Glossophobia is basically the fear of public speaking, which is more common than it seems. studies About 75% of the population have panic symptoms when presenting a paper, a project, or a simple speech.

To understand better, a phobia is an exaggerated fear of something or someone, in which the individual believes in another reality. Thus, feelings of anguish and extreme anxiety occur. Phobias are considered pathologies by specialists, because the fear goes far beyond the normal. Therefore, this condition can seriously harm the routine.

Despite having similar symptoms to sociophobia, it is necessary to differentiate it from glossophobia. This is because social phobia is characterized by the fear of being in public and being negatively evaluated by others.

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How to identify glossophobia

The intensity of the symptoms varies according to the severity of each case, however, the most common include:

• Increased heart rate;
• Sweating;
• Tremors;
• High blood pressure;
• Nausea;
• Dry mouth sensation;
• Avoid events that have their focus on individuals in the group;
• Muscle tension in the neck region;
• Voice weak and shaky;
• Feeling of panic;
• Fear of looking "foolish";
• Fear of being judged.

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Causes

Although it does not have an exact cause, it is believed that glossophobia arises as a result of a trauma experienced by the individual, which may have been experienced in childhood or even in adulthood.

Furthermore, according to specialists, some people who suffer from glossophobia usually have low self-esteem and perfectionism. The constant search for approval and the fear of being judged are also common characteristics.

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How to treat glossophobia

As with other phobias, the treatment of glossophobia has different approaches. Generally, psychotherapy is recommended to learn how to cope better with the symptoms, understanding what the emotional triggers are until it is no longer a pathology. Also, with some coping strategies it is possible to reduce the symptoms:

• Recognizing the phobia as a real problem is the first step to finding solutions and overcoming it.
• Conducting mock lectures and presentations for friends and family is crucial so that you begin to feel less uncomfortable speaking in public.