Focus on:
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Common symptoms of nervousness
Irrational beliefs and how to
change them
Application of Communication
Apprehension treatments to
public speaking
General suggestions to reduce Speech Anxiety
Common Physical Symptoms
of Nervousness
NOT visible

NOT visible 
Probably
NOT visible 
Probably
NOT visible 
Probably
NOT visible 
Probably
NOT visible 
Probably
NOT visible 
Heart palpitations
Stomach issues
Perspiration
Trembling or shaking
Jitteriness
Breathlessness
Dry mouth
• Try to ignore; don’t draw attention to it
• Try to ignore; don’t tell body to stop
• Neutral-colored towel
• Try to ignore; don’t draw attention to it
• Misdirect: Take a few steps, avoid holding
things in your hands, smile, maintain eye
contact,  positive energy in voice
• Exercise/shake out body before speaking
• Limit caffeine
• Work on posture & diaphragmatic breathing
• Bottle of water nearby
• Practice so that you can be smooth/unobtrusive
Your audience likely won’t notice your nervousness &
usually won’t mind if they do notice it
Albert Ellis
Irrational Beliefs
This is a difficult
assignment and will
likely require a
lot of preparation
I am never able to
things done on
time. I’ll probably
fail again.
ctivating
Professor assigns a major speech due in 2 weeks
Event
• Dispute belief
 Alternative belief
elief
• Question why you
allow yourself to
think this way
Irrational
Rational
• Plan for activating events
• Develop rational self-statements
onsequences
Begins to
procrastinate
Starts making
an outline
Adapting Communication
Apprehension treatments to address
public speaking anxiety


Systematic desensitization work in stages, starting
with small steps
Cognitive restructuring changing the way you think
Prepare a Back-Up Plan

Rhetoritherapy – skills training
Back mapping




Break down assignment
1 hr.
into tasks
30 min
2 1 hr.
2 1 hr.
Estimate time for
each task
2 1 hr.
Select a topic
Preliminary Research
Draft outline
…
Practice
Create a schedule with
internal deadlines
Follow the schedule
Sample Backmap
Sun
• Identify
necessary
visual aids
• Draft
Intro/Conc
(1 hr)
• Draft
speaking
notes
Mon
• Practice out
loud 2x (20
min)
• Ask friend
to review
(30 min)
• Add in
source
citations
(30 min)
Tues
• Revise
outline (1
hr)
• Practice out
loud 1x (10
min)
Wed
• Finalize
outline (30
min)
• Revise
speaking
notes (30
min)
• Practice 2x
w/notes &
aids (20
min)
Thurs
Fri
• Brainstorm
topics (30
min)
• Research 3
topics (1
hr)
• Finalize
topic
• Internet
research (2
hrs)
• Draft
outline of
speech
body (1 hr)
• Library
Research
(2 hrs)
• Revise
outline (1
hr)
Sat
• Practice 2x
w/notes &
aids (30
min)
• Practice 2x
w/aids &
less
reliance on
notes (30
min)
• Practice 2x
with no
notes
• Speech
Day
General Suggestions to
Managing Speech Anxiety

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Reframe the speech and
your feelings
Visualize success

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Have a back-up plan



Assignment
Content
Your notes and aids
Location & audience
Start early
Practice

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Have realistic expectations
Get familiar

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Speak out loud
Record yourself
Practice 6+ times
Start in the middle
In front of a mirror
With the TV on
Remember Systematic
Desensitization
Adjust to your “symptoms”
Put speech anxiety in
perspective “horror floor”
Remember: Most nervousness is not visible to your audience
Processing Time!



What symptoms of nervousness do you
experience most often, and how can you
manage them?
How do your thoughts affect your
anxiety level? And how can you make
your thoughts work for you?
Which suggestion for managing speech
anxiety do you think will help you the
most?