2. Building Confidence to Speak > Understanding Anxiety
Understanding Anxiety
• Feeling Anxiety Is Normal
• Situational Anxiety
• Trait Anxiety
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3. Building Confidence to Speak > Understanding Anxiety
Feeling Anxiety Is Normal
• As many as 75% of all people experience some form of anxiety about having to
give a speech in front of others.
• Anxiety may be characterized by sudden changes in mood and behavior. You
may feel a sense of dread, light-headed, nauseous, or ready to run out of the
room. This is normal and you can work past these symptoms.
• Anxiety can trigger the human fear response even though your speech may be
days or weeks away.
Anxiety about public speaking is normal!
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4. Building Confidence to Speak > Understanding Anxiety
Situational Anxiety
• Stage fright, like trait anxiety, is perfectly normal.
• Even seasoned public speakers experience stage fright.
• You may feel faint, excitable, or jittery when experiencing stage fright. Your heart
might race, your mouth might feel dry and you may feel out of breath or suddenly
nauseous. These are all normal sensations and reactions that can be overcome.
Situational Anxiety
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5. Building Confidence to Speak > Understanding Anxiety
Trait Anxiety
• Trait anxiety tends to build up over time and may be the result of neurosis. Trait
anxiety may be conscious or unconscious.
• Those who experience trait anxiety may already be people who are naturally shy
and self-conscious.
• Women are more likely to experience trait anxiety than men.
Trait Anxiety
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6. Building Confidence to Speak > Managing Anxiety
Managing Anxiety
• Tools for Managing Situational Anxiety: Preparation, WarmUp, Relaxation, and Other Ideas
• Tools for Managing Trait Anxiety: Positive Imagery and Other Ideas
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7. Building Confidence to Speak > Managing Anxiety
Tools for Managing Situational Anxiety: Preparation, WarmUp, Relaxation, and Other Ideas
• Practice your speech early and often so that you are as familiar and comfortable
as you can be with your wording.
• Warm up your tongue and face by repeating tongue twisters as
quickly, correctly, and articulately as you can.
• Activate your body's natural relaxation response by practicing some deep
breathing to calm your nerves.
Managing Situational Anxiety
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8. Building Confidence to Speak > Managing Anxiety
Tools for Managing Trait Anxiety: Positive Imagery and Other
Ideas
• If you're worried about your speech being successful, try to envision it being a
success.
• Consider trying guided meditations on positive imagery well in advance of your
speech, to help you build up your confidence early.
• Even the best public speakers can have a bad day. If your nerves do get the best
of you, simply do the best you can and accept your performance for what it is.
There's always next time.
Combatting Trait Anxiety
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10. Building Confidence to Speak
Key terms
• anxiety An unpleasant state of mental uneasiness, nervousness, apprehension and obsession or concern about some
uncertain event. (CC BY-SA 3.0)
• meditation a devotional exercise of, or leading to contemplation (CC BY-SA 3.0)
• neurosis A mental disorder, less severe than psychosis, marked by anxiety or fear. (CC BY-SA 3.0)
• panic attack A sudden period of intense anxiety, mounting physiological arousal, fear, stomach problems and discomfort that
are associated with a variety of somatic and cognitive symptoms. (CC BY-SA 3.0)
• relaxation response A collective term referring to how meditation induces a host of biochemical and physical changes in the
body that include changes in metabolism, heart rate, respiration, blood pressure, and brain chemistry; coined by Dr. Herbert
Benson in 1975. (CC BY-SA 3.0)
• stage fright A state of nervousness about performing some action in front of a group of people, on or off of a stage; nerves;
uncertainty; a lack of self-assurance before an audience. (CC BY-SA 3.0)
• trait anxiety anxiety can be either a short term 'state' or a long term "trait." Trait anxiety reflects a stable tendency to respond
with state anxiety in the anticipation of threatening situations. (CC BY-SA 3.0)
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11. Building Confidence to Speak
Anxiety about public speaking is normal!
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12. Building Confidence to Speak
Situational Anxiety
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Flickr. "Sign in to Yahoo." CC BY http://www.flickr.com/photos/sashawolff/3285121117/ View on Boundless.com
13. Building Confidence to Speak
Trait Anxiety
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Flickr. "Anxiety | Flickr - Photo Sharing!." CC BY http://www.flickr.com/photos/lainamarie/6616592453/ View on Boundless.com
14. Building Confidence to Speak
Managing Situational Anxiety
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15. Building Confidence to Speak
Combatting Trait Anxiety
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16. Building Confidence to Speak
Which of the following statements is true?
A) Audiences can always see how nervous you feel.
B) Memorizing your speech helps you feel less nervous.
C) Telling a joke is always a good way to begin a speech.
D) Some nervousness can make your speech better.
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17. Building Confidence to Speak
Which of the following statements is true?
A) Audiences can always see how nervous you feel.
B) Memorizing your speech helps you feel less nervous.
C) Telling a joke is always a good way to begin a speech.
D) Some nervousness can make your speech better.
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Saylor OER. "Communication « Saylor.org – Free Online Courses Built by Professors." CC BY 3.0 http://www.saylor.org/majors/Communication/
18. Building Confidence to Speak
Feeling light-headed, nauseated, forgetful, or inarticulate are all
signs of what communication challenge?
A) Speaking apprehension
B) Lack of preparedness
C) Defensive reacting
D) All of the answers
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19. Building Confidence to Speak
Feeling light-headed, nauseated, forgetful, or inarticulate are all
signs of what communication challenge?
A) Speaking apprehension
B) Lack of preparedness
C) Defensive reacting
D) All of the answers
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Saylor OER. "Communication « Saylor.org – Free Online Courses Built by Professors." CC BY 3.0
http://www.saylor.org/majors/Communication/
20. Building Confidence to Speak
Which of the following is an example of an effect of anxiety?
A) Feeling tired.
B) Feeling faint.
C) Feeling thirsty.
D) Feeling angry.
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21. Building Confidence to Speak
Which of the following is an example of an effect of anxiety?
A) Feeling tired.
B) Feeling faint.
C) Feeling thirsty.
D) Feeling angry.
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22. Building Confidence to Speak
Which of the following is an organization that helps glossophobia
sufferers?
A) TEDtalks.
B) The Friar's Club.
C) Toastmasters International.
D) Amnesty International.
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23. Building Confidence to Speak
Which of the following is an organization that helps glossophobia
sufferers?
A) TEDtalks.
B) The Friar's Club.
C) Toastmasters International.
D) Amnesty International.
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24. Building Confidence to Speak
A sudden period of intense anxiety, mounting physiological
arousal, fear, stomach problems and discomfort that are
associated with a variety of somatic and cognitive symptoms.
A) neurosis
B) stage fright
C) panic attack
D) relaxation response
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25. Building Confidence to Speak
A sudden period of intense anxiety, mounting physiological
arousal, fear, stomach problems and discomfort that are
associated with a variety of somatic and cognitive symptoms.
A) neurosis
B) stage fright
C) panic attack
D) relaxation response
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Wiktionary. "panic attack." CC BY-SA 3.0 http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/panic+attack
26. Building Confidence to Speak
An unpleasant state of mental
uneasiness, nervousness, apprehension and obsession or
concern about some uncertain event.
A) neurosis
B) stage fright
C) anxiety
D) relaxation response
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27. Building Confidence to Speak
An unpleasant state of mental
uneasiness, nervousness, apprehension and obsession or
concern about some uncertain event.
A) neurosis
B) stage fright
C) anxiety
D) relaxation response
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Wiktionary. "anxiety." CC BY-SA 3.0 http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/anxiety
28. Building Confidence to Speak
A state of nervousness about performing some action in front of a
group of people, on or off of a stage; nerves; uncertainty; a lack of
self-assurance before an audience.
A) anxiety
B) panic attack
C) neurosis
D) stage fright
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29. Building Confidence to Speak
A state of nervousness about performing some action in front of a
group of people, on or off of a stage; nerves; uncertainty; a lack of
self-assurance before an audience.
A) anxiety
B) panic attack
C) neurosis
D) stage fright
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Wiktionary. "stage fright." CC BY-SA 3.0 http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/stage+fright
30. Building Confidence to Speak
Which of the following is an effect of situational anxiety?
A) Warmth in the fingers and toes.
B) The ability to see things at close range very clearly.
C) Dry hands.
D) Increase in blood pressure.
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31. Building Confidence to Speak
Which of the following is an effect of situational anxiety?
A) Warmth in the fingers and toes.
B) The ability to see things at close range very clearly.
C) Dry hands.
D) Increase in blood pressure.
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32. Building Confidence to Speak
Which type of communication apprehension is NOT related to
speaking in front of an audience?
A) Trait anxiety
B) Context anxiety
C) Audience anxiety
D) Situational anxiety
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33. Building Confidence to Speak
Which type of communication apprehension is NOT related to
speaking in front of an audience?
A) Trait anxiety
B) Context anxiety
C) Audience anxiety
D) Situational anxiety
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Saylor OER. "Communication « Saylor.org – Free Online Courses Built by Professors." CC BY 3.0
http://www.saylor.org/majors/Communication/
34. Building Confidence to Speak
A mental disorder, less severe than psychosis, marked by anxiety
or fear.
A) anxiety
B) panic attack
C) neurosis
D) stage fright
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35. Building Confidence to Speak
A mental disorder, less severe than psychosis, marked by anxiety
or fear.
A) anxiety
B) panic attack
C) neurosis
D) stage fright
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Wiktionary. "neurosis." CC BY-SA 3.0 http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/neurosis
36. Building Confidence to Speak
How is trait anxiety different from situational anxiety?
A) Trait anxiety is a long-term form of anxiety that may be the result of
neurosis.
B) Trait anxiety is triggered by specific and immediate events.
C) People suffering from trait anxiety have an abundance of selfconfidence.
D) People suffering from trait anxiety are unlikely to experience anger,
envy, or guilt.
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37. Building Confidence to Speak
How is trait anxiety different from situational anxiety?
A) Trait anxiety is a long-term form of anxiety that may be the result of
neurosis.
B) Trait anxiety is triggered by specific and immediate events.
C) People suffering from trait anxiety have an abundance of selfconfidence.
D) People suffering from trait anxiety are unlikely to experience anger,
envy, or guilt.
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38. Building Confidence to Speak
Why is jogging in place or bouncing on your feet a good way to
warm up before a speech?
A) It can be used to calm the body down as the fear response ratchets
the body up.
B) If you have an increased heart rate, you can fight fire with fire and
channel the nervous energy.
C) It can make you tired, which will make you speak less rapidly during
your speech.
D) It can help you practice the delivery of your speech.
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39. Building Confidence to Speak
Why is jogging in place or bouncing on your feet a good way to
warm up before a speech?
A) It can be used to calm the body down as the fear response ratchets
the body up.
B) If you have an increased heart rate, you can fight fire with fire and
channel the nervous energy.
C) It can make you tired, which will make you speak less rapidly during
your speech.
D) It can help you practice the delivery of your speech.
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40. Building Confidence to Speak
A collective term referring to how meditation induces a host of
biochemical and physical changes in the body that include
changes in metabolism, heart rate, respiration, blood pressure,
and brain chemistry; coined by Dr. Herbert Benson in 1975.
A) anxiety
B) stage fright
C) relaxation response
D) meditation
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41. Building Confidence to Speak
A collective term referring to how meditation induces a host of
biochemical and physical changes in the body that include
changes in metabolism, heart rate, respiration, blood pressure,
and brain chemistry; coined by Dr. Herbert Benson in 1975.
A) anxiety
B) stage fright
C) relaxation response
D) meditation
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Wikipedia. "relaxation response." CC BY-SA 3.0 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/relaxation+response
42. Building Confidence to Speak
anxiety can be either a short term 'state' or a long term "trait."
_______ reflects a stable tendency to respond with state anxiety
in the anticipation of threatening situations.
A) relaxation response
B) stage fright
C) anxiety
D) trait anxiety
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43. Building Confidence to Speak
anxiety can be either a short term 'state' or a long term "trait."
_______ reflects a stable tendency to respond with state anxiety
in the anticipation of threatening situations.
A) relaxation response
B) stage fright
C) anxiety
D) trait anxiety
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Wikipedia. "trait anxiety." CC BY-SA 3.0 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/trait+anxiety
44. Building Confidence to Speak
Envisioning success is
A) imagining a positive outcome.
B) a coping technique to manage fear.
C) understanding that your worst fears are unlikely to come true.
D) All of these answers.
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45. Building Confidence to Speak
Envisioning success is
A) imagining a positive outcome.
B) a coping technique to manage fear.
C) understanding that your worst fears are unlikely to come true.
D) All of these answers.
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46. Building Confidence to Speak
What is guided meditation?
A) The guiding of an individual into a beneficial state of consciousness by
another's voice.
B) A form of yoga involving deep breathing.
C) A type of hypnosis.
D) All of these answers.
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47. Building Confidence to Speak
What is guided meditation?
A) The guiding of an individual into a beneficial state of consciousness by
another's voice.
B) A form of yoga involving deep breathing.
C) A type of hypnosis.
D) All of these answers.
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48. Building Confidence to Speak
a devotional exercise of, or leading to contemplation
A) anxiety
B) meditation
C) stage fright
D) relaxation response
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49. Building Confidence to Speak
a devotional exercise of, or leading to contemplation
A) anxiety
B) meditation
C) stage fright
D) relaxation response
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Wiktionary. "meditation." CC BY-SA 3.0 http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/meditation
50. Building Confidence to Speak
Attribution
• Wikibooks. "Managing Groups and Teams/How Do You Manage Global Virtual Teams?." CC BY-SA 3.0
http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Managing_Groups_and_Teams/How_Do_You_Manage_Global_Virtual_Teams%253F
• Wikipedia. "Public speaking anxiety." CC BY-SA 3.0 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_speaking_anxiety
• Wikipedia. "Fear." CC BY-SA 3.0 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fear
• Wikipedia. "Anxiety." CC BY-SA 3.0 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anxiety
• Wikibooks. "Professional and Technical Writing/Presentations." CC BY-SA 3.0
http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Professional_and_Technical_Writing/Presentations
• Wikibooks. "Rhetoric and Composition/Oral Presentations." CC BY-SA 3.0
http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Rhetoric_and_Composition/Oral_Presentations
• Wikibooks. "Rhetoric and Composition/Teacher's Handbook/Teaching Oral Presentations." CC BY-SA 3.0
http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Rhetoric_and_Composition/Teacher%2527s_Handbook/Teaching_Oral_Presentations
• Wikipedia. "Performance anxiety." CC BY-SA 3.0 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Performance_anxiety
• Wikipedia. "Anxiety." CC BY-SA 3.0 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anxiety
• Wikipedia. "Neuroticism." CC BY-SA 3.0 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neuroticism
• Wikibooks. "Announcing/Voice Improvement." CC BY-SA 3.0 http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Announcing/Voice_Improvement
• Wikibooks. "Theatre and Acting/Facial Warmups/Using All the Face." CC BY-SA 3.0
http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Theatre_and_Acting/Facial_Warmups/Using_All_the_Face
• Wikibooks. "Stress-related Disorders/Relaxation Response." CC BY-SA 3.0 http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Stressrelated_Disorders/Relaxation_Response
• Wikibooks. "Theatre and Acting/Facial Warmups/Using the Mouth." CC BY-SA 3.0
http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Theatre_and_Acting/Facial_Warmups/Using_the_Mouth
• Wikibooks. "Yoga/Meditation." CC BY-SA 3.0 http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Yoga/Meditation#Progressive_Muscle_Relaxation
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• Wikibooks. "Dialectical Behavioral Therapy/Core Mindfulness Skills/Wise Mind/Experiencing Integration and Intuition." CC BY-
51. Building Confidence to Speak
• Wikibooks. "Speech-Language Pathology/Stuttering/Response Selection Under Stress/Speech-Related Fears and Anxieties."
CC BY-SA 3.0 http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/SpeechLanguage_Pathology/Stuttering/Response_Selection_Under_Stress/Speech-Related_Fears_and_Anxieties
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