Stage Fright, Fear of Public Speaking, Glossophobia: Information, tips and help in Berlin & online

Hypnotherapy and Hypnobalancing™ in Berlin

Frequently asked question

What is speaking anxiety?

Public speaking anxiety is a form of social anxiety disorder that is triggered by the fear of speaking in front of others. Also known as glossophobia, public speaking anxiety can cause physical symptoms such as increased heart rate, shortness of breath, and even panic attacks.

What are signs of speech anxiety?

Some of the most common symptoms of speech anxiety are: Shaking, sweating, sinking feeling in the stomach, dry mouth, fast heartbeat and an unsteady voice.

What is the cause of speech anxiety?

Speaking anxiety is a phobia that can result from a combination of genetic tendencies and other environmental, biological, and psychological factors. People who have a fear of public speaking may be afraid of embarrassing themselves or being rejected. Speech anxiety, performance anxiety, and glossophobia may be related to experiences,

What is the fear of speaking in front of other people called?

The intense fear of speaking in front of other people is called glossophobia. People with this disorder typically experience anxiety and distress when speaking in front of a group of people.

Why do people suffer from speech anxiety?

The strong fear of speaking in front of other people (glossophobia) often arises when people associate major consequences of communicating their ideas in front of other people. This may be the case, for example, when a speech is seen as a potential threat to their credibility, image, and chance of reaching an audience.

How common is speech anxiety?

The fear of speaking in front of an audience is common. It can range from mild nervousness to paralyzing anxiety and panic attacks. Many people who suffer from this fear avoid speaking opportunities altogether, or suffer from it with shaking hands and a shaky voice.

May anxiety cause problems with speaking?

Anxiety can, in some cases, interfere with the ability to speak clearly when communicating with others. It can cause speech to be slower or faster than normal, and in some cases speech can become slurred or choppy.

Why is it important to overcome speech anxiety?

It can appear difficult to overcome speech anxiety. Because it is so easy to avoid most situations, avoidance behavior dominates. However, overcoming speech anxiety is important for many reasons, in your personal life as well as in your professional or business life.

Overcome stage fright with hypnosis

 

Learn how to perform without fear; anytime, anyplace, anywhere. Overcome stage fright with hypnosis. With hypnotherapy and Hypnobalancing™, you can address and revise any negative perceptions, beliefs, thoughts, images, and predictions related to public speaking or performing.

Intense fear of performing in front of an audience

 

Stage fright or performance anxiety is the anxiety, fear, or persistent phobia which may be aroused in an individual by the requirement to perform in front of an audience, whether actually or potentially, for example when performing before a camera. In the context of public speaking, this may precede or accompany participation in any activity involving public self-presentation.

There are four different parts of stage fright:

  • Anticipation
    Anticipation is the expectation of negative and unrealistic images of the performance.
  • Avoidance
    Avoidance is the desire to avoid doing the task.
  • Fear
    Panic and anxiety are the symptoms experienced before the presentation in front of an audience.
  • Appraisal
    An appraisal is a period after a performance when the performer looks back on how the activity was done.

 

Many people feel a degree of nervous apprehension when preparing to speak up or perform in front of a group. But those who are filled with feelings of dread and panic in such a situation may be suffering from a form of social anxiety disorder, also known as social phobia.

The fear of public speaking or performance anxiety, often called stage fright, exacts a huge toll on self-confidence and self-esteem and causes some people to leave school or a job or pass up a promotion. Many, including professional performers, suffer in silent terror. And because they feel embarrassed, people try to keep their fear a secret, even from a spouse or other close family members or friends.

Symptoms of stage fright

 

The fear of public speaking is very common, it can affect everyone. Most people have some kind of fears in front of an audience whether it’s talking in front of a small group of peers at work, or giving a formal speech in front of a large audience. Sometimes the fear is so intense that it is essential to deal with it.

Many people experience stage fright without any wider problems. For some of my clients, the anxiety is severe enough to be classified as a phobia. In those cases, stage fright may be a part of a larger pattern of social phobia or social anxiety disorder. A phobic reaction means that someone avoids speaking in public at all costs, and if he has to do so, it would likely cause a panic attack.

Quite often, stage fright arises in a mere anticipation of a performance, often a long time ahead and has numerous manifestations. The intensity of anxiety can be really different.

Stage fright symptoms are part of the body’s primary threat response, also known as the fight or flight syndrome.

 

 

Two types of anxiety symptoms are associated with public speaking:

 

1. Anticipatory Anxiety

 

Symptoms start before the speaking event. For some, they begin days, weeks or even months before the speaking event. For others, they begin only minutes before speaking. Whether mild or severe, anticipatory anxiety starts at some point prior to the actual speaking event.

 

 

2. Event Anxiety

 

Symptoms occur while presenting, rather than prior to the presentation.

 

 

 

Possible symptoms of stage fright

 

 

  • Anxiety
  • Increased heart rate
    Fluttering or pounding heart.
  • Tight chest
  • Blushing
  • Tremor in the hands and legs
  • Dizziness
  • Excess Sweating
    Especially sweaty hands.
  • Digestive problems
    Diarrhea
  • Facial nerve tics
  • Dry mouth
  • Blackout
  • Avoidance
    Avoiding work, meetings or giving speeches.

 

For many of my clients, their sensitivity to speak in front of others impacts the quality of their work and the potential for being promoted. This can place limits on the professional life. And the fear of public speaking can interfere with the quality of the social life. The good news is that hypnotherapy with Hypnobalancing™ and other effective methods can greatly assist you to anticipate public speaking calmly and relieve these symptoms.

Glossophobia

 

Glossophobia: Glosso from the Greek, meaning tongue, and Phobus, fear.

Sometimes, anxiety happens long before the anticipated activity. Concerning public speaking, this type of fear is known as glossophobia or speech anxiety, which is the fear of speaking before an audience.

Most people with glossophobia do not exhibit symptoms of other types of social phobias, such as fear of meeting new people or fear of performing tasks in front of others, provided they do not have to talk. Nonetheless, stage fright is a relatively common experience in those with glossophobia.

 

 

 

Complications of Glossophobia

 

Glossophobia is very limiting in many ways. The vast majority of careers involve some level of public speaking, from participating in meetings to giving presentations to clients. It also can happen at a social gathering, where the thought of meeting new people cause you to become nervous and edgy. If the phobia is severe, you may find yourself unable to perform these necessary tasks, and this can lead to consequences like losing your job.

People who suffer from social phobias also have a higher than normal risk of developing conditions such as depression or other anxiety disorders. This is likely due to the feelings of isolation that can develop over time.

Avoidance isn’t a solution

 

Avoidance may give immediate relief, but it reinforces the fear in the long run. With training, it is possible to improve your speaking or performance skills, but it’s generally not enough to substantially reduce your fear. With hypnotherapy, you can address and revise any negative perceptions, beliefs, thoughts, images, and predictions related to public speaking or performing. And it’s often helpful to uncover the deeper fears related to being seen and heard by others, showing vulnerability, and being considered less than perfect. Learning to accept yourself and not feeling that you have to prove yourself to others is at the root of healing.

How to overcome stage fright, glossophobia and Co.

 

Learning to improve your speaking or performance skills is good, but it’s generally not enough to substantially reduce your fear of public speaking. You have to address and revise any negative perceptions, beliefs, thoughts, images, and predictions related to public speaking or performing. And it’s often helpful to uncover the deeper fears related to being seen and heard by others, showing vulnerability, and being considered less than perfect. Learning to accept yourself and not feeling that you have to prove yourself to others is at the root of healing.

I recommend that you learn skills to reduce and manage your fear and anxiety and not resort to using medication alone. It’s also critical to learn techniques to stop the cycle of avoiding fearful situations. Avoidance may give you immediate relief, but it reinforces your fear in the long run. Avoidance is what stabilizes a phobia.

If you are willing to stop avoiding your fears and learn new skills to reduce and manage them, I will help you to develop an empowering belief and trust in yourself. In facing your fear, it becomes possible to overcome intense stage fright and performance anxiety and to find comfort and ease in expressing yourself in front of others.

Let go of stage fright and the fear of public speaking

 

In the nineties, I started to train people and their presentation skills. Most of the participants had some anxiety when they had to enter the stage. With a bit more training usually they let go of the limiting kind of stage fright, but some didn’t. A few still suffered from stage fright even after practicing many times.

I learned that in such cases the anxiety can be really profound and need more than the common steps. As a coach and trainer, I had some experience and training to help those people, but I wasn’t allowed to do it when it came closer to psychotherapy. As the result, I gained the official allowance to do psychotherapy. Since then I had a lot of time to help people with stage fright. Some even travel to Berlin to work with me.

 

What do I do?

Let me say it this way; you will discover how to:

  • Break through your feelings of intense fear and loss of control associated with speaking or performing in front of others.
  • Minimize your uncomfortable physical symptoms associated with panic.
  • Reduce the dread of anticipating a speaking or performing event.
  • Eliminate your need to avoid situations of speaking or performing because of fear.
  • Create a relaxed and confident state of mind and body in preparing to speak or perform.
  • Transform your fear into a positive energy and power in speaking and performing that you never imagined possible.

Influence Factors On Stage Fright

 

The experience of stage fright is affected by those factors:

 

 

1. Genes

 

Genetics play a role in how strong our feelings of anxiety are in social situations. Some people are simply genetically wired to feel more scared when performing or speaking in public than others.

 

 

 

2. Level of task mastery

 

Practice makes perfect. The advantage of practice is to increase our familiarity with a situation. As this familiarity increases, feelings of anxiety decrease, and have less of a negative impact on performance. The anxiety we feel about speaking in public will be less, the more comfortable we feel with our presentation.

 

 

 

3. Stakes

 

Sometimes when we give a presentation, the stakes are high. When the stakes increase, it triggers the release of more adrenaline and can result in paralyzing fear and anxiety.

 

Frequently asked questions …

 

Here are some answers to frequently asked questions about stage fright and hypnotherapy.

Is stage fright the same as social anxiety disorder?

 

A bit anxiety in front of an audience is a common experience but severe stage fright, also known as performance anxiety, can be diagnosed with a social anxiety disorder if a number of criteria are met. For example, in case you nearly always experience physical symptoms in the feared situation, and the fear severely impacts your daily functioning.

Usually, stage fright is diagnosed with specific social anxiety disorder rather than generalized social anxiety disorder because it is a fear of only one or a few specific social or performance situations. Good news: Specific social anxiety disorder is generally more easily overcome than generalized social anxiety disorder because it is usually less severe and less chronic.

In some cases, stage fright, also known as performance anxiety, may be a part of a larger pattern of social phobia or social anxiety disorder, but many people experience stage fright without any wider problems.

Why does hiding my phobia make it worse for me?

 

Many people with stage fright try to keep it hidden and suffer in silence. There are many causes of stage fright, but the most common is that the individual lacks self-confidence. Being unprepared and forgetting the lines are good reasons for the anxiety. Some individuals fear that they look witless and that they would gain the antagonism of the audience. The best explanation is that stage fright is a physiological reaction. When the body is presented with a stimulus; its reaction is excitement or fear. The symptoms of stage fright – sweating, trembling, palpitations – are typical of a surge of adrenaline. The stricken speaker seizes up, both physically and mentally; the mouth goes dry, breathing becomes short and shallow, vision blurs and concentration evaporates.  In extreme cases, it can trigger vomiting and diarrhea. And no one’s going to go on after that.

In case you suffer from stage fright: You are not alone. It was Mark Twain who coined the term stage fright, and though he claimed to have experienced it only once. Statistics say that the fear of public speaking is the number one fear in surveys. Many people with this fear try to keep it hidden and suffer in silence.

Why? Some believe it is bad for their reputation. The truth is that this problem does not reflect a character flaw or weakness. Many capable and accomplished people suffer from this problem. There appears to be a combination of nature and nurture at play, which creates the source of this problem.

How to decide to ask for help?

 

Are you thinking about whether you need professional help to recover? You may feel that you should be able to handle things on your own, or that talking to someone means you are not a strong person. You might be worried that talking about your issue during treatment could make your symptoms worse. It is important to get all those obstacles out of the way.

 

 

 

When asking for help

 

It is good to know that it is important to help yourself. It’s also important to know when you need to reach out for some help. Therapy can be a good opportunity to learn both aspects of emotional strength, autonomy, and reliance on those you trust.

An experienced therapist will let you choose the pace of your therapy and won't force you to discuss things you're not ready for. Emotional strength involves learning on your own and knowing how and when support is helpful.

 

 

 

How do the symptoms influence your life?

 

One of the best ways to figure out if assistance is good for you is to consider how much the symptoms you are experiencing interfere with your daily life. Do you have limitations in your personal life, or at work? Are you able to focus? Is it easy for you to build and maintain fulfilling relationships with people? Do you enjoy your life? Is there a feeling in you that your life could be more fulfilling?

 

 

 

Who can assist you?

 

Are you considering getting my assistance? The easiest way for you to find out is if you know someone I've been able to help. Then you will know firsthand what to expect. If that is not the case, you will find on this website some information that will make it easier for you to get an impression of me. Trust is important, and that's why I aim for transparency.

Your therapist

 

For about two decades, I am specialized in the field of fears and anxiety disorders. I spend about 20 hours a week helping people to free themselves from their limitations and thereby gain a better quality of life. If you want to know how it all started and what you should know about me, please read my profile. And yes, therapy is a very personal matter: Because it is a very intensive collaboration, I reveal some details about myself. So you can get a first impression of me. Trust is important and that is why I focus on transparency.

The sessions are conducted either in German or English.

What does hypnotherapy cost?

 

Here are some organizational details. Please read them before the appointment reservation. People often ask, "How much does hypnotherapy cost?" What is meant by this are the presumed total costs, which result from the fee and the duration of the psychotherapy with hypnotherapy.

 

 

 

Fee for psychotherapy

 

The fee per session hour of psychotherapy (60 minutes) for appointments from Monday to Thursday from 10:00 to 18:00:

The fees for psychotherapy are exempt from VAT according to § 4 No. 14 a) UStG.

The first session usually lasts 90 minutes. Outside the mentioned business hours (Monday and Tuesday from 10:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m.) I add a 35 % surcharge. The minimum duration of a session is 60 minutes, billing beyond that in 30-minute units. The minimum duration of a session is 60 minutes, billing beyond that in 30-minute units.

The fees do not include travel, accommodation, and allowance costs, which will be charged to the client. For traveling on my behalf: The costs for the journey will be charged according to time and effort. Within Berlin, at least an hourly fee is charged. Relevant is the individual agreement.

Postponement of meetings: For hourly fees A. and B. sessions that last up to 120 minutes can be once rescheduled up to 72 hours in advance (only weekdays count Monday till Friday, no holidays), longer sessions, or more than 120 minutes within 7 days at least 14 days in advance. Otherwise, they will be charged in full.

You can't come to my practice? Switch to a session with video or use your telephone.

Method of payment: The fee must always be paid in full by bank transfer 7 days before the session. I will send you details by mail so that you are well-informed.

Right of rescission: If registration by consumers for an event is made by telephone, letter, e-mail, or online form, the provisions of the Distance Selling Act shall apply. If the intended start of the event at the time of registration is within the withdrawal period according to the Fernabsatzgesetz (Distance Selling Act), the registration is considered a request to start the service within the withdrawal period. You have the right to revoke a service order/date without giving reasons. This is possible within 14 days of the order by telephone and in writing.

 

 

Cost coverage by health insurance companies and other insurers

 

Usually, the fee is not paid by national health insurance companies. Please contact your insurance company to find out about their policy details. Please discuss this with your insurer in advance. You will receive an invoice from me with classification according to ICD-10. Should applications etc. be necessary, we can do this together during the meetings.

 

 

 

Therapy duration

 

The first therapy session lasts 90 minutes, subsequent sessions can also be 60 minutes long. The number of sessions required is as varied as the personalities and situations of the clients. For anxiety disorders, I usually see clients for 3 to 8 sessions. Frequently, this question can be estimated by the clients themselves after the second session. I will then also give you an estimation based on previous experience.

Appointment booking

 

Please read the important information before making an appointment with me, including the contraindications for psychotherapy with hypnotherapy. I have answered frequently asked questions for you. For the success of your therapy, this information is of crucial importance. If this attracts you, then you can find out about booking your appointment here. The better you are informed, the faster we can focus on you and your wishes.

To make an appointment, you can preferably contact me by e-mail (mail@noack-hypnose.de) or by using the contact form (privacy policy) as well as by phone 01577 704 53 56 or 030 - 864 213 69. You will then receive a confirmation of your reservation by e-mail. In this reply, you will find the details for the first session. This usually happens within 24 hours. If you do not receive a reply, it could be because an email has ended up in the spam filter. In such a case, please call me.

There are only a few practice hours available, and they want to be used well. The fee for individual session hours is therefore always to be paid in full by bank transfer, with payment received at least 7 days before the session.

Why at least 7 days in advance? I would like to do it differently, but this is the best practice. Appointments that have not been confirmed with payment received seven days in advance are noticeably more likely to be canceled. And the repeated callbacks take up a lot of time. Because of this, I'm currently faced with the decision of whether and how to either significantly adjust fees to absorb this or to consistently organize in a way that is fair to all parties. Because of this, I am also offering options in terms of shifting appointments with the fees.

There is a maximum of 20 hours a week available for psychotherapy, and any canceled appointment means patients are unable to benefit from psychotherapy help. I understand that it would be more convenient for you otherwise, but this solution is the fairest for all involved.

You can use real-time bank transfer (costs 25 Ct. at Sparkasse Berlin, for example) for time-sensitive appointments, and the transfer takes a few minutes, or we can make an appointment with appropriate advance preparation. If this is not an option for you, please let me know immediately so that I can assign your appointment. Otherwise, I appreciate your understanding and look forward to intensive cooperation.

Preparation for the first session

 

With the confirmation of your appointment, you will receive recommendations on how to prepare for your first session with me. With your appointment confirmation, you will receive recommendations on how to prepare for your first session with me. You will also get an overview of what to consider regarding the Coronavirus during in-office appointments and how to prepare best for online sessions.​

 

 

 

The first session: Step by step 

 

The optimal prerequisites are set right at the beginning. In the first meeting, we create the basis for intensive cooperation. Step by step:

 

 

 

1. Preparation

 

The first session is generally 90 minutes so that there is enough time for an in-depth preliminary discussion, in which we can clarify questions. Then we begin with a detailed dialogue, with the anamnesis, in order to adapt the therapeutic plan individually to your personal needs. For this purpose, we define your goals and motives and discuss the steps.

 

 

 

2. First intervention

 

As soon as you are ready for it, we get to work. You set the pace. In the second part of the session, we figure out the easiest way to get you into a comfortable, relaxed hypnotic state. You will experience an introductory trance. This enables access to your unconscious and permits initial suggestions. How far we proceed with this in the first session will be determined by your reactions. Finally, I gently lead you out of the trance.

 

 

 

3. Evaluation, options, and outlook

 

Following the first trance, I will respond to your questions, and we will discuss how to proceed with your hypnotherapy. In most cases, you will receive recommendations you can apply to complement and enhance the work we do together, even beyond the sessions. It is crucial that you not only feel better in the session, but also have an improvement in your everyday life. The more effectively we work together, the sooner I make myself superfluous as your therapist. That's it!

 

You are not in Berlin or prefer an alternative instead of coming to me?

 

You are not in Berlin or do not want or cannot come to the practice for other reasons? Then it is worth reading the following information about the options:

 

a. Travel to Berlin

 

For clients traveling to Berlin, there is the possibility, if booked in advance, to hold 2 sessions on the same day. It should be discussed in advance by telephone whether this is a recommendable option, as it requires appropriate prerequisites. Any sources of additional pressure should be avoided in the interest of the therapeutic success.

Here you will find further information when considering to travel to me in Berlin.

 

 

b. Online sessions

 

At times a personal meeting is not possible. In such cases, a telephone session or a session with video support via the Internet is an alternative or supplement. I have been using this setting for many years, and many clients have achieved excellent results with it. These experiences make it easy to achieve very intensive sessions in this way as well. You are more flexible and can also use my support very promptly. There are currently reduced fees for such sessions.

You are also on the safe side regarding the coronavirus. By the way, this is also an option if you should be unexpectedly unable to attend a session personally.​

Self-hypnosis  

 

When appropriate, I will teach you self-hypnosis to complement the hypnosis sessions. Self-hypnosis is a tool to control unconscious processes and thus mental states by yourself.

After you enjoyed positive trance experiences with my support, you can learn self-hypnosis very quickly. This helps you to progress self-determined. It accelerates the process, deepens, and consolidates what has been achieved in the therapy sessions. Your autonomy is thus fostered. A good therapist makes himself superfluous as soon as possible. Self-hypnosis is an excellent method of self-help that can be used beyond the actual issue.

Just ask me personally.

 

Let's talk. Please read the privacy policy. If you are interested, you can contact me for questions and appointments via this contact form or by e-mail (mail@berlin-hypnosis.com), phone 030/86421369, and mobile phone 01577/7045356. The best time to contact me by telephone is Monday to Thursday between 9.00 am and 6.00 pm. During sessions, there is an answering machine. Leave a message and your phone number in Germany, and I'll call you back as soon as possible. Make sure I understand what you are asking for.

You can find answers to frequently asked questions, such as fees, on the home page. There are also lots of articles and details about me (profile) to help you get an idea of who I am. This will also make it easier for you to decide if I am the right therapist for you and your problem.

 

 

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Be sure to read the following notice

 

Before contacting me, please read the detailed information about fees, booking, contraindications to hypnotherapy and answers to other frequently asked questions (FAQ).

These pages are intended to provide information for those interested in psychotherapy using hypnotherapy. It is not intended to replace psychotherapy or personal consultation, examination or diagnosis by a licensed medical practitioner. I am not a medical doctor. I specialize in helping people with anxiety and anxiety disorders. The profession of a hypnotherapist (official license to practice psychotherapy according to the HPG) is fundamentally different from that of a medical doctor. Medical diagnoses are not made, nor are promises of healing made or medication prescribed. Hypnotherapy is not a substitute for medical or psychiatric intervention where this is required.

If you have any questions about psychotherapy with hypnosis, please do not hesitate to contact me. I will be happy to inform you.

 

Articles

 

Do you know my kind of fear?

Do you know my kind of fear?

Sometimes I get telephone calls or emails with the question if I have heard about this specific type of fear before. Most of the time I can say „Yes!“ and other times I am surprised. Truth is that the list of fears and phobias is endless.

read more
Is stage fright the same as social anxiety disorder?

Is stage fright the same as social anxiety disorder?

A bit of anxiety in front of an audience is a common experience but severe stage fright, also known as performance anxiety, can be diagnosed with a social anxiety disorder if a number of criteria are met. For example, in case you nearly always experience physical symptoms in the feared situation, and the fear severely impacts your daily functioning.

read more

Published: March 1, 2008
Author: Karsten Noack
Revision: June 25, 2020
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T: RR
AN: #39316

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