, happy. You're right, at the beginning I also had fears, but then I realized everything was fine. Anyway, I kept on thinking "next year I'll have to face a similar situation when a new generation of students come". The change is that it's going to happen twice in the same period: one just now (which I didn't imagine), and another time when the next year begins (which I already expected).

During these months, I've become used to teaching, and I'd like it a lot. The only moment I dislike is when I've to present myself in a new group of people I don't know.

As I said, thanks a lot for your encouraging words. It's of great help!

[happy7117]

[QUOTE=divisi;11607] The only moment I dislike is when I've to present myself in a new group of people I don't know.QUOTE]

You made it through the same experience presenting yourself to new people when you first started. When you start your new subject with new faces, remember that you had fears the first time, but you lived through it! Don't think about not succeeding, just think of it as yet another hurdle you have jumped....!!

Also, there are some stuff we don't enjoy doing, but we have to do it.

I have fears of doing certain things, yet I have to do them-if I don't, I will probably regret not doing it....!!

Quitters never win, and winners never quit!!!

[happy7117]

As I said, thanks a lot for your encouraging words. It's of great help!

No need to thank me! You can thank me if you want! That's why we have this forum!! Support, insight, and help to other members!!!

[kghayesh]

Do not out, but do talk to the instructor for advice. Avoiding the presentation will just make the fear and stress worsen. The more a person faces fears, the less of a fear it becomes!!

Deep breathe, use note cards, good breakfast, good night sleep, inform your audience you stutter..but talking to your instructor is probably a best idea!! Tell him you do not want to wimp out from presenting, but you would like advice to ease your fear of presenting, and ways to prepare for it......
Well, thanks for the advice, but I don't think that talking to the instructor about it is a much good idea. I don't usually talk about stuttering with anybody unless he/she talks.
Also, I won't inform the audience that I stutter because simply they already know !! The audience are my colleagues in college. Unfortunately, I did stutter in front of them before in a presentation, so i guess they already know what to expect.

[kilumanati]

kghayesh, the only thing that has helped me in the past is knowing my topic 110%, that way you can substitute words alot more efficiently and decrease the chances of blocking up or repeating too badly, which in my case if it happens, then makes me more nervous and in turn i stutter more

good luck on the presentation

[jcalm]

I used to have the same fear like you. Presentation is a always been a big challenge for me even now. But look in the bright side, whatever going to happen will happen, no need to run or hide...or worry. Worrying is like a rock chair, it gives you something to do but it gets you no where. You don't see people worrying about one day they will die...whatever, i am getting off topic here. Just go with the flow and you'll be fine. Make yourself comfortable before the presentation and then imagine that you're having a conversation with you one of your best friends.

That day will come no matter what, so why worry? Good luck on you presentation.

[Ayman]

lol kinda same here, i had to introduce my self infront of the whole class and i stuttered, so the presentation tommrow.....um yeah i guess they gna know i stutter... then i gotta do a play afterwords....its suppose to be about lying and deception so we decided to do a desperate housewife one, and since im the onyl guy in the group with abs i gotta be the gardener LOL and take off my shirt infront of the whole class...im gonna be so nervous !!!!!!!