Terrified of public speaking

[Gangle]

Not really about going back to work but have been told today I have to do a presentation to senior management next week (about 50 people) and I am absolutely terrified. I've had to do presentations before and have always managed to get through but this is the first time since back from mat leave and just not sure I can go through it again. I do all the usual things to reduce fear (training, breathing and have had hypnosis and cognitive behavioural therapy in the past but nothing works). Does anyone have any tips or able to tell my how to find a way through?

rescue remedy helps me keep calm in certain situations (dentists, needles)
I have no idea if it works, but it either works for me or it tricks me into believing it works!

Good luck with the presentation.

I am the same and actually used to split a valium tablet with a friend when we had presentaions at university!! Not suggesting you try that. Anyway the last presentation I gave I had no valium so my Dad suggested rescue remedy, sipped in water for half an hour before. It really woked, I felt much calmer.

Imagine they are all in the nude.

No really, it works!

Good luck.

This is a bit philosophical/airy-fairy, but it works for me. Senior management will have seen a million presentations on similar topics, and most are no longer impressed by snazzy powerpoints or whatever.

The best thing that you can do is to focus on what you are genuinely passionate about, and just be yourself. You will no doubt have changed so much since they last saw you present anything (in terms of having your baby, adjusting, growing, maturing, developing new perspective) that you can believe that you have something unique and important to tell them.

What will it be about?

oh god, I hate to admit it but I have got through things in the past by taking 1/2 a xanax, works a treat but still breastfeeding DS once or twice a day so not an option. Being really tired also helps! Tried the thinking of people naked thing and doesn't help. Powerpoint does seem to help as I always think that if my mind goes blank then I can always just read of the PP. To be honest, not sure anyone at work cares/remembers I had a baby last year so not expecting that to be taken into account or that they see me any differently to before.

I ended up at the front of a conference recently speaking into a microphone, I wasn't expecting it so it was like the kind of thing I have nightmares about. Anyway it was not as bad as I would have expected had I known, and I think it was partly because I was really tired and had a really bad cold, so felt kind of shut off from everyone else! Oh dear don't think my suggestions are very sensible, get a cold or drugs honestly try rescue remedy though, agree with what kid said, I don't know whether its the fact that I think it will work but it doesn't matter!Good luck with it.

Thin, I get you completely. Having a cold/being tired def helps as you feel slightly removed from it all whereas my problem is that I become too self conscious. Almost better to not think about it too much as I get myself all worked up.