<p>I think it is a most useful skill to learn for the future.</p>
<p>Let me echo the thoughts of the posters who said "deal with it now".IF it is a true clinical phobia or social anxiety disorder ,and I am not equipped to make that diagnosis, it will not go away with toastmasters or speech classes alone . You cannot bootstrap your way out of truly clinical conditions. There are medications that can help, paxil comes to mind. Many different therapies are out there. We need to differentiate between nervousness and the discomfort type stage fright that makes you avoid situations requiring public speaking and the paralyzing irrational fear that a truly phobic person, or a person suffering from a clinical social anxiety disorder as defined by the DSM would feel. (Again,I am not equipped to make a guess much less a diagnosis)</p>
<p>I have some experience dealing with a specific person that would fall into this category,an agoraphobe whose fears of public contact much less public speaking over time rendered her totally disabled from dealing with job, family ,or friends for a period of years. Medications and therapy worked so well that one day she announced she was opening a retail store where should would meet and greet. It was truly remarkable. Please seek professional help. I have seen it work truly stunning miracles.</p>
<p>im glad i got all of my speech classes out of the way.</p>
<p>mm im another Wow, sounds like me case. 2005 i get the same mind numbing chill that overcomes my ability to think and i start shivering and sounding like im gulping for breath
what i do is practice what i have to say, or think about it so much that i almost know it by heart, have a piece of paper to hold and flutter and just do it
of course im numb, but grades are important in high school
just how well i can do this in college...i donno...god, another thing to worry about...</p>