Tips for more relaxed speech

[Student4Life0]

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Hi all,

I have tried for a LONG time to speak slower. In general, I am a fast paced (and admittedly, sometimes slightly anxious) person. I tend to speak faster than most. This is something that both supervisors and professors have pointed out to me. It has been extremely difficult to change, although I am able to control the pace of my speech quite well when I am with clients. It takes a lot of monitoring. Does anyone have any tips on how to speak slower, as well as cut out annoying useless phrases such as "like," "um," and "ya know" from the vocabulary? Has anyone had problems with this?

 

[Xararsis]

Hi all,

I have tried for a LONG time to speak slower. In general, I am a fast paced (and admittedly, sometimes slightly anxious) person. I tend to speak faster than most. This is something that both supervisors and professors have pointed out to me. It has been extremely difficult to change, although I am able to control the pace of my speech quite well when I am with clients. It takes a lot of monitoring. Does anyone have any tips on how to speak slower, as well as cut out annoying useless phrases such as "like," "um," and "ya know" from the vocabulary? Has anyone had problems with this?

PM me with an email address and I'll send you some of my class notes on this from my public speaking class. While it was generally intended for (literally) public speaking, we had some good stuff in there about interviews. Obviously this could be helpful in the coming months.

It sounds like you are aware of it and that's a big plus. Just be mindful and practice practice practice!

 

[Student4Life0]

PM me with an email address and I'll send you some of my class notes on this from my public speaking class. While it was generally intended for (literally) public speaking, we had some good stuff in there about interviews. Obviously this could be helpful in the coming months.

It sounds like you are aware of it and that's a big plus. Just be mindful and practice practice practice!

Thank you!! PM Sent 🙂

 

[Xararsis]

Please chime in if you have any other ideas. I actually just realized these documents won't be too helpful!!

 

[Ollie123]

Read up on the habit reversal literature with regards to "umm" and "ahh" and such, as there may be useful information there, and from the behavior mod literature at large.

If the anxiety is specifically related to speaking, remember that exposure helps🙂 Practice makes perfect. I used to be a nervous wreck presenting in front of even 30 people and would do the same thing, not to mention spend days worrying about it, etc. Now I can teach a class of hundreds and it doesn't phase me in the slightest. Though I will say that conference talks still get me nervous...there's something about giving a presentation on a topic when almost every single person you cite is in the room😉

Best advice besides practice is just learn to catch yourself doing it. You KNOW you do this, so when you get up there, slow yourself down. Remember that you are generally not speaking as slow as you think you are...better to go a little too slow than too fast. Everyone has different strengths going in, so don't feel like alone. If it isn't this issue, other students are working on any number of other things.

 

[Student4Life0]

Read up on the habit reversal literature with regards to "umm" and "ahh" and such, as there may be useful information there, and from the behavior mod literature at large.

If the anxiety is specifically related to speaking, remember that exposure helps🙂 Practice makes perfect. I used to be a nervous wreck presenting in front of even 30 people and would do the same thing, not to mention spend days worrying about it, etc. Now I can teach a class of hundreds and it doesn't phase me in the slightest. Though I will say that conference talks still get me nervous...there's something about giving a presentation on a topic when almost every single person you cite is in the room😉

Best advice besides practice is just learn to catch yourself doing it. You KNOW you do this, so when you get up there, slow yourself down. Remember that you are generally not speaking as slow as you think you are...better to go a little too slow than too fast. Everyone has different strengths going in, so don't feel like alone. If it isn't this issue, other students are working on any number of other things.

Thank you! I am aware of it, and so I have been trying to be more mindful of it. However, it is still very hard to control. I end up becoming agitated with myself when I catch myself saying those little annoying phrases. I suppose practice will make perfect, and I need to just keep at it!

 

[stigmata]

Propanolol helps.

 

[ClinicalTrainee]

Thank you! I am aware of it, and so I have been trying to be more mindful of it. However, it is still very hard to control. I end up becoming agitated with myself when I catch myself saying those little annoying phrases. I suppose practice will make perfect, and I need to just keep at it!

Mindfulness is only half of the game; don't forget about acceptance! Being mindful will make you aware of when you're talking quickly or saying "um" (or whatever else) but if that awareness just irritates you, seems likely you'll stayed amped up. With any kind of habit reversal or re-training, you're bound to make a bunch of slip-ups---it's all part of the process. Accept those slip-ups as learning opportunities and move forward. Or, you know, try. Acceptance isn't about "liking," just willingness to experience whatever comes your way.

Or maybe I've been reading too much ACT-y type stuff lately....

 

[clinicalpsyapp]

Don't be too hard on yourself... this is something that takes a lot of people a long time to get down, including myself. I naturally talk very fast and have a very bubbly persona, but it's almost like I flip a switch when I am interviewing, assessing, or doing clinical work. My voice drops an octave or so and I speak much slower and more deliberately. The key is realizing that you don't need to talk like this all the time, just in these specific situations. One of the best practices as you are learning is to count to 5 before you respond to a question, get your thoughts in order, then speak. You will find that not only are you easier to understand, but your responses will be much more developed and you will sound more eloquent. Also try some deep breathing or mindfulness meditation exercises--I think this helped me immensely. I don't actually do it in interviews or whatever (but sometimes right before one!), but doing it frequently helped me to learn to slow myself down and breathe which I seem to now be able to recall when I'm in stressful situations (e.g. interviewing). Hope this helps... feel free to PM me if you want to talk more!

 

[O Gurl]

Breathing deep from the belly helps me. When I get nervous I tend to take short, shallow, chest breaths. If I stop and intentionally expand my belly with each breath, I can calm down and speak slower and clearer.

 

[Student4Life0]

Thank you for the advice everyone! I have been practicing diaphragmatic breathing, which helps immensely. I am also attempting to be more mindful as I speak, trying to slow myself down. I have a class presentation tonight, so we will see how it goes! I have found that it is the worst when I am nervous, and no surprise, I seem to be nervous when I am speaking to my supervisors. Therefore, I probably sound hypomanic when I speak!