Getting an Rx for a beta blocker was the best thing I did for my career

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I can't believe everyone doesn't already know this method?? I would argue that beta-blockers are a trick as old as time. You aren't seeing confident public speakers; you are seeing speakers who are high.

I've been in public speaking my whole career and none us did this, nor did we need to. What's going on witgh people today that this crutch is needed?

[Anonymous]

I think a local pharma sales rep is trolling DCUM.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Am I the only one who has never heard of people doing this? I used to have speaking anxiety, but just practiced a lot and over time it has subsided quite a bit. Not a problem anymore. No drugs needed. Are you all treating something more significant or just trying to skip the part where practice and experience gives you more confidence? Real question, no judgment here.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Am I the only one who has never heard of people doing this? I used to have speaking anxiety, but just practiced a lot and over time it has subsided quite a bit. Not a problem anymore. No drugs needed. Are you all treating something more significant or just trying to skip the part where practice and experience gives you more confidence? Real question, no judgment here.

Yeah, you’re being judgmental. I’ve done a LOT of talks, to crowds of up to 300. Like you, I’m a pro. I practice until I’ve got it down. But, you know those butterflies you get, heartbeat pick up, a little bit of sweat, don’t eat breakfast before the talk? That’s what a beta blocker is for. It’s not a magic pill that will make your unprepared ass a lyrical genius on stage, but it calms the physical aspects of anxiety. It takes everything down a notch. And, after doing it without drugs for 20 years, I’m with the OP, it’s really nice, and zero side effects. I used to be anti medication, all natural blah blah. But I’m a convert after 3 months. Don’t mock what you don’t know PP.

Not the PP, but those butterflies and the increased heart-rate should actually help your performance if you learn to manage them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, that’s why I was asking if you were treating something more significant. I get that not everyone experiences anxiety the same. Anyway, I’ll probably try it, I really wasn’t judging.

You seem to believe that “practice and experience give you more confidence” and that therefore a person with practice and experience, and no anxiety disorder, has no obtrusive physical symptoms when speaking in public.

None of that inevitably connects, is the point.

It does though. If you are well prepared and speak often you develop more confidence and lose some of the anxiety. That’s how life works. The more you do something that scares you, the easier it becomes. I tell my kids this all the time.

It happened that way for you. You are not everybody on Earth.

+1

I speak to large groups regularly at work. I am comfortable with the people and content. Even though I do it fairly often my cheeks flush and my voice has a bit of a tremor. It’s a physical reaction that I can’t control and has nothing to do with my preparedness or confidence.

I’m curious if beta blockers would help but I have low blood pressure so maybe not a good idea. I’ll ask my GP next time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can't believe everyone doesn't already know this method?? I would argue that beta-blockers are a trick as old as time. You aren't seeing confident public speakers; you are seeing speakers who are high.

I've been in public speaking my whole career and none us did this, nor did we need to. What's going on witgh people today that this crutch is needed?

Maybe they just didnt tell you they were doing it?

[Anonymous]

Side note, but going on an antidepressant has really helped me not cry at work (something that felt out of my control and I would do about once a year beforehand, and would feel mortified for doing).

I did everything I could before to try and stop it (meditation, distraction, etc) but it wasn’t until the lexapro that I finally don’t feel like that anymore at work.

Just to say, I resisted it for decades. I wouldn’t even say I was classically “depressed”, just sometimes couldn’t not cry and it was awful.

[Anonymous]

Cocaine works too.