Speech Anxiety, the fear of speaking in public, is known in psychiatric circles as glossophobia (glosso means tongue and phobia means fear, in Greek). It is considered the single most common phobia, present at least in some degree in the vast majority of people, although for most it is not technically a phobia in that it is not disabling. It is ranked generally as the number one fear of people, beating out even death. While as much as 75% of all people may find public speaking or performing to be frightening and unpleasant, a much smaller percentage find it so much so that they are simply unable to do it. Speech Anxiety can cause a person to avoid promotions at work because they might involve public speaking, or to cut school to avoid class interaction. When it reaches a point where a person allows their life to suffer because of their issue, it is time to seek treatment. Many famous people have been able to overcome glossophobia, like Dusty Springfield and Barbara Streisand, to become famous entertainers.

Types of Treatment for Speech Anxiety

Some people believe alcohol can cure their Speech Anxiety. This is dangerous, incorrect, and can often lead to unrestrained substance abuse. When glossophobia becomes a psychological problem that must be dealt with, the best course of action is to consult a mental health professional. Medicines such as beta-blockers or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors can be part of treatment. Psychotherapy can also be a part of treatment, depending on severity and frequency of the glossophobic reaction. Other people, whose glossophobia has not yet reached a level that needs professional help, may turn to alternative methods.

Anyone who finds that their Speech Anxiety is getting in the way of their living a full life should consult a qualified mental health professional; various methods of treatment exist, and most people can recover fully and live full lives without the fear of phobic reactions. Treatment with medicine should only be undertaken if prescripted by a mental health professional as part of a course of therapy, and all therapy should be pursued aggressively. Cognitive-behavioral therapy is now one of the most common forms of psychotherapy; its primary goal is to change the thought patterns that create the phobic reaction/anxiety.

For people who have only a mild form of Speech Anxiety, and who only become extremely nervous or unhappy when faced with the prospect of speaking in public, there are several self-help courses and organizations available to help deal with the problem before it ever becomes a psychological illness. Toastmasters International is one such organization, started in 1924 to help people become better public speakers and overcome natural shyness and anxiety. Programs such as TI can help those who don't have an actual phobia of speaking in public.

Causes and Types of Speech Anxiety

There are many possible causes for Speech Anxiety; most people can give you various reasons why they feel public speaking to be unpleasant. It may be linked to some specific traumatic even in the past, such as a presentation that did not go well or a classroom report that was met with ridicule, but it can also have no specific cause, and be a simple phobic reaction to something considered unpleasant. Physical symptoms often accompany glossophobia, and may include simple blushing and accelerated heart rate, or nausea, uncontrolled weeping, hyperventilation and even inability to speak. Having an irrational and neurotic fear of speaking can significantly and adversely affect a person's life, which is why it should be treated with the help of a qualified mental health professional as soon as it is discovered.

During and After Treatment

During treatment for glossophobia, a strong support structure is an essential part of recovery. Supportive and understanding family and friends can help prevent relapsing and can provide support when relapses of phobic behavior do occur. Without a support structure, it can be hard, if not impossible, to make a complete recovery.

After treatment, a support structure is still essential. Also essential is to often confronting that which once induced the fear. Without occasional brush-ups, all of one's progress may be lost, necessitating the beginning, once more, at the beginning of treatment. With a strong support structure, effective counseling from a qualified mental health professional, and reaffirmation of recovery, most people who have glossophobia will find themselves fully recovered in only a few months, and for the rest of their lives.

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