Have you ever heard the term glossophobia? Perhaps it is more likely that you would have heard about the fear of public speaking. It may even be something you have experienced at some point in your life since it is something that happens with high frequency. And, if you haven’t experienced it, you probably know someone who has.
In this article we will talk briefly about what glossophobia is in order to identify its main symptoms. This will allow us to better understand why it happens, that is, what the causes are and, finally, delve into how we can treat glossophobia if it is causing discomfort in our lives.
The concept glossophobia refers to the excessive fear one feels about the fact or idea of expressing oneself in front of a group. This phobia is accompanied by clinical symptoms. This difficulty is also usually called or known as “stage fright” and, unfortunately, many people suffer from it.
Glossophobia is considered a major problem in the field of mental health. since it can cause serious consequences in all areas of the lives of people who suffer from it. It is necessary that a specialized professional be the one who makes the diagnosis after properly evaluating the situation.
Main symptoms
It is important to keep in mind that the symptoms that accompany and characterize glossophobia are different from the adaptive anxiety that we can usually feel when faced with novel or challenging situations. Although it is common for us to feel certain nerves before an oral presentation, not all people experience it. in an overwhelming way.
On a physical level, you can experience symptoms such as tachycardia, rapid breathing, feeling of suffocation, nausea, dizziness, tremors, sweating, fainting and gastrointestinal disturbances. At a behavioral level, avoidance and escape behaviors usually predominate.
On an emotional and cognitive level, emotions such as fear and anxiety can occur excessively and this triggers ruminative, intrusive and irrational thoughts. It is common to feel difficulty concentrating and, sometimes, there may also be a feeling of disconnection from reality.
Why it happens?
It is difficult to determine a single cause since each person is different. However, it is true that there are certain internal and external factors that can influence the development of this phobia. Therefore, it is important that each person analyze their case and ask for professional help based on their specific needs. External aspects are those that do not depend on the person, such as the number of people there and what their characteristics are or the place where the exhibition will be held.
On a personal level, biological aspects could be highlighted (predisposition to anxiety), certain negative past experiences and some individual psychological factors. In this last point, some stand out, such as perfectionism and high self-demand, low self-esteem and high insecurity or the perception of control over the situation.
How is glossophobia treated?
As mentioned above, glossophobia is not an isolated or unusual problem. There are many people who suffer from it for various reasons. We have already seen that the symptoms it causes can have a serious impact on a person’s life. Fortunately, today, there are multiple proposals for its treatment.
It is recommended to ask for professional help to receive support according to the needs of each person. This will vary depending on the approach that each professional has. Historically, phobias have been treated with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) due to its high effectiveness, but it is not the only reliable form of intervention.
Each person must choose the professional that best suits their needs and their way of understanding and attending to individual processes.. We must keep in mind that what works for one person may not be useful for another and there is nothing wrong with that. Human beings are complex and there is no single formula or recipe that applies to everyone.
Usually, when we are in a process focused on the cognitive behavioral approach for intervention in glossophobia, we usually work on some aspects such as those mentioned below.
In addition to these techniques, there is the option of carrying out a group therapy process.. These types of interventions usually bring enormous benefits for all the people who participate in the group. Generally, surrounding yourself with people who are experiencing similar difficulties is comforting and helps us feel more understood.
