worried about speaking infront of people

hi all.

i am a new member, just joined up today.

i would like to share with u all a massive problem that i have lived with for almost my whole life i am now (24).

i am extemely anxious about speeking infront of people, speaking on the phone to new peaple and even writing infront of people. i worry that i sound stupid when doing so or that i do not make sence and ultimetly i worry that people will find out how STUPID i really am.

the reason why i have chosen to speak out on it now is because it is really interfering in my job performance. as a nurse i am expected to speak to all different types of health professiols eg: doctors pychologists social workers and of course other nurses. each time i am expected to talk to somebody i go red, my heart races and i get very very anxious and also a sick feeling in my stomach like owerwhelming doom takes over. i then concentrate on their faces to see what they are thinking of me and this usually results in me stuffing up what i am saying.

has anybody else experienced this?

Hello there.

I am thinking about going back to school for nursing and am I glad that there is someone on the board who has made it through the studies. You should be very proud of yourself for that! How long have you been a nurse? Have you recently graduated from school?

The reason I ask these questions is because if you are fairly new to the profession I believe that you will become more comfortable with time and experience. Are you new to the particular job or have you been there for awhile? If you are new, then you will probably become more relaxed in the environment. And if you have been there for awhile, then I believe you must be doing something right!

I work as a sales associate in a department store. Sometimes I get nervous performing certain tasks and sometimes my words still come out quiet or slurry. But, I think I have become more comfortable with working with people - in general. I am still not the greatest communicator and totally at ease, but I am growing and adjusting. It just takes time and practice. My best advice is to be the best worker you can be and try to be a nice, pleasant, genuine person. Even if your social skills are not the greatest, people will admire your hard work, determination, dedication, and attitude. I am a true believer that you don't have to be the best speaker or the most outgoing in order to do well on the job. I know it sucks that the work place values extroverted, loud, aggressive, assertive people. But, don't ever succomb to that if that is not you. I think nursing is a profession where your patients will value a good listener and a compassionate person. As long as you are that, then you are golden. You will become more at ease.

BTW, How was it going through this course of study? How was internship (if you had one?)

hi there.

I am actually an enrolled nurse. i am currently studying to finish my degree which will be finished hopefully in the next few months. i work agency at the moment so i am traveling to many different hospitals every weeks. by the way i am from australia.

I have the same problem which I want to be resolved before I enter the workforce. I have the same symptoms, racing heart, shaking, mumbling, being so anxious that I ignore what the person has just said.

It's weird because it doesn't feel like I am consciously thinking about it. It is almost like I have adopted this conditioned response to talking to people in senior positions or in groups of more than one person. wtf

What is the worst that could happen when speaking to someone? Dieing. Why am I so scared of such a silly little, teeny weeny thing. I am almost 30, I mean, I should just grow up and stop being a little boy.

Yeah Len, I've been similar. It's hard not to change and feel different. I never like the way I sound, or come off - many times that alone just stops me from speaking or reinforces the justification to feel the way I do which of course is absurd (absurd being what people here just said - we all know it's silly and shouldn't think/act that way but do anyways).

My main problem is consistency. I can battle and do it, and surprise myself sometimes. Other times fail utterly, but realize that's going to happen. I put myself in situations I'm forced to do these things, like an acting class recently. Or going out with new people. BUT -

Then I - stop. After the class for example, met good ppl, got friendly with, by no means was I always comfortable but a few weeks later going all meet for some beers. I avoided that situation, I went back to old habits so easy. Back to "normal". So frustrating.