Things were going downhill fast. I was screwing up, and everyone noticed. My face was now bright red. Not the usual mild [tag]blushing[/tag] that everyone experiences from time to time – oh no, this was a bright, crimson-red, bordering on reddish/purple – probably very freakish looking and undeniably noticeable. (more…)

Id like to say that this experience turned out ok and that I got through the course without a hitch, but that wasnt the case. I suppose you could say that I psyched myself out before the class got underway by believing that no other outcome was possible other than complete and utter failure and embarrassment. (more…)

As the instructor proceeded to welcome all of us to the latest company workshop, I was filled with a sense of dread. I figured that the introductions would start in less than 5 minutes. Though I was on the verge of a total meltdown, I couldnt help but notice the irony in the fact that the company expected us to be grateful that they were spending all this time and money on our professional development. (more…)

The once quiet classroom was now filled with loud conversation and laughter – quite a contrast to the serene setting only moments ago. Amazed at how loud a few dozen people could be, I was vaguely aware of the fact that I was the only one not taking part in all the idle chit-chat. Surely, I must have stood out like a sore thumb. (more…)

The training session was one of those events that brought out the worst in me. Yes, I knew about relaxation techniques and positive self-talk, but in reality the experience was so intense that it chewed up those techniques and spit them out. Fact is, I had a hundred different ways to put myself down and these thoughts were so automatic that I never questioned whether they were right or wrong. (more…)

My daily commute to work was stressful back then. Normally, it was about an hour, to an hour and a half, of bumper-to-bumper traffic, accidents, aggressive drivers – you name it. However, the morning of the big seminar, I found myself pulling into my parking spot without any recollection of how I got there. Obviously, my mind had been preoccupied with other things. (more…)

As the day of the workshop approached, my anxiety made it impossible to get on with my normal life. 100% of my mental energy was focused on this, seemingly, impossible feat I had yet to perform. Yes, impossible was a good description. No matter how hard I tried to be optimistic and level headed about it, I simply could not see myself getting through this class. (more…)

Most self-help books and tapes have dedicated at least one chapter to relaxation techniques. Breathing exercises, positive self-talk, soothing music, mental imagery, and grounding techniques are among the most popular. Most of these methods are built on solid scientific research, and there is no doubt in my mind that they are an invaluable resource in overcoming fear and anxiety. (more…)

Without question, my biggest fear is, and has always been, [tag]public speaking[/tag]. Certainly, Im stating the obvious here since it ranks among the top fears of the general population, let alone social anxiety sufferers. However, I doubt that the average person can comprehend the stark terror experienced by a socially phobic person.

In my case, public speaking was actually much more than simple fear; it was a terror so unimaginable that to consider giving a speech or presentation was incomprehensible. It simply would not happen. It was beyond the realm of possibility, and yet, I forced myself to endure this torture on several occasions. (more…)