I found a perfect solution not mentioned here.
I have delt with the crippling fear of public speaking...hell speaking to anyone in a directed manner...job interviews for example.
I remember the very moment it started for me. I went to Catholic school all my life. Once a week everyone in the school including lots of parents and locals would come to celebrate Mass on Friday. In the Friday Masses, the school children would take up all the non-priest roles in the Mass, ie readings, carrying the Alter equipment, choir etc.
It was my classes turn to do the Mass. I was 10 years old in 4th grade. My hand shot up for volunteers to do the First Reading. I was so excited!!! The First Reading was like an honor to do. It is always very long and is read directly from the Bible.
We had a rehersal...everything went fine. Just my classmates. However, Friday rolled around and I found myself up on the podium with a microphone in my face and hundreds of people in front of me. I started the reading fine, but to my ultimate DOOM my best friend was standing next to the podium...she had the Second Reading. She started giggleing and it interrupted my speech because soon I was giggleing too...in Church, on a microphone in front of EVERYONE in my school! Needless to say, everyone was staring at me in shock and horror. I practically broke down on the stage...couldnt finish the reading, almost burst out in tears and my teacher had to come get me off the stage.
Sooooo, after that fun experience, I have been terrified of public speaking. I turn bright red, my voice shakes badly, my hands shake like im having a seizure. I did all the regular stuff people do to avoid public speaking in high school. I did have a few good experiences but those were situations that were very casual. Definitely not the rule.
Well, I went to College...and avoided public speaking until the very last semester when I had nothing else to take. I actually petitioned my Psychaitrist to write a letter to the disabled student dept. requesting that I be exempt. He did. But, the university didnt care...even though I was also registered there with ADD.
I was left with two options. Quit school or take the class. This is what I did, and I think this advice is REALLY good for people with this problem:
I took the class at a community college. That way I wouldnt know anyone, the class would be all ages, and it would be smaller.
Before I took the class, I saw my doctor and he knew my history.
He gave me a prescription for Xanax to use before I had to do a presentation in class. It made ALL the difference in the world. I passed the class with a straight A! The Xanax took the edge off my nervousness...it was almost miraculious. I would still be nervous, but it literally blocked the panic...I had no reservations and I did fantastic!!! Also another good medication is called Propranolol. It is used to lower blood pressure, but it also blocks physical response to panic...ie rapid heart beat, sweating etc. Most doctors who wont prescribe Xanax, even temporarily (find another one who will) will give you Propranolol. It will help with the nervousness, but mainly it will help assure you that youre not going to have a heart attack. They prescribe it frequently to preformers.
But here are a few extra tips:
-If you can, try to present only what interests you or something you feel passionate about. I frequently did my oral reports on left wing politics and although some people would literally boo me when I was done, most people really liked what I had to say. Even though I got booed at the end by a few people, *they listened to me* and paid attention, and that helps too.
-Preperation does help, but don't *over prepare* Don't let it become an obsession becuase that can simply add to your stress and make you sick!
-Don't just read a sheet of paper. You will get lost in it. Make index cards with the main idea and then add points you wish to discuss further. Know this information *beforehand* Don't strait read it from the card, you will look bad and sound like you are rambling. Use the cards as a guide and take natural breaks. This will particualrly help people who develop breathing problems while speaking. Reading something straight through without looking up and taking natural pauses can really start to make you upset, especailly if your breating becomes erratic.
-If possible, bring a visual aid! That can be a life saver. If you get off track or start getting really nervous, just whip that visual aid out. It takes peoples attention off *you* and gives you a moment to collect your thoughts.
I actually still really struggle with public speaking. Practice did not make prefect in my case. The worst thing for me is that I never know when its going to strike me retarded. Even after my awsome public speaking class, I have still had "deer in headlights" instances.
I usually know when I may have to speak to a group of people, so I prepare for that by taking a couple of Xanax at least 30 minutes before hand. I still cant speak through a microphone. Few people know what their voice sounds like recorded or to other people. I find the sound of my voice reverbing upsetting and distracting. This is something you might want to work up to.
-If public speaking is crippling, seriously try to take a class at a small local college. It sounds like a horrible idea, but you will find half the people in there hate it too and will be very caring and non-judgmental. The teacher will also be really helpful to make you feel comfortable. One boy in my class actually froze up and became upset. The teacher came and gave him a hug, telling him it was ok, everyone understood. All the students agreed with her and were smiling and a few also gave him a hug. He felt so much better, he actually started over and did great.
But one warning! If you go the Xanax route, it may become a crutch and actually make it *worse* to do a speech if you don't have the medication. I don't reccomend this for people who are just nervous or don't like speaking. This is a serious alternative for people who completely freak out and do infact have a good possibility of making an ass out of themselves. I chose to use Xanax because I have literally blown important job interviews from panic. That actually really impacts my life and I cant just sit around and hope that my phobia goes away with practice.
Sorry that was so long-winded, but it is something that has not been mentioned yet, so I felt compelled.