“There are only two types of speakers in the world. 1. The nervous and 2. Liars.”
Mark Twain
Unfortunately I missed last week’s lecture in my Communicating Science class due to illness, which is unfortunate as it is one that deals with me overcoming one of my biggest fears. Public speaking.
Everyday I watch people are me have to give public speeches, whether it’s on the news or my professors giving a lecture and I always admire and envy the confidence that they display as they do so. However, for many this is not a skill that is built overnight. I think for the majority of people, having to give a talk in front of an audience can send us into fight or flight mode immediately. As someone who suffers from anxiety and panic disorder, public speaking is one of my triggers for panic attacks which is especially embarrassing to have in front of a group.
So how do you get over fears or phobias? Certainly not all at once and definitely not by avoiding them for the rest of your life. This is actually something I have learned through CBT (cognitive behavior therapy) for panic and phobias. You must start confronting these fears, but slowly and in small steps.
At this stage, it still seems impossible that I will ever not be nervous while giving a speech or presentation in front of even a small audience, but every journey begins with a small step.
No Rest for the Scientists 
You’ve made a really good start on your blogging Valerie, well done. You have a wonderfully expressive style, and I really enjoyed reading your posts. I even snorted out loud once…. You’re absolutely on the right track, and the only thing I would say is it would be great if you could blog a little more regularly. Keep up the good work!
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