Fear of Public Speaking

Monday, August 3rd.

Kelly looked around the room unsure of what answer to give. Her palms were growing sweaty and her stomach was doing cartwheels. She cleared her throat and **** herself to answer. "I become deathly afraid anytime I know I am going to receive any attention at all. I'm failing my public speaking class because I couldn't sleep for days before the class time I knew I was scheduled to speak. On that day I got up to the podium and fainted" Kelly sighed nervously. "I have skipped the class ever since. I just cannot begin to cope with the idea of getting up there and doing it". Kelly quickly closed her eyes and **** herself to breathe slowly and deeply. "Even thinking about it is almost giving me an attack" she glumly informed the therapist.

"I see" Dr. Valentine replied. "Take a moment to calm down and we'll get to the root of the issue" she stated with a professional smile. After giving Kelly a few minutes to calm down, the doctor asked "Has this been a lifelong problem or just one that began when you went to college?". Kelly replied "College I think. I don't remember having this kind of trouble in high school. I mean I was always nervous but it wasn't paralyzing like it is now".

"Ok. Where did you go to high school, Kelly?" the therapist looked down at her tablet and took notes of some sort. "St. Margret's Finishing School" she offered as an answer rather quickly. "That's an all girl's school isn't it?" the therapist mused aloud. "Why yes, it is," Kelly said excitedly, "We didn't even have male teachers!"

"You have always had trouble around men haven't you, Kelly? I mean we are speaking pretty easily here." The therapist said as she peered up from the tablet, looking Kelly straight in the eyes. "Well, I... I haven't dated since high school if that is what you mean." Kelly said, playing with the ends of her long hair. "I never got this bad though, just a knot in my stomach when a guy would pay me any attention".

"That is very interesting, Kelly. Would you say it is older men, younger ones, or just any males that do this to you?" the doctor asked in a casual sounding tone. "Ummm. . . I couldn't say for sure, to be honest ma'am. They all make me pretty nervous but if I had to pick, it would probably be the older men. I get a lot more skittish around my male teachers than my peers. My fellow classmates don't tend to pay me any mind anyway. The instructor always asks me questions which makes me feel like a spotlight is on me and all of a sudden everyone is hanging on my words. It always makes me lightheaded at the very least". All those words tumbled quickly from Kelly's mouth. She almost seemed relieved to get them out. Dr. Valentine smiled slyly and wrote a few more notes before continuing.