uni presentation anxiety

5 Tips for Overcoming Presentation Anxiety

Feeling jittery before a university presentation? You're in good company! In this article, Camila Franco, a Bachelor of Psychological Sciences (Honours) student at UQ, generously shares her expert tips on overcoming presentation anxiety. Get ready to transform from fearful to fearless with her invaluable advice!

Facing your classmates and delivering information that you've just learned, or are still mastering, can be a daunting task. I recall my first presentations vividly—when I didn’t have so much experience at public speaking, I felt my mouth extremely dry and started stuttering. My heart was pounding so hard, and my anxiety just became worse as I was looking to the public thinking they were judging me for my mistakes.

Here's the deal: even the most self-assured speakers can get a bit jittery before a presentation. A sprinkle of nerves can actually enhance our focus and keep us sharp. While that's somewhat comforting, there are effective strategies to tackle these pre-presentation jitters. But before we delve into those, let’s first gain a clear understanding of what presentation anxiety truly entails!

Understanding Presentation Jitters

The fear of public speaking often boils down to worrying about how the audience will perceive us. It's totally normal to stress over stumbling over words, forgetting what we're going to say, or feeling physically awkward like sweating or shaking. Recognising these signs of anxiety creeping up is the first step to handling them:

• Muscle tension
• Shaky hands
• Dry mouth, sweating, or blushing
• Upset stomach
• Feeling dizzy
• Catastrophic thoughts
• Trouble sleeping
• Heart racing or chest feeling tight

While these symptoms can feel overwhelming, they're definitely not unbeatable.

Let's dive into some tricks to help you prep and feel more confident when you're up against public speaking challenges.

Tip 1: Prepare a well-structured presentation

Success in public speaking begins with thorough preparation. Take the time to research your topic extensively and understand your audience's needs and expectations. Structure your presentation logically, and design visually engaging slides to support your message. Rehearse your script until you feel comfortable with its flow and content.

Tip 2: Polish and rehearse your script

Embrace a growth mindset and view challenges as opportunities for improvement. Practice delivering your speech aloud and use self-recording to evaluate your performance objectively. Seek feedback from friends or family members and incorporate their suggestions to refine your presentation. Familiarise yourself with the venue beforehand to alleviate any logistical concerns.

Tip 3: Challenge Negative Self-Talk

Identify and challenge the negative thoughts that contribute to your anxiety. Write down your concerns and the potential consequences you fear. Take a step back and assess whether these thoughts are realistic or exaggerated. Reframe negative self-talk with more balanced and empowering statements.

Tip 4: Create a Troubleshooting Plan

Anticipate potential challenges and devise strategies to address them proactively. For instance, keep a glass of water handy to combat dry mouth, or prepare standard responses for unexpected questions. Having a plan in place will boost your confidence and help you navigate any hurdles smoothly.

Tip 5: Practice Mindfulness

Incorporate relaxation techniques into your routine to manage anxiety effectively. Experiment with breathing exercises, visualisation, or meditation to calm your mind and body. Cultivate mindfulness habits that you can employ before, during, and after your presentations to stay grounded and focused.

When to Get Professional Help

If your presentation nerves are really starting to mess with your academic or personal life, it might be time to reach out for some extra support. Keep an eye out for signs like constantly avoiding presentations, messed-up sleep or eating habits, or weird physical symptoms that don't seem related to anxiety.

Consider chatting with a mental health pro or counsellor who can offer personalised advice and a listening ear. There are plenty of avenues of support you can turn to, including a range of programs and counselling services offered at UQ to help support students’ health and wellbeing.

Dealing with public speaking jitters is tough, but totally doable. Our university days are the perfect time to work on our presentation skills and boost our confidence. Push yourself a bit, tap into the resources around you, and you'll soon be rocking those speeches like a pro. Remember, every presentation is a chance to learn and grow.

Camila Franco

• Uni Minds: Navigating Mental Health Challenges
• What’s it really like to study psychology at UQ?

University Counseling Service

30 ways to manage speaking anxiety, initial considerations.

Glossophobia – the fear of public speaking

It is the single most common phobia (fear)

Approximately 75% of people experience this

You are not alone in your fear

You cannot eliminate your fear–but you CAN manage and reduce it. 

Thirty ways to manage public speaking anxiety

Getting ready .

Select a topic of interest to you

Prepare carefully–know your material

Practice–rehearse your talk with a friend

Know your audience

Challenge negative thinking–make 3 x 5 cards of positive thoughts or have friends write out inspirational thoughts for you.

Expect positive reactions–expect success!

Know the room–if unfamiliar, visit your speaking space before you talk.

Employ aerobic exercise strategies–daily aerobic exercise can cut anxiety by 50%.

Eat for success–foods containing tryptophan (dairy products, turkey, salmon) and complex carbohydrates tend to calm the body. Eliminate caffeine, sweets, and empty calories.

Sleep for success–know and get the number of hours of sleep you need for optimal performance. 

The Day of the Presentation 

11.   Eat several hours before the talk–not immediately before 

12.  Dress for success–your success! Dress comfortably and appropriately for the situation. Look your best

13.  Challenge negative thinking–Continue positive thinking

14.  If you need to, express your fears to a friend 

15.  Review 3 x 5 cards of inspirational thoughts

16.  Practice your talk one last time

17.  Go to the room early to ready equipment and your podium.

18.  Exercise immediately before the talk to reduce adrenalin levels. 

• Employ anxiety reduction techniques
• Aerobic exercise
• Deep muscle relaxation
• Visualization strategies
• Deep, rhythmic breathing (4 hold 7) 

19.  Use the restroom immediately before the talk 

20. Take a glass of water to the talk 

The Presentation: A positive experience stemming from careful preparation! 

21.  Interpret anxiety symptoms as excitement

22. Use the podium to practice grounding strategies. Touch the podium to steady yourself and to remind yourself that you are safely connected to the ground which is firm and steady beneath your feet.

23. Take a security blanket with you–a complete typed version of your talk to only be used as a backup strategy.

24. Use tools to reduce audience attention on you.

• PowerPoint presentation 
• Video film clips
• “Show and tell” objects to pass

25.  Get out of yourself–engage the audience

26.  Look at friendly faces in your audience

27.  Use humor as needed

28.  Use the room’s physical space to your advantage–walk around as appropriate.

29.  Appropriately regulate your voice

• Speak clearly–enunciate
• Open your mouth–do not mumble
• Slow down if necessary
• Lower your voice–speak from your diaphragm
• Project your voice–use energy when you speak
• Use appropriate animation 

Additional Considerations 

Seek out public speaking opportunities to desensitize (reduce) your fear of communication apprehension.

Consider use of anti-anxiety medication

Join Toastmasters International to have a supportive and safe way to practice

public speaking

Gain experience–practice makes perfect. 

• academic skills

Current enrolled students can call University Counseling Service at 319-335-7294 to schedule an appointment. Initial Consultation appointments can also be scheduled online. Students must be in the state of Iowa to attend virtual/Zoom appointments.

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Don’t Let Anxiety Sabotage Your Next Presentation

• Riaz Meghji

Stop focusing on yourself and start focusing on your audience.

If you want to beat speaking anxiety, you need to stop focusing on yourself and point your focus outward. This shift isn’t something that can happen instantaneously. It takes time, patience, and practice. Here’s how to get started.

• Be a giver, not a taker. Takers tend to have more anxiety. They want and need validation from their listeners.
• Givers, on the other hand, are all about service. They do work beforehand to connect with stakeholders and use the information they receive to address the needs of their audience. As a result, their presentation becomes less about them and more about helping the other people in the room.
• If you want to turn your presentation into an act of service, you need to talk to the people in the room — well before your presentation begins.
• Choose about three to five influential leaders, and meet with them before to learn their concerns and goals surrounding the topic you’re presenting on.
• Then, incorporate your findings into you presentation. This will help you shift your focus outwards, from yourself to the audience, and as a result, ease some of your nerves.

Where your work meets your life. See more from Ascend here .

How many times have you had an important message to share, only to be sabotaged by anxiety right before you speak?

• RM Riaz Meghji is a human connection keynote speaker, author of Every Conversation Counts: The 5 Habits of Human Connection That Build Extraordinary Relationships and creator of The Magnetic Presenter speaker coaching program. He is also an accomplished broadcaster with 17 years of television hosting experience. Riaz has hosted for Citytv’s Breakfast Television, MTV Canada, TEDxVancouver, CTV News, and the Toronto International Film Festival.  

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How to Manage Your Anxiety When Presenting

Do you get nervous speaking in public? Learn how to mitigate your fear.

January 29, 2016

Tricia Seibold

For media inquiries, visit the Newsroom .

Explore More

When words aren’t enough: how to excel at nonverbal communication, navigating the nuance: the art of disagreeing without conflict, more than a feeling: the keys to making the right choice, editor’s picks.

March 02, 2015 Matt Abrahams: Tips and Techniques for More Confident and Compelling Presentations A Stanford lecturer explains key ways you can better plan, practice, and present your next talk.

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Presentation Anxiety

Presentation anxiety is the experience of feeling an intense moment of fear or panic before and/or during a presentation.

You may find it hard to concentrate, to think clearly, to sleep and to eat.  

Feeling anxious about a presentation is normal, especially if you struggle with public speaking . Presentation anxiety can usually be overcome with time and practice.  

Tips for improving your presentation skills

There are lots of ways to improve your presentation skills. LinkedIn has several courses around improving your presentation skills:  

• What makes a good speaker    
• Deliver a great presentation

How can the University Support you?

The library offers a number of workshops on how to develop your presentation skills. More information is available here .    

A study skills module is available on LEARN featuring guidance on how to improve your presentation skills is available.    

If your first language isn’t English, you can find some advice on presentations here .  

What to do next?

Academic Language Support Service

The Academic Language Support Service can help you improve your presentation skills regardless if English is your first language or if it is not your first language . They have resources, workshops and offer guidance if you should need it. 

Library Resources

The Library also offer resources and workshops with the aim of helping you improve your presentation skills. You can find more about how the Library can help you here . 

External Resources

6 steps to a successful presentation.

LinkedIn Learning

Managing your anxiety while presenting.

Last Updated: 31st August 2022

• For General Anxiety
• For Panic Attacks
• For Fears and Phobias

Presentation Anxiety: How to Overcome Stage Fright (Complete Guide)

Tyler Ellis

Glossophobia, the fear of public speaking, is thought to affect as much as 75% of the population. For both students and professionals alike, this phobia tends to take the form of presentation anxiety. So, how can we overcome stage fright and presentation anxiety once and for all?

While avoiding presentations may bring some short-term relief to your anxiety, this will worsen your stage fright in the long-run. To overcome presentation anxiety long-term, presentation tools and gradual practice are the most effective solutions.

Maybe, right now, you’re extremely anxious about a presentation coming up. Maybe the only thought racing through your mind is how in the world am I going to get out of giving this presentation?

No worries. This guide is going to cover everything – and I mean everything – you’ll need to know. Make sure not to skip the section on “alternative ways of presenting,” I think you’ll find those really useful!

No need to stress; let’s get right into this.

What Causes Presentation Anxiety?

First things first… why do we feel presentation anxiety in the first place?

Sure, we might expect our heart to pound and breathing to accelerate as we walk along the edge of a cliff – but during a presentation? What part of talking about George Washington Carver inventing peanut butter should cause our hands to tremble and our voice to stutter?

Well, as it turns out, presentation anxiety is caused by ancient mechanisms in our brain responsible for our survival. For anxious people, our brain perceives being the center of attention in large group to be a threat. This triggers the “fight or flight” response, causing us to panic as we try and escape our uncomfortable setting.

Obviously, we are in no real danger while giving a class presentation or work presentation. Many years of evolution, however, have trained us to avoid stage fright with a passion. In ancient times, being surround by a (potentially angry) mob could have fatal consequences; as could being humiliated, rejected, or otherwise cast out from the tribe.

For many of us – especially those of us prone to social anxiety – such fears have stuck with us since caveman times. It’s important we remember these fears are harmless. Just being aware of their nature can help with this process. Despite what your brain and body may be telling you, these feelings of anxiety are not dangerous; they are going to pass.

Feel free to check out this article for a better understanding of the evolutionary psychology behind anxiety .

How to Get Out of a Presentation

I recommend against avoidance in most cases, as it only reinforces our anxiety in the long-run.

However, I know what it’s like to be a student with presentation anxiety.

I know how hard it is juggling academics, a social life, relationships, and newly blossoming anxieties all at once. I know that it can get so bad the most logical option feels like dropping out of school altogether. I don’t want you to feel like you have to do that.

So, if you’re really just not ready to overcome your stage fright:

• Intentionally Choose Classes That Don’t Require Presentations
• Tell the Teacher or Professor About What You’re Going Through
• Ask the Teacher or Professor for Alternative Assignments
• For Group Presentations, Ask Someone Else to Take the Lead
• Present Your Assignment in an Alternative Format Using Presentation Tools and Software (more on this in a bit)

If this seems a bit vague, it’s only because I’ve actually dedicated an entire article to this topic already. Check out this piece on how to get out of giving a presentation in class for more help with this.

Like I said, ultimately, avoidance is a poor strategy. However, I believe it’s just as detrimental to be “forced” into facing our fears before we are mentally prepared to do so. Having been there myself, I want you to be able to rest easy knowing that you do have some options here.

For this guide, however, I want to focus more on how to actually overcome presentation anxiety and stage fright.

My secret is – believe it or not – I get incredibly nervous before public speaking, no matter how big the crowd or the audience and, um, despite the fact that I laugh and joke all the time I get incredibly nervous, if not anxious, actually, before going into rooms full of people when I'm wearing a suit... And now that I've confessed that, I'll probably be even more worried that people are looking at me.

Prince Harry - Duke of Sussex, Member of the British Royal Family

How to Stop a Panic Attack While Presenting in Class

When I first started having panic attacks, I had no idea what they were or why they were happening. Prior to my first panic attack, I had never had an issue with public speaking or presentation anxiety at all. In fact, I had voluntarily participated in several clubs and activities that required public speaking.

Yet, when my first few panic attacks started (I was around 16 at the time), they would occur in any random situation. Wherever they occurred, I'd quickly develop a phobia associated with that location or situation. One such random panic attack occurred – you guessed it – during a class presentation.

While this experience was terrifying, embarrassing, and extremely uncomfortable, I had – fortunately – managed to keep it together enough for most people not to notice. For the many class presentations that would follow, however, I had to develop some tricks to stop panic attacks while presenting in class.

Here’s what worked for me:

• Volunteer to go first. This may seem strange, but I always felt it easier to volunteer first and get it out of the way. Oftentimes, it’s easier to deal with presentation anxiety when we don’t feel cornered. By choosing to do it yourself, you maintain some control of the situation and get the jump on things before anticipation anxiety kicks in .
• Remember you are not going to die. This is just a panic attack, and it’s going to pass. It may be uncomfortable, but it will be over within a few moments.
• Take control of your breathing. 478 breathing is a simple technique that works. Simply breathe in for 4 seconds through the nose, hold for 7 seconds, exhale for 8 seconds through the mouth.
• Find a focus object. Choose a point, or several points, to focus on in the room. This could be a ceiling tile, a lightbulb, a pile of books, anything. Whenever your thoughts start to wander or spiral out of control, recenter your thoughts on that focus object.
• Try and remember the other times you’ve given a class presentation with anxiety. Chances are, this isn’t your first time. Remember those past successes and visualize this presentation as one where you overcome stage fright as well. If your mind is drawn to a time when it didn’t go so well, at least remind yourself that it passed and you survived it; just as you’ll survive this one.
• If you have a friend in the class, look to them from time to time. Flash them a smile or a wink, and try not to laugh out loud while you’re up there. This may seem silly, but I’d rather stifle a laugh than grapple a panic attack.
• Remember that no one’s really paying attention. Just as you were sitting at your desk nervously thinking about your own turn to present, most people are doing the exact same now. And even if they’re not anxious, they’re probably zoned out or drifting off; it’s quite difficult to keep an involuntary crowd’s attention. Trust me, they’re probably not thinking about you much.

These are just a few ways to stop a panic attack while presenting in class. Of course, just about any method for stopping panic attacks can work well here, so feel free to explore our site a bit to learn some other methods.

There are only two types of speakers in the world:

1. The nervous

Mark Twain - American humorist, novelist, and travel writer

Alternative Ways of Presenting to Help Overcome Stage Fright

If you take nothing else from this article, I believe that this is the section that can help anxious students and professionals with stage fright the most. When I was dealing with presentation anxiety myself, most of these options didn’t even exist. If you’re anxious about standing in front of class and presenting, any of these could be fantastic alternatives to presenting.

Basically, any of these presentation software tools can help you to quickly create a visually stunning presentation; all without having to speak in front of the class. They utilize audio, video, and/or animation to create informative videos that get the point across even more effectively than conventional presentations.

For the most part, all a teacher or boss really cares about is that you: 

• Put hard work and dedication into your assignment
• Learned something throughout the process
• Are able to communicate what you learned to educate your peers

Telling the teacher “Sorry, I just can’t present today,” won’t meet any of these points, and is likely to land you a failed grade.

Instead, ask your teacher if you can use one of these presentation tools to create an even more engaging and informative presentation. This way, it’ll seem like you’ve put in the most effort in the class, rather than the least; all without having to speak in front of the class.

Here are the automated presentation tools I currently use myself and recommend:

I go into much greater detail on these tools here: automated presentation software . Before buying anything, I strongly suggest giving that article a read. Otherwise, Toonly and Doodly are my top picks.

What is the Best Presentation Anxiety Medication for Stage Fright?

Giving a presentation in high school or college can be extremely stressful for many people. If standing in front of the class feels like an impossible task, you may be wondering about presentation anxiety medication. So… what are the best drugs for presentation anxiety?

Since I’m not a doctor, I can only offer you a friendly opinion here.

In general, I think it’s a good idea to steer clear of anti-anxiety medication whenever it isn’t absolutely necessary. If your doctor prescribes you presentation anxiety medication, so be it. In the long-run, however, this can often create cycles of reliance and dependence that are best avoided.

But what about taking an over-the-counter supplement for anxiety before a presentation?

I have personally found one supplement to help me relax and communicate more confidently. This is my favorite supplement for stage fright, as it has helped me tremendously in situations where I would normally feel a bit socially anxious. I’ve used this supplement for presentations, job interviews, and even first dates.

My favorite supplement for presentation anxiety symptoms is phenibut. It just helps me feel significantly calmer while simultaneously boosting my sociability and confidence. This supplement is extremely affordable and legally sold online in most countries. If you want to learn a bit more about it, I have an article going into greater depth about phenibut here.

I do urge responsibility when using phenibut, as you don’t want to become reliant on it. But if it makes the difference between shirking your presentation vs. delivering a great one, I highly recommend it.

Let our advance worrying become advance thinking and planning

Winston Churchill - Former Prime Minister of the UK, Famous Orator

Tips for How to Present a Project Effectively

Few things help to eliminate anticipation anxiety like truly preparing for the situation. If your fears are rooted in delivering a poor or ineffective presentation, take some time to prepare.

Here are some tips for how to present a project effectively:

How to Overcome Stage Fright and Presentation Anxiety

There are many strategies we can take when dealing with our presentation anxiety or stage fright. Here are three of the most common strategies:

• Complete Avoidance – Post-college, public speaking occasions like presentations are pretty few and far between. As an adult, it isn’t too difficult to avoid presentations, although not overcoming stage fright can be a hinderance in many career fields.
• Reluctant and Occasional – Here’s where most people in the world probably fall. Most of us aren’t 100% comfortable with presenting, yet we suck it up and get it done when we have to. This isn’t a bad place to be, although it's uncomfortable occasionally.
• Conquering Presentation Anxiety – Some brave souls will choose to completely crush their fear of public speaking, overcoming stage fright and glossophobia entirely. This path is not for the faint of heart, as it isn’t easy; however, it has the largest payoff in the end with regard to career and confidence.

We’ve already discussed strategies for the first two earlier in this guide. Let’s now focus on the third.

How can we overcome presentation anxiety and glossophobia?

Well, whenever we want to eliminate a fear or phobia long-term, the best way to do so is through exposure therapy. We do have a full article on how to extinguish fears through exposure therapy if you’re curious to really understand this process.

For now, I’ll fill you in on the basics:

By gradually stepping outside of our comfort zone and exposing ourselves to our fears, we can eliminate those fears over time. The key here is that we are stepping a bit outside our comfort zone, but not immersing ourselves so fully to induce panic. In other words: challenge yourself at a fair pace.  

So how do we apply this to overcome presentation anxiety and stage fright?

My suggestion would be to identify the smallest voluntary step you can take outside of your comfort zone without panicking. Perhaps presenting may induce a panic attack, but are you at least able to read aloud from your seat? Perhaps reading aloud is difficult, but could you at least volunteer an answer from time to time?

This process will be as unique as a fingerprint for each person, as we all have different comfort zones and stressors. Try and find where your comfort zone ends and take small steps just outside of it. With repeated practice, you’ll notice your comfort zone expanding as you become more confident with the activity.

In general, here are some opportunities you may find useful for stepping outside of your comfort zone:

• Start raising your hand more often to ask or answer questions
• Volunteer to read aloud or answer a problem on the board whenever you’re feeling confident
• Create a presentation using presentation software (recommendations above), but see if you can actually get through it without relying on the audio. If you get too nervous, you can use it
• Rather than trying to get out of a presentation, ask your groupmates if you could take a lesser role with speaking; perhaps you could do more of the research to make up for it
• Seek out your local Toastmasters group to practice public speaking away from the pressures of your own social circles
• Try and attend small open mic nights and similar opportunities to gain experience with public speaking

Fun Fact: I successfully avoided presentations for the majority of my high school and college career. Afterward, I wound up working several jobs that forced me to confront this fear. First came a sales job, and next came a job that required me to speak in front of 150-200 people multiple times per day.

Turns out, I liked money more than I disliked public speaking.

List of Famous People with Public Speaking Anxiety

Sometimes a bit of solidarity goes a long way. Here’s a list of famous/successful people who have long been known to have suffered from public speaking anxiety:

• Winston Churchill
• Mahatma Gandhi
• Abraham Lincoln
• Prince Harry
• Warren Buffet
• Mark Zuckerberg
• Sigmund Freud
• Arnold Schwarzenegger
• Tiger Woods
• Rowan Atkinson
• Jackie Chan
• Thomas Jefferson
• Margaret Thatcher
• Princess Diana
• Eleanor Roosevelt
• Sir Richard Branson

As you can see… we’ve got some big names up there. And this is just a very small list of successful people who have been open about their public speaking anxiety – to say nothing of the silent majority!

Never forget, you’re far from alone in experiencing this – you can absolutely overcome presentation anxiety, stage fright, and glossophobia if you wish to!

Unlock the Secrets  to Managing Anxiety  without Harmful Meds

Not next week. Not tomorrow. Today. 

Getting started is easy with our #1 recommended online anxiety course.

For a limited time,  click here to watch the first few lessons of Anxiety Academy completely free. Like what you see? Access the rest of the course, all future course updates, plus lifetime access to our exclusive online community, for a small one-time payment today!

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About the Author

Years of personal experience with anxiety disorders and panic attacks have led me to devise some pretty creative ways to keep my anxiety in check. In the past, anxiety and panic attacks felt like something I'd have to live with forever. Nowadays, panic attacks are a distant memory for me, and I'm free to pursue passions like writing and traveling the world. Hopefully, the information on this website can help you achieve the same. I do all the writing here myself, so don't hesitate to reach out with questions!

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3 Surefire Ways to Lower Anxiety in Student Presenters

If your classes have a presentation component, then you know just how nerve-wracking presenting can be for your students. Even normally outgoing and relaxed people can freeze up in front of a crowd, and for some students this anxiety is completely debilitating, erasing their presentation skills altogether.

Is there anything to be done for those particularly unlucky souls?

Well if you’re asking this question, you aren’t the only one. In fact, many researchers are trying to better understand presentation anxiety so they can help students overcome it. A study from Dublin City University discovered that presentation anxiety­—also known as oral communication apprehension (OCA)—is caused by three main factors in a student: fear of humiliation in front of their peers, negative past experiences with presenting, and insufficient preparation. These researchers spent hours interviewing students about what exactly makes them so nervous. Without fail their fears always stemmed from those three sources.

But students with high levels of OCA aren’t a lost cause. The Dublin study also found that anxious students who received positive feedback from their instructor and peers consistently experienced a drop in their average anxiety levels over time. Even if they’re naturally afraid of presenting or have had bad experiences in the past, positive words and experiences do eventually build confidence and better presenting skills.

In another fascinating study on communication apprehension, two researchers found another compelling factor that reduces anxiety in student presenters: video. As it turns out, recording presentations digitally and allowing students to review their performance in hindsight greatly improves presenting skills while also reducing anxiety over time. This was true even if the recording aspect increased their anxiety levels initially.

The researchers were unsure why exactly video was such a great anxiety-reducer. Maybe it was the familiar ritual of recording each presentation. Or maybe it was the heightened self-awareness that led to greater confidence and less fear. The important takeaway is that the videotape-and-critique method is a staggeringly effective way for students to become better presenters. Other studies also found that recording video increases the quality of student performance in general.

So if you’re looking for the best ways to help students become fearless, here are three methods guaranteed to help:

1. Focus on Positive Feedback

To help students see presenting as a positive learning experience, you absolutely must share what they’re doing right along with what they can improve. Students need confidence in their abilities to motivate them to reach to new heights. It’s up to you as the instructor to make sure that peer critique also follows this pattern. Keeps the discussion positive, constructive, and useful.

2. Coach Students on How to Prepare

Understandably, students will be more nervous for a presentation that they aren’t ready to deliver. A boat-load of research has proven that practice lowers anxiety and increases quality, so drill into your students just how many times they should run through their material. Make sure that they’re practicing long enough to feel comfortable with both their subject matter and their delivery.

3. Use GoReact

If you’re looking for an easy way to use video to your advantage, GoReact is the answer. By watching themselves present on screen and getting time-coded feedback directly from you, students can raise their self-awareness and hone their presenter skills simultaneously. GoReact is also a great tool for instructors to model positive feedback for students and moderate peer comments before showing them to presenters. It’s a win-win for everyone.

Check out  How to Build a Successful Presentation Structure for more helpful presentation tips.

Personalize Your GoReact Experience

Should Students With Anxiety Be Forced to Present?

If you have an anxiety issue about public speaking or presenting how could you feel about being asked by a teacher or lecturer to get up in front of a group of others to do a public presentation? Well clearly you are going to feel uncomfortable so should students with anxiety be forced to present?

There is a big debate at the moment discussing whether many anxious students should be doing these in-class presentations or whether teachers should treat them differently and make exceptions when they feel uncomfortable. We thought it was worth giving our views as therapists on public speaking anxiety and ways it should be handled by teachers who have students with this fear.

This post may contain affiliate links which means that we get a commission if you choose to make a purchase through the link. This is at no cost to you. Please read our  disclosure page  for more information.

Speaking In Front of the Class Anxiety

The reality is that figures show that around 75% of the population have some kind of worry or issue with oral presentations. That is a big number showing how prevalent anxiety disorders are when it comes to in-class presentations or presenting.

Yet despite the problem being so common teachers and lecturers often have a real problem with knowing how to handle high school students or university students with the problem. They may also be unaware that they may also have been the cause of the problem in the first place.

The reality is that most pupils start to experience anxiety problems when they are relatively young usually in Kindergarten or elementary school. Something happens to the child which upsets them, scares them or embarrasses them and from that point on a part of them is hard-wired to avoid any similar situations that might make them feel uncomfortable.

A typical example that we might see is that the child being asked to participate in a school play when they were young and when they are on stage something goes wrong and everyone laughs. The child feels embarrassed or upset about the incident and resolves never to put themselves out there in front of others again.

University Presentation Anxiety

Now whilst the simple incident we have spoken about seems minor it can put into play a lifetime of social anxiety or presentation nerves for that child.

Social anxiety is a worry or a fear of embarrassing yourself or being judged by others. Clearly, after an initial embarrassment such as in the case of the play, a child will try and avoid going through the same thing again. They will certainly try and avoid participating in any further plays and are also likely to worry about the same thing occurring in other situations where they have to stand up in front of others to perform or speak.

This problem therefore will follow them through into middle school, cause issues when they are high school students and then finally make them anxious when they reach university.

University presentation anxiety isn’t therefore something that appears when you are older but something that has been following students around since they were very young.

So should students with anxiety be forced to present?

Public Speaking Anxiety and Its Effect on Students

Well as a teacher the first thing you have to understand is the debilitating impact that anxiety disorders have on people who have a fear of public speaking or social anxiety disorder.

A person with real public speaking anxiety is likely to feel extreme panic at the thought of doing a public presentation or speech. They may avoid eye contact with others, feel high levels of fear and stress, sweat, blush and in certain cases may even have panic attacks. Having mental health issues involving anxiety is not something that should be brushed to one side by teachers but a problem that needs to be taken seriously. Mental health issues however need to be differentiated from general nerves or a dislike of presenting.

The reality is that many of those 75% of people who have some fear of public speaking are likely to be experiencing problems relating to nerves and not a full-blown social phobia or serious anxiety. The key to deciding whether students should present in front of the entire class must start with the teacher being able to categorise who fits in what category.

Nerves are to be expected when you are doing something that you don’t do very often as you are stepping out of your comfort zone. You may not like presenting the first few times you speak in front of the class but the nerves and stress tend to dissipate with practice. Social anxiety and public speaking anxiety however need a gentler approach in case panic attacks are triggered.

How to Tell Your Teacher You Can’t Do a Presentation

Whether you have nerves or worry about public speaking and in-class presentations or if you are suffering from social anxiety issues it makes sense to talk to your teacher or your lecturer first about how you feel. Teachers are not mind readers and they are not always going to be able to visually see the distress you are feeling.

A good teacher should not make you feel uncomfortable talking in front of the class and instead, find ways to help their anxious students overcome problems with oral communication.

Should students with anxiety be forced to present? Well, there is brute force where a teacher insists on presentations no matter what which makes no sense at all. Then there are teachers who acknowledge the distress and panic and think about ways of preparing students for public speaking by coming up with programs to help.

If you are worried about not being taken seriously by your teacher especially when you are suffering from social phobia or glossophobia getting a doctors note can help. When a student presents a formal letter or note from their doctor it will be taken much more seriously and show that the reason for being unwilling to present in front of others isn’t because of a trivial reason but because of mental health issues.

You can also use our confidence worksheets to help you tackle your anxiety with self-help methods.

Get The PDF

Why Your Teachers Want You To Do In-Class Presentations

Whilst it may seem that your teachers are finding ways to torture you with their requests for in-class presentations the reality is very different. The simple fact is that American Colleges and your future employers prize good communication skills.

Academic performance and grades are often determined by how well you can speak in front of others. As an example language orals require you to stand in front of a panel of teachers and either discuss a topic in a foreign language. If you are unable to do this you are going to get a much lower grade and potentially even fail the class.

Presenting is a necessary skill in many situations and when you leave your school or university your employer will expect you to be able to meet certain basic standards when it comes to talking in front of your peers or clients. If you are unable to do this it will severely limit your job opportunities and earning potential.

So when teachers ask the question, should students with anxiety be forced to present? they are more likely to agree it is necessary for their students because in the big wide world employers won’t hire you if you can’t. In fact, you are unlikely to even pass the interview stage because that is going to make you feel uncomfortable.

We are of the belief however that the important skill of presenting should be discussed and tackled from a very young age so that the fear is less likely to become entrenched. For those who already have a problem then a systematic and intelligent approach to resolving the problem needs to be created by the teacher, school or university so the issue with class presentations is helped.

Refusing to Do Presentations

Without a proper and sympathetic program for students to learn the important skills of presentation or anxiety reduction, it is inevitable that some pupils will refuse to do presentations completely. We have certainly known students and adults to call in sick on days when they are required to present so they can avoid a class or meeting.

When students are so fearful that they believe the only way they can avoid severe anxiety is to drop out then the teacher is fighting a losing battle. Forcing students to present without proper support in this case is counterproductive and only makes the situation get worse especially with anyone who has real social anxiety issues.

Excuses to Get Out Of a Presentation

We have heard our clients give us a whole host of reasons for trying to get out of class presentations or meetings over the years because of their anxiety.

The classic excuse is feigning illness to get out of the presentations. That might be pretending to be ill an hour or so before the presentation or simply not turning up to school or university that day because of severe anxiety. This is a classic safety behaviour that helps you to avoid the problem temporarily but doesn’t help generalized anxiety or social anxiety in the longer term.

We have also had people pretend that they thought the presentation was on another day and tell the teacher that they aren’t prepared. Plus since Covid and online teaching, it becomes easier to say that your technology is playing up thereby keeping your comfort zones firmly in place.

Speaking fear and presentation worries however are only heightened by continued avoidance. The more anxious students allow their anxiety to take over the worse it becomes.  Forcing students to participate in public speaking events doesn’t resolve the problem but nor does running away so finding a middle ground to stop the panic and stress is always the best solution for both parties.

How to Help Students With a Fear of Class Presentations

Forcing students to do presentations when they have anxiety disorders or mental health issues isn’t a sensible approach to helping the problem. There are plenty of better ways to teach students how to manage presentations and overcome their anxiety. Here are a few of our favourite methods that can help make a difference.

Exposure Therapy For Public Speaking

Should students with anxiety be forced to present? Well no when there are plenty of better tools that can help to lower anxiety.

Exposure therapy is one of the easiest ways to help students with social anxiety or a fear of in-class presentations. Whilst exposure therapy does not stop anxiety it will help students to manage it better so that it feels more tolerable.

Typically the person with anxious feelings is asked to come up with a hierarchy of fears. Put simply this means to grade different parts of their anxiety from 1-10 with 1 being the lowest fear and 10 being the worst. A simple hierarchy might be a level 1 fear is speaking out loud in front of a friend. A level 5 fear might be having to speak in front of a teacher and a level 10 talking in front of a class of people.

A teacher should help you to work on the lowest fear first and get you to practice it regularly so it becomes more commonplace and the fear eventually fades. Then they help you work on the next rung of the ladder until over time you are able to do the thing you fear the most.

This approach is far easier than making students with public speaking fears panic by pushing them in at the deep end.

Visualization to Help You Feel In Your Comfort Zone

Visualization is another great tool that helps with class presentations. This is a technique that is used in coaching as well as by elite sports men and women.

The idea is to take some slow deep breaths and close your eyes and spend time mentally rehearsing doing the thing that you fear. In the visualization exercise, however, you are going to imagine your personal experience being different this time. For example, see yourself standing up with your head held high and looking confident as you are about to speak. See yourself making eye contact with the entire class and speaking loudly and with a strong voice. Imagine that you feel at home in this place and are happy to present in front of anyone.

With regular practice, you should start to see a difference in your anxiety levels as the mental rehearsal makes things easier for you. In your mind, the presentation starts to become second nature rather than something you only do every now and then.

Students Who Do Practice Presentations Lower Their Anxiety

As the saying goes “practice makes perfect” and that is certainly the case when it comes to presenting. If you only do a presentation a few times a year then it is going to feel scary as you simply won’t be used to talking in front of your fellow students. If you are doing regular presentations however everything gets substantially easier.

Also when you practice regularly whether it be in front of a few friends or even your family your delivery becomes sharper and you feel more comfortable.

Nobody is going to be great at doing presentations if they only do them on occasion but make it regular occurence and you will start to become an expert.

Self-Hypnosis for Public Speaking

We regularly help our clients to be able to present in front or a class or a meeting by using hypnosis. Hypnosis is a nice relaxed focused state where you feel calmer and more in control making it easier for you to overcome the thing that you fear.

To help our clients we give them our public speaking download program to listen which also has positive suggestions of encouragement and relaxation. Repeated positive suggestions can make a difference as they help students to overcome their fear and lower their anxiety. You can purchase this in our online store to help.

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Self-Help Books for Presentations and Confidence

Just as self-hypnosis can help so can self-help books. There are hundreds on the market that can help you with everything from presentations to self-esteem.

Speak with No Fear is a great book by Mike Acker that can help give you tips and strategies to overcome any anxious thoughts enabling you to talk with confidence.

Other Helpful Tips To Beat Anxiety About Speaking In Front Of Others

Should students with anxiety be forced to present? Well no not unless their teacher or lecturer has done other things to help. There are some other great tips that teachers can use to help their students speak in front of the class without fear.

Keep it Short – In other words, if you are helping a student to overcome their fear give them something small to say initially before building up to bigger presentations in front of their peers. This approach helps to build confidence and prevent prolonged anxiety.

Use Breathing Techniques – Using the right breathing techniques can make a difference to students. Slower and steadier breathing helps to calm nerves and lower anxiety.

Imagine You Are Someone Else – Think of someone who is confident when they speak and imagine that you are them when you are about to present in front of the class. That person could be a friend or even a famous person who you admire.

Write it Down – Remember you don’t have to remember everything you are going to say. Write it down or use cue cards to help. For larger presentations have PowerPoint slides to help.

Should students with anxiety be forced to present? Clearly learning to speak in front of others is a necessary life skill that shouldn’t be avoided but forcing students without support is clearly going to be detrimental to their anxiety and mental health. Whether you are a student or a teacher remember there is a better approach that involves support and training. Use our techniques to make a difference and to help keep anxiety levels low which helping to increase academic performance.

More Articles to Help With Presentations

Does Hypnosis for Public Speaking Work?

Practical Ways to Improve your Confidence

The Best Self-Help Books for Confidence Building

Unbreakable Confidence How to Get It

*This site is owned and operated by rewirethemind.com. Rewirethemind.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

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Manage Presentation Anxiety to Become Confident Public Speaker

by Janice Tomich

• Fear of Public Speaking

I’m a public speaking coach , and I know that for a lot of people (including those you think look cool and composed on stage) the thought of public speaking creates a surge in anxiety levels. That anxious feeling is daunting because the out-of-control emotional rollercoaster usually overrides logic. Learning how to calm yourself down before a speech or presentation is an essential skill. 

When you don’t have the ability to calm yourself or manage your emotions it can stop you from volunteering to deliver a presentation (pass by an opportunity to be seen) or the reason for not sleeping well nights before the day you’re scheduled to be on stage. 

Presentation anxiety is an issue that clients often reach out to me for because having the ability to deliver presentations and communicate confidently is a skill that’s in high demand. It’s important that their ideas are heard. Direct reports look for strong public speaking and communication skills in their teams because it’s crucial to organizations that persuade and influence others without worrying they’ll be racked with anxiety.

Some of my clients described the anxiety as feeling weirdly outside of their body … out of touch with reality and as an outside observer looking at themselves. Their stressed out monkey mind takes control and they can’t figure out how to get out of the anxiety loop. 

Presentation anxiety can manifest in other ways such as excessive sweating, shaking or trembling, an octopus of knots in your stomach, or even nausea. It’s no fun when you waste time feeling the fear of public speaking before and during a presentation.

The bad news is when you’re on stage and feeling anxious it can have serious impact. So much so  that your mind goes blank because your amygdala has been hijacked . 

The good news is presentation anxiety (usually) can be managed. Just like anything else you learn and get better at, the tools and techniques can be worked through, however as always the caveat is they need dedication to a consistent practice. 

Investing your time to deliver presentations confidently is well worth the time compared to what happens to your career growth when you pass off presentations to your colleagues or decline speaking opportunities. 

Table of Contents

How Common Is Presentation Anxiety?

Public speaking anxiety can be managed.  You can’t entirely get rid of it, however there are tools and techniques to dampen down the anxiety and regulate it so you’re able to deliver speeches and presentations confidently. 

The National Institute of Mental Health reports that 73% of us humans are affected by public speaking anxiety . The primary reason that the anxiety happens is because we fear being judged by others.

Many of the people you see that speak at events have some degree of a fear of public speaking but they have learned how to tame their anxiety. Even to the point they enjoy delivering presentations. 

So, many people experience presentation anxiety…how will you tame your own nerves?

It is possible for most anyone to enjoy public speaking. Once you’ve managed your anxiety and delivered a presentation that you’re proud of there is an energy that happens when you connect with your audience and you’ll find you’ll want to invite more speaking opportunities because of the rush you get. 

Angela Ferarro Managing Director, International Education, Burnaby School District

Steps To Manage Presentation Anxiety

Anxiety is fueled by the chattering, negative monkey brain that’s telling you stories that aren’t true such as, “this presentation is going to fall flat or what business do I have presenting?” 

Please know that the whiley monkey is lying to you. 

Getting rid of the monkey takes reeling your mind back and asking what’s really going on – figuring out what you’re believing that’s sabotaging your confidence. Then notice what you’re feeling. The feeling piece takes practice and patience because you need to slow down and listen. 

If you’ve spent years ignoring what triggers you it’s going to take some time and investigation to go inside and listen to what your emotions/feelings are telling you. 

The next step is acknowledging what you’re feeling and then letting it go. This visual works well: Visualize a nasty little gremlin on your shoulder that’s chattering away at you. Listen to it, thank it, and then in your mind’s eye make them dissolve/disappear. Give them a swat and send them on their way. To manage presentation anxiety take the time to go through each step – it’s is important to stop what fuels it. 

Without taking the time to learn where your anxiety is coming from you’ll have a difficulty managing public speaking anxiety. Or you might find that you’re doing okay and then for no reason – out of the blue – get bitten by it. 

It’s Not About You

It’s about your audience…what’s in it for them.

To help shift the spotlight off of yourself consider how your presentation will help your audience. Think too about why you’re grateful to be the person to deliver the message. How are you being of service? 

By taking the focus off of yourself and realizing that you are delivering a presentation to educate or provide a service/product to help others, your mindset shift will tame your anxiety. It’s because you’ve moved the spotlight off yourself and focussed it on your audience. From this perspective there is no/little room for you to experience anxiety. 

Pro Tip: You may think your anxiety or nervousness is obvious to others. It’s usually not. I’ve been privy to many conversations where the speaker shared they had been really anxious and thought they were obviously nervous. They are usually  surprised to hear that no one could tell. 

Carefully Plan And Prepare Your Presentation

It’s key that in the first stages of getting ready for your presentation you understand why you’re giving it. It’s how you will really understand if you have been successful (or not) and will help you get a good foundation of what your audience wants and needs to hear from you. 

You are an expert in what you’re presenting. Your audience is not. Be cautious about bombarding your audience with too much information. Take your subject matter expert hat off and think back to when you were learning your craft or the gaps of knowledge that your expertise fills. Keep it simple and stick to the facts. 

I’ve built a framework to create and develop presentations that are simple and focussed. You can access it here . My framework works well to stop audience overwhelm, so you don’t build in extra concepts that will confuse and lose your audience.   

Practice Deep Breathing

Most adults don’t know how to take a deep breath. When asked they think they do but can only take a breath from their upper chest. Their breathing is constricted. It’s been a habit that’s built over lots of years. 

Have you watched a young child or a baby breathe when they’re sleeping? Their lower belly expands and contracts as they breathe. That’s what you’re aiming for.

Are you skeptical about how well deep breathing works to calm nerves? You’ll find this article and this one that is proven research. Or prove it to yourself. If you have a smartwatch that records your heartbeat take a number of deep breaths and watch your heart rate go down. It’s magic how well deep breathing works to regulate nerves and anxiety.

If you find taking deep breaths difficult to master  (you’re an upper chest breather) this explainer video will help you visualize the mechanics of deep breathing.

I encourage you to do a round of two to three deep breaths each time you practice your presentation. And do a few rounds just before your presentation. And set an alert on your phone or watch for a few times a day. Check in. Are you taking deep breaths?

Deep breathing is a worthwhile exercise to master. You’ll feel calmer for it.

​​​​David Getzlaf Strategy Manager, Autonomy & Positioning, Hexagon

Turn Nervousness Into Positive Energy

There is a close connection to nervousness and excitement and reframing will change your perspective and tame your anxiety. 

Have you noticed that sometimes you tell yourself stories that aren’t true? Stories such as my colleagues won’t value what I’m sharing (they already know what I know) or there are people that know more about what I’m speaking about than I do. These types of stories breed anxiousness. 

Research tells us that by flipping the switch and using the word excited instead of negative ones will make us feel positive. 

There is a connection between words/thoughts that make us feel anxious and those that make us feel positive. 

The next time your thinking is going down a negative path, change your wording to excitement, which will change your perspective to a positive one. 

Practice Your Presentation

Practicing just until you’re confident that you have learned your presentation will ease your public speaking anxiety. You’ll notice that I used the word learned and not memorized. 

Memorizing your presentation will fuel anxiety. It’s too time consuming and tedious to learn your presentation word for word. And when you’re practicing or delivering your speech if you forget your place or even one word you have set yourself up for trouble. Which will reflect badly on your delivery and cause more anxiety. It’s too much pressure!

You’re better served to memorize your outline and then riff/expand off of your points. The result will be a presentation that comes off as being natural and you will be more comfortable delivering it. 

Only practice until you are tired of practicing and of hearing your voice. You might have a few rough spots and rather than practicing your presentation in its entirety simply practice those. 

It’s by knowing your presentation well that you’ll manage any anxiety that bubbles up. 

Visualize Your Success

Elite athletes ‘watch’ themselves driving the ball onto the green or scoring goals. It’s from this type of positive perspective that you’ll  create a feeling of comfort and ease – watching from the theatre of your mind deliver your presentation. 

Taking yourself through the actions of getting ready, arriving on the stage, delivering, and taking in the applause. Key though is you’re not only watching your success. You need to also feel success too. 

Feel Your Feet On The Ground 

Try this quick tip just as you are about to deliver your presentation ground yourself by feeling your feet on the ground. This is a mindfulness technique that will pull you to the present rather than letting your monkey mind sabotage you with anxiety. 

Interrupt Your Anxiety While On Stage

Did you know that Steve Jobs practiced Apple new product rollouts for months and months before the conference events? He meticulously practiced for what could go wrong and had a Plan B down to every detail. Do the same by giving thought to what you will do if your technology doesn’t work so you’re not caught without your Plan B if technology doesn’t go as planned. 

Speaking too quickly and not really feeling the depth of your words can accelerate your nerves. Take your time, breathe, and give your words time to land by using pauses. You’ll notice that your audience will find it easier to get your point and the connection that happens when you’re on the same wavelength as your audience. 

If you find yourself going blank and unable to remember what you wanted to speak to next buy yourself time by taking a few sips of water or referring to your notes. No one except you will realize that you’re gathering your thoughts.

If you’re lost and unsure about how to make your presentation compelling, I can help.

Give more presentations

When I returned to university as a mature student and struggled with a fear of public speaking I was determined to put it behind me. I made a point of volunteering for every opportunity I had to present to my cohort. It was naive because there is a foundation of skills that go hand and hand with practicing and raising your hand to every opportunity. 

Your presentation skills do get better with the more presentations you give. Presentation anxiety diminishes when you have experience successfully managing your anxiety, which builds confidence for the next one and so on. 

Performance Anxiety (Stage Fright) Disclaimer

Please seek medical support if you have severe performance anxiety.

If the techniques described above don’t make a difference to your anxiety level consider speaking with a medical professional. A medical professional can help with stage fright using cognitive behaviour techniques and by prescribing medications such as propranolol, which will slow down your heart rate and block adrenaline surges. 

I encourage you to reach out for help from your medical provider if your anxiety is severe. 

Most presentation anxiety can be managed so that you can deliver a presentation that is well received. It takes techniques such as shifting mindset, deep breathing to regulate your emotions, and practicing with the right focus. Managing presentation anxiety is doable and even better a goal that’s worthwhile. 

Here’s access to my calendar to schedule a time to chat to learn if I can help you with your presentation anxiety.  It would be my pleasure to talk with you and learn if you would benefit from our working together. 

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What Doctors Want You to Know About Beta Blockers for Anxiety

Start-ups are making it easier to get the pills online, but experts warn they should be used with caution.

By Christina Caron

Anxious ahead of a big job interview? Worried about giving a speech? First date nerves?

The solution, some digital start-ups suggest, is a beta blocker, a type of medication that can slow heart rate and lower blood pressure — masking some of the physical symptoms of anxiety.

Typically a trip to the doctor’s office would be necessary to get a prescription, but a number of companies are now connecting patients with doctors for quick virtual visits and shipping the medication to people’s homes.

“No more ‘Shaky and Sweaty,’” one online ad promised. “Easy fast 15 minute intake.”

That worries Dr. Yvette I. Sheline, a professor of psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine.

“The first question is: What is going on with this person?” Dr. Sheline said. Are they depressed in addition to anxious? Do they have chronic anxiety or is it just a temporary case of stage fright? “You don’t want to end up prescribing the wrong thing,” she added.

In addition, although beta blockers are generally considered safe, experts say they can carry unpleasant side effects and should be used with caution.

What are beta blockers?

Beta blockers such as propranolol hydrochloride have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for chest pain, migraine prevention, involuntary tremors, abnormal heart rhythms and other uses.

Some are still prescribed for hypertension, although they’re no longer considered the preferred treatment , mainly because other medications are more effective in preventing stroke and death.

Beta blockers can ease the physical symptoms of the “fight or flight” response to stress, such as tremors, sweaty palms or a racing heart, but they are not F.D.A.-approved to treat anxiety disorders.

For decades, doctors have prescribed them for issues other than their approved uses, including for problems like stage fright. In recent years, celebrities like Robert Downey Jr. and Khloé Kardashian have said the medications helped them overcome performance anxiety.

How do they work?

When we start feeling anxious or stressed, our bodies produce adrenaline, which prepares us to respond to perceived danger. The hormone signals our heart to beat faster and narrows our blood vessels to redirect blood to important organs like the heart and lungs. Breathing quickens, and we start to sweat.

Beta blockers work by “blocking” the effects of adrenaline. They cause the heart to beat more slowly and with less force, which helps lower blood pressure.

But if you’re feeling especially anxious, “your mind is still going to race, you’re still going to ruminate and worry,” said Regine Galanti, a psychologist in Cedarhurst, N.Y., who treats people with anxiety disorders.

In other words, beta blockers are not going to address the root of your fears. “If it becomes like a weekly, ‘Oh, I’m just having a hard time in this course. I’ll just pop a beta blocker every single time.’ I would say, ‘What’s the long-term goal here?’” she added.

Patients are typically only prescribed a few pills for specific situations where they might experience performance anxiety, said Dr. Joseph Bienvenu, a professor of psychiatry at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. But some online companies dole out as many as 48 at a time.

Are there any side effects?

Yes. Beta blockers can make people feel dizzy. Other potential side effects include fatigue, cold hands or feet, trouble sleeping and nightmares. They can also cause stomach problems like nausea or diarrhea and, less often, difficulty breathing.

This is why some doctors tell their patients to avoid taking them for the first time on the day of a big event.

Dr. Bienvenu advises patients to initially try the medication on the weekend, or “when you don’t have anything else to do.”

“I just want people to know how it’s going to affect them,” he said.

Is it OK to take them for a potentially scary task, like a big presentation?

Possibly. But experts suggested visiting your general practitioner first.

Beta blockers may not be advised for some people with diabetes, low blood pressure or bradycardia, which is a slow heart beat — or people with asthma or another lung disease. And certain drugs, including some cholesterol and cardiovascular medications, can interact with them.

Online doctors do not have your full medical history and have not examined you in person, said Arthur Caplan, a professor of bioethics at the N.Y.U. Grossman School of Medicine.

Without a physical exam, some patients might not know that they have an underlying issue like an irregular heartbeat, he added. And they may not know who to call if they have questions after getting a prescription.

“You need to be managed on these kinds of drugs,” he said.

For those who often face anxiety-provoking tasks like public speaking, the experts said, it might be most beneficial to try breathing techniques or exposure therapy , which involves directly confronting what makes us anxious to break a pattern of fear and avoidance.

“Masking your anxiety symptoms is not going to teach you how to manage your anxiety symptoms,” Dr. Galanti said.

Christina Caron is a Times reporter covering mental health. More about Christina Caron

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College of Engineering

April 15, 2024

Graduate Research Symposium creates opportunities to collaborate

May 2 event is free, open to public.

The 2024 Michigan State University College of Engineering Graduate Research Symposium will be held Thursday, May 2 in the Engineering Building and showcase the work of nearly 200 students. This event, created by the college in 2012, gives participants ranging from first-year graduates to those nearing completion of their Ph.D. the opportunity to share their work and network with faculty, staff and industry partners. They will also gain valuable experience giving research presentations that capture the priorities and mission of the college’s eight academic departments. The Graduate Research Symposium is free and open to the public. Attendees are encouraged to register by Friday, April 19 at the following link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2024-engineering-graduate-research-symposium-tickets-687947307917. Guests expected to attend the symposium and provide welcome remarks include Engineering Dean Leo Kempel, MSU President Kevin Guskiewicz, Interim Provost Thomas Jeitschko and Graduate School Dean and Vice Provost Pero Dagbovie. The symposium fosters a spirit of collaboration that helps graduate students learn what it takes to give effective presentations and use these skills in academic and professional settings. The highest scoring presentations will be recognized by judges. “The goal is to showcase research conducted by graduate students across the college and provide connections for faculty, staff, industry partners and graduate students,” said Sandra Christlieb, the college’s assistant director for graduate student services “This event creates opportunities to learn, engage and collaborate.” Sampling of presentation to be given at 2024 symposium:

• “Opening a pill bottle can be a pain: Quantifying adult and child abilities for access to child resistant packaging”
• “Smooth Moves: Kinematic smoothness as an assessment tool for functional movement disorder and outcomes from a one-week intensive therapy.”
• “The Hospital Patient: Identifying changes in average and peak pressures with a new positioning system used to mitigate tissue injury”
• “Tracking of sexually transmitted diseases in the Detroit metro area by molecular analysis of environmental samples”
• “Conflict resolution behavior of autonomous vehicles in mixed traffic environment”
• “Electrifying travels along Lake Michigan circuit”
• “Safety and operational evaluation of acceleration and deceleration lanes at freeway interchanges”
• “Understanding the importance of communication in the evolution of cooperation.”

Symposium schedule for Thursday, May 2:

• 8 - 9 am: Registration, check-in, poster set up
• 9 - 9:30 am: Welcome remarks
• 9:30 – 11 am: First poster session
• 11 am - 12:30 pm: Second poster session
• 12:30 – 1:30 pm: Lunch
• 1:30 – 3 pm: Symposium Showcase and afternoon refreshments
• 3-3:30 pm: 3-Minute Thesis Awards, Poster awards and event closing

Community, industry and corporate sponsors:

• DOW Chemical
• Jackson National Life
• Michigan Department of Transportation
• MSU Facility for Rare Isotope Beams
• MSU AgBioResearch

For more information about the symposium and the College of Engineering’s graduate studies programs, visit engineering.msu.edu/academics/graduate-studies/symposium. Written by Eric Lacy, [email protected]. See more at the Engineering Media and Public Relations page.

Watch CBS News

What is Eid al-Fitr? 6 questions about the holiday and how Muslims celebrate it, answered

By Ken Chitwood

Updated on: April 9, 2024 / 8:03 AM EDT / The Conversation

Ken Chitwood  is a senior research fellow, Muslim Philanthropy Initiative at Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis and journalist-fellow at the Dornsife Center for Religion and Civic Culture at the  University of Southern California Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences .

Eid al-Fitr, one of Islam's principal festivals, will be celebrated April 9, 2024, according to the Fiqh Council of North America . At the middle of June, Muslims will celebrate Eid al-Adha. Ken Chitwood, a scholar of global Islam, explains the two Islamic festivals.

1. What is Eid?

Eid literally means a "festival" or "feast" in Arabic. There are two major eids in the Islamic calendar per year – Eid al-Fitr earlier in the year and Eid al-Adha later.

Eid al-Fitr is a three-day-long festival and is known as the "Lesser" or "Smaller Eid" when compared to Eid al-Adha, which is four days long and is known as the "Greater Eid."

2. Why is Eid celebrated twice a year?

The two Eids recognize, celebrate and recall two distinct events that are significant to the story of Islam.

Eid al-Fitr means "the feast of breaking the fast." The fast, in this instance, is Ramadan , which recalls the revealing of the Quran to Prophet Muhammad and requires Muslims to fast from sunrise to sundown for a month.

3. How do Muslims celebrate Eid al-Fitr?

Eid al-Fitr features two to three days of celebrations that include special morning prayers. People greet each other with "Eid Mubarak," meaning "Blessed Eid" and with formal embraces. Sweet dishes are prepared at home and gifts are given to children and to those in need. In addition, Muslims are encouraged to forgive and seek forgiveness. Practices vary from country to country.

In many countries with large Muslim populations, Eid al-Fitr is a national holiday. Schools, offices and businesses are closed so family, friends and neighbors can enjoy the celebrations together. In the U.S. and the U.K., Muslims may request to have the day off from school or work to travel or celebrate with family and friends.

In countries like Egypt and Pakistan, Muslims decorate their homes with lanterns, twinkling lights or flowers. Special food is prepared and friends and family are invited over to celebrate.

In places like Jordan, with its Muslim majority population, the days before Eid al-Fitr can see a rush at local malls and special "Ramadan markets" as people prepare to exchange gifts on Eid al-Fitr.

In Turkey and in places that were once part of the Ottoman-Turkish empire such as Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albania, Azerbaijan and the Caucasus, it is also known as the, "Lesser Bayram" or "festival" in Turkish.

4. How do Muslims celebrate Eid al-Adha?

The other festival, Eid al-Adha, is the "feast of the sacrifice." It comes at the end of the Hajj , an annual pilgrimage by millions of Muslims to the holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia that is obligatory once in a lifetime, but only for those with means.

Eid al-Adha recalls the story of how God commanded Ibrahim to sacrifice his son Ismail as a test of faith. The story, as narrated in the Quran, describes Satan's attempt to tempt Ibrahim so he would disobey God's command. Ibrahim, however, remains unmoved and informs Ismail, who is willing to be sacrificed.

But, just as Ibrahim attempts to kill his son, God intervenes and a ram is sacrificed in place of Ismail. During Eid al-Adha, Muslims slaughter an animal to remember Ibrahim's sacrifice and remind themselves of the need to submit to the will of God.

5. When are they celebrated?

Eid al-Fitr is celebrated on the first day of the 10th month in the Islamic calendar.

Eid al-Adha is celebrated on the 10th day of the final month in the Islamic calendar.

The Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar, and dates are calculated based on lunar phases. Since the Islamic calendar year is shorter than the solar Gregorian calendar year by 10 to 12 days, the dates for Ramadan and Eid on the Gregorian calendar can vary year by year.

6. What is the spiritual meaning of Eid al-Fitr?

Eid al-Fitr, as it follows the fasting of Ramadan, is also seen as a spiritual celebration of Allah's provision of strength and endurance.

Amid the reflection and rejoicing, Eid al-Fitr is a time for charity, known as Zakat al-Fitr. Eid is meant to be a time of joy and blessing for the entire Muslim community and a time for distributing one's wealth.

Charity to the poor is a highly emphasized value in Islam. The Quran says ,

"Believe in Allah and his messenger, and give charity out of the (substance) that Allah has made you heirs of. For those of you who believe and give charity – for them is a great reward."

This piece incorporates materials from an article first published on Aug. 28, 2017. The dates have been updated. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license.

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Hauf, Larson Present Collaborative Research

Written by Staff

April 15, 2024

Criminology & Criminal Justice / Spanish Major Molly Hauf, presented collaborative research with Dr. Ryan Larson at the Midwest Sociological Society Annual Meetings in Des Moines, IA. Their presentation, entitled "‘Locked Out’ Broken Down: Gender-Specific Estimates of Felon Disenfranchisement”, represents the first state-level gender estimates of the felony disenfranchisement population in the United States.

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College of Behavioral and Community Sciences

Main navigation, usf cjmhsa tac hosts training on the mental health parity and addiction equity act.

President of New Futures Michele Merritt, JD, presents at the training.

• April 15, 2024
• College News , Mental Health Law and Policy

The USF Criminal Justice, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse Technical Assistance Center (CJMHSA TAC) convened a training in Palm Coast, FL. The purpose of this engagement was to present to local community providers regarding the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA), otherwise known as the federal parity law.

Abby Shockley, MPH, CPH , director of the center, was one of the facilitators of the training. Michele Merritt, JD, who serves as the president of New Futures, a New England-Based policy-oriented nonprofit, also facilitated the training.

The training served as a comprehensive primer for participants with the session summarizing various aspects of the law, including examples of ways to measure parity compliance, appeals processes, and identifying red flags in coverage limitations that may require notification to enforcement bodies. Participants gained insights into measuring parity compliance through examples of key indicators, such as analyzing quantitative data on utilization management practices, out-of-pocket costs, and coverage limitations for mental health services compared to medical/surgical services. The training provided participants with tools to identify and address parity violations effectively.

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The Mission of the College of Behavioral and Community Sciences (CBCS) is to advance knowledge through interdisciplinary teaching, research, and service that improves the capacity of individuals, families, and diverse communities to promote productive, satisfying, healthy, and safe lives across the lifespan. CBCS envisions the college as a globally recognized leader that creates innovative solutions to complex conditions that affect the behavior and well-being of individuals, families, and diverse communities.