[Jan]

I have the same problem, but I don’t have the fainting part. While others who don’t have it think you can overcome it with tricks, they never worked for me. I couldn’t read anything to a group, even just 2 or 3 people. Once I panicked reading a letter to my boss on the phone. I avoided the public reading situation for years, making whatever excuse I could to get out of it. I don’t really need glasses, but I was prepared to use them as an excuse if need be. I did 2 things to overcome the problem. I became part of a volunteer group that engages in public speaking on a regular basis. I worked my way to the point where I speak in front of hundreds (and have many times) when I know my subject, perfectly. Note that I’m not reading, just speaking using an outline or Powerpoint presentation. That didn’t solve the reading panic part. Next, my doctor gave me some pills to calm me down when and if I couldn’t get out of having to read something in public. The day came where I had to read a page, verbatim, to a group of about 300. I felt the panic. Bad. I’m happy to say that as soon as I began reading, the panic ceased. (I actually wished it would go on longer.) I now feel that I could do it without the pill, but I keep them in my briefcase, just in case. Ask your doctor about this. And good luck.

User Detail :  

Name : Jan, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Christian, Age : 55, City : Philadelphia, State : PA, Country : United States, Occupation : CPA, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, 

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