my voice shakes when I do public speaking - help?

[Anonymous]

Hi! My voice shakes when I do public speaking. The weird thing is that I don't actually *feel* nervous - but I can hear my voice shaking as I am speaking. So I know I sound nervous even though I'm not.

Do you have any tips about helping me not do this anymore? I have a book coming out soon - yay! - and will hopefully be doing lots and lots of readings. I'd like them to go smoothly.

Thank you!!!

[Anonymous]

Mine does the same though I’m incredibly nervous. Some people recommend beta blockers but if anxiety isn’t your issue not sure if it could help you

[Anonymous]

I have a similar problem. I just try to breathe and not look at everyone staring at me, and get through whatever it is I'm doing. Tomorrow I have to testify in court for one of my clients, and that is always tough for me.

It does get easier with time, we have that on our side.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hi! My voice shakes when I do public speaking. The weird thing is that I don't actually *feel* nervous - but I can hear my voice shaking as I am speaking. So I know I sound nervous even though I'm not.

Do you have any tips about helping me not do this anymore? I have a book coming out soon - yay! - and will hopefully be doing lots and lots of readings. I'd like them to go smoothly.

Thank you!!!

Congratulations upon your book, OP

Does this happen only when you need to project your voice, as you may feel the need to do when addressing a group? Have you considered a speech therapist? They are trained to identify and treat numerous problems like this ... it may have something to do with muscle tone. A speech therapst should be able to identify a problem quickly and work with you to strengthen the affected areas. My BF's daughter is about to enter her masters program for this and I'm amazed how many conditions exist.

Best to you!

[Anonymous]

Half a clonopin before you go on, or a shot of whiskey.

[Anonymous]

This happens to me to, and I'm not nervous at all. It's something to do with speaking from the throat instead of the diaphragm. I bet voice lessons or speech therapy could help.

[Anonymous]

Practice is what really helps. You might consider joining Toastmasters or something similar to get practice.

[Anonymous]

OP again - thank you all for the suggestions. (And for the well wishes!)

I wonder if a shot would help - I feel like it might lead me to sounding nervous and not being able to read the words on the page. Then I'd really have something to be nervous about.

Not sure if this is an issue of projecting, or not breathing correctly. I honestly am not nervous, so that's the one cause I can rule out. I'll try to practice and if that doesn't work, will look for some expert help.

To the pp testifying tomorrow - good luck in court!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Mine does the same though I’m incredibly nervous. Some people recommend beta blockers but if anxiety isn’t your issue not sure if it could help you

It still could be related to a fight or flight response due to physiological arousal even if OP isn't actually cognitively anxious. OP, I take 10 mg of propranolol for public speaking and it helps all of my physiological symptoms: blushing, shaking, breathlessness, heart pounding. It has no direct effect on my cognitive symptoms, but it is tremendously helpful to not be thinking "Oh no, I'm blushing! And my voice is shaking!" That always makes it worse.

I get it from my primary care doctor. Just try it before you actually need to speak to make sure it doesn't make you feel lightheaded.

[Anonymous]

Join Toastmasters

[Anonymous]

When giving a speech or presenting, pretend you are talking a friend. It makes you sound knowledgeable, and down to earth, and will help relieve the nervousness - you'll just sound normal.

[Anonymous]

I am the same way OP. I am not nervous until my voice starts sounding nervous and then I get nervous because I know I sound that way!

I drink lots of water to be well hydrated so my vocal cords aren't dry. I do some yoga like deep breathing exercises to feel in control of my body.

It is still a crapshoot. Sometimes it doesn't happen, sometimes it does.

[Anonymous]

Imagine they are pumpkins.

[Anonymous]

Sing in the car, loudly. Most people never train themselves to project beyond a brief yell, and that’s when the voice shakes.

[Anonymous]

These have helped me:

Reducing caffeine intake by 3/4. That helped me with th adrenaline surge

Practice a lot! From start to finish including how to get through a spot if you forget something/say a wrong word, etc.

Talk to the tops of the audience’s heads if eye contact throws you off