Searching for root causes of public speaking phobia is expensive, time consuming and seldom a cure, but worth exploring since it may be useful in directing the course of therapy.
Anxiety is part of life and, although never pleasant, serves a useful purpose. Not long ago, tonsils and the appendix were thought to be useless appendages. Studies have since revealed they play a role in the immune system. The rationale for male circumcision is cleanliness; yet studies now suggest retaining the foreskin is no less hygienic, and offers protection while maintaining sensitivity. It should be no surprise that all parts of the body, as well as emotions, serve a function.
There doesn’t seem to be anything beneficial about depression. It robs one of appetite, sleep, energy, and in severe cases, the will to live. Yet, depression, a cumulative reaction to stress, brings the system to a halt and is a stern warning change is needed.
Anxiety is useful in a more direct way. The fight or flight mechanism gears us up to defend against less threatening foes, or flee from more imposing ones. Surging adrenaline increases the pain threshold and renders the body stronger and more alert, thus enhancing survival.
Complications arise when the mind reinforces the survival mechanism by making associations. Ring a bell whenever you feed a dog and, eventually, it will salivate at the mere sound, whether a meal follows or not. Administer an electric shock to someone each time they see a butterfly and a similar association takes hold. Likewise, severely reprimanding a child for reading poorly could trigger a life long aversion to performance.
It makes sense to be afraid of lions because they can eat you. Phobia, on the other hand, is an irrational reaction to innocuous stimuli resulting in avoidance behavior. Hence, experiencing panic in the presence of butterflies, which pose no threat to humans, is a phobic reaction.
Perfectionism also complicates the equation by creating unattainable goals which heighten frustration. “Should” is a powerful word which raises expectations, adding pressure to an already volatile mix. Concentrating on the process, rather than how you “should” feel, eases that pressure.
Social and public speaking anxiety are further aggravated by the sufferer’s conviction that their fear is baseless. Unable to identify tangible danger, they are shamed by their reaction, feeling they “should” not be anxious. Certainly, the majority of the time, there is no apparent physical danger, yet, on closer inspection, we find exposure to public scrutiny does involve risk.
Playing competitive sports, I found there was a direct correlation between my anxiety and the aggression I was subject to. Just as animals are more likely to attack sensing fear in a rival, so an athletic opponent is emboldened by a submissive display. All things being equal, this is often the difference between winning and losing. Losing composure or “choking” as it is referred to in athletic jargon, results in a loss of status within the peer circle. Confidence and self-esteem diminish and performance may further erode, creating a downward spiral.
In tribal societies, where survival depends on cooperation, the risks associated with loss of status include smaller food rations and decreased ability to attract a suitable mate. Taken to the extreme, total banishment from the tribe can result in death.
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Humans are social animals programmed to cooperate, and anything that threatens that dynamic carries great risk. In a very real sense, healthy relationships are essential to your physical and mental well being. Acceptance and respect are powerful motivators in any social interaction. On a date, in an employment interview and at work, success largely depends on the ability to project a confident and competent demeanor. Anything that jeopardizes that is rightly perceived as dangerous. This realization may be unsettling, however, in the long run, a balanced assessment of the problem leads to clearer understanding, and diminished shame and anxiety.
There is also a rational basis for the stress reaction in encounters with higher status individuals. Animals rarely challenge more powerful rivals in the wild, since the odds of surviving the encounter are low. Fear prevents the animal from making a foolhardy decision and, in effect, enhances survival.
Similarly, this anxiety reaction in humans is a bulwark of societal structure. It prevents reckless behavior and spares us the harm we might incur by challenging more potent individuals. Without it, underlings would constantly challenge superiors and chaos would ensue.
You may be wondering why, given the inherent risks, everyone does not suffer from performance anxiety. The easy answer is…everyone is different, with three main variables contributing to those differences. They are:
1. Genetic Makeup
2. Environment
3. Personality
Genetic Makeup
Genes are blueprints that determine appearance, intelligence and emotional sensitivity. Stress tolerance, which varies greatly from one individual to the next, is largely predetermined, with family history as one of the strongest predictors of anxiety related illness.
The stress reaction is a complex process involving a coordinated mind/body response, and the slightest chemical imbalance drastically affects it. Babies born with reduced levels of dopamine, a neurotransmitter, exhibit abnormally cautious behavior and are, in effect, predisposed to shyness.
Environment
We are all shaped by our environment and sum of experiences. A child raised in a loving home is more likely to be well adjusted than one who is not. Confidence is also affected by success, and the child encouraged to learn and master skills is more likely to be confident than one from an overly protective environment. Incidentally, a child taught to view the world as inherently dangerous is more prone to suffer from phobias.
Unfortunately, solid upbringing and good genes are no guarantee of phobia free life. An otherwise healthy person subjected to chronic stress is also susceptible to developing outsized fear.
Personality
Personality is a set of behavior patterns used to function in the world, formed by the interplay between experience and genetic makeup.
Perfectionism is a trait common to the phobic personality. It is a self-esteem issue which equates perfection with acceptance. Mistakes are a part of the learning process and an inability to tolerate them is stifling. When imperfection is perceived as catastrophic, it results in elevated anxiety and avoidance of situations where one is not likely to be brilliant. Given that perfection is rare, the perfectionist sets himself up for constant failure.
Other Causes
Genetics and environment help shape our personality, and determine our ability to handle life’s challenges; but, there are other factors that directly affect the intensity of the anxiety.
Your perception of the threat, to a large extent, determines how much anxiety you will feel. Simply, stated, your level of anxiety is directly correlated to the danger you perceive. One who views a bad speech as catastrophic will experience far more anxiety than one who does not.
Social anxiety is also strongly affected by the intensity of the desire for the outcome, and the ability one feels they have to influence it.
For example, if you’re goal in life is to be a basketball superstar (desired outcome) and you are inexperienced (ability to influence outcome), you would likely be extremely anxious entering an important game. You might also feel quite nervous approaching someone you are smitten with if you consider yourself unattractive and clumsy with the opposite sex.
In either case, increasing skill level or decreasing desire for the outcome reduces anxiety. In the latter example, anxiety is diminished by either improving interpersonal skills or reduced desire for the love interest.
This approach is also useful in the employment market. You can view an interview for your dream career as a do or die; or an opportunity to practice interviewing skills. By focusing on the process rather than the outcome, you reduce anxiety and are more likely to make a good impression. Frequent practice also perfects skills, which increases confidence.
While insight into what causes anxiety is useful; it will not solve the problem. You still need to take action. Conventional therapy is often ineffective because it focuses on causes without offering remedies. Knowing your phobia results from an abusive childhood, although helpful, is not a cure. Conversely, facing your fear in manageable increments as part of an intelligent, systematic approach targets the problem directly.
Conventional therapy may be useful as a means of gaining insight and venting feelings; however, it is strongly advised you augment any counseling with an aggressive in-vivo[1]approach. Uncovering the source is not a substitute for aggressively attacking your fear. Given that inevitability, you might as well start the process early.
[1] The in-vivo approach refers to actually entering the feared situation.
Article from articlesbase.com
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