I have self diagnosed speech anxiety...am I right?

[YoungProdigy]

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I have trouble just talking to someone without jumbling up my words. Compound this with my deep voice, and tendency to mumble/talk fast, and I end up looking like a buffoon whenever I do speak. Even if I'm talking to somebody I've met maybe once or twice at school, my heart will start racing, and I'll have to think super hard, and sort of form each word in my head before I say anything.

Recently, I've decided that I should get some shadowing done, but since I don't know any doctors, I'm thinking about just cold calling / visiting offices to see if anybody would be willing to let me. However, just the idea of calling somewhat of an authoritative figure has me nervous, and I've been pushing off the call for about a week now.

What's wrong with me, and how can I fix this? TIA

 

[LizzyM]

Take an improv class.... seriously, for more reasons than just shadowing, you need to think, and speak, on your feet and that can help.

 

[0919mmk]

I have trouble just talking to someone without jumbling up my words. Compound this with my deep voice, and tendency to mumble/talk fast, and I end up looking like a buffoon whenever I do speak. Even if I'm talking to somebody I've met maybe once or twice at school, my heart will start racing, and I'll have to think super hard, and sort of form each word in my head before I say anything.

Recently, I've decided that I should get some shadowing done, but since I don't know any doctors, I'm thinking about just cold calling / visiting offices to see if anybody would be willing to let me. However, just the idea of calling somewhat of an authoritative figure has me nervous, and I've been pushing off the call for about a week now.

What's wrong with me, and how can I fix this? TIA

Yeah, this could legit be a diagnosis of "social phobia" (I think thats the new DSMV name for it right?). But this is a super-common problem, and the best way to handle it is probably just to work on it in baby steps - practice talking to your friends and family slowly and with intention, then maybe to one person that you don't know, then a small group, then a larger group, etc. Asking doctors to shadow is a naturally anxiety-inducing task, but just remember that they are not gods, they're just like you, and if someone came up to you and asked to shadow you, wouldn't you be kind of honored?

 

[Doctor_Nope]

I feel you. I've been in the same boat (as have many, many other people). Fortunately, it is something that can be remedied over time.

+1 on what everyone has recommended above. The key is repeated exposure and practice. For someone just beginning to get over social phobias, structured classes such as improv or speech classes are probably best.

One other thing that I found very helpful in building self-confidence for one-on-one conversations is to learn about body language. As introverts, we tend to internalize. And in a conversation, especially when nervous, we tend to get lost in a jumble of self-doubt. Forcing yourself to watch other peoples' body language gives you an external point of fixation so that you aren't so lost in the sauce when speaking with others. It also gives you real data points about how a person is reacting to you so that you don't lose confidence through self-defeat. As someone who's had trouble speaking to the opposite sex, it was ground pretty ground-breaking when I realized that the person I was talking to was just as nervous as I was.

Unfortunately, this all will take time and practice, which may not help you for your immediate goal of asking doctors to shadow. For this, I would recommend writing a script outlining everything you want to say. And then practicing it over and over again until it doesn't sound like you're reading from a script. If you can find someone to practice with, even better. Once you have the words ingrained in your head from rehearsal, it will be much easier to push them out while nervous.

Bottom line, in my opinion there is nothing really "wrong" with you (at least any more "wrong" than I was). We all have personality types that range across the board. We just weren't dealt the "comfortable speaking with other people" hand at the beginning. But it's something that CAN be improved, as long as you're willing to push your comfort zone once in a while.

Good luck!

 

[Goro]

If not that, consider an acting class, speech, or debate.

Take an improv class.... seriously, for more reasons than just shadowing, you need to think, and speak, on your feet and that can help.

 

[Winged Scapula]

SDN is not for medical advice. Please see your physician for assistance.