had a panic attack reading aloud

[Mrsknoitall 1]

Hi (new to this site btw) today in class, I was asked to read a paragraph aloud which is something Ive never had issues with and I even used to publicly speak at competitions as a kid, but today when asked to read I went into full panic mode, while I was reading I lost my breath and got all shaky. It was so bad that I could barely speak. Someone asked me if I was okay and I asked them to read for me and they had to finished. It also happened a couple months back when I had to give an oral report. I am so embarrassed and I'm scared its going to happen again. I've never been scared of school but now I'm afraid that when I have to read or present anything (I have a presentation on Thursday) I'm going to make a fool of myself again. Any advice to help with my issue? and can anyone tell me why this is all of a sudden occurring??

[Ihadcancer 315]

One of our high school students just had to give a presentation that would count as a huge portion toward graduation.  She had a year to write the paper and then had to present it in front of judges.  She chose Social Anxiety and was quite concerned BUT, I think you can find her thread a little ways down the page, she did GREAT.  Maybe she can help you if she happens to see this!

Diane

[Ihadcancer 315]

I bumped her thread.  Her name is brit and it should be right below this post.

[Mrsknoitall 1]

Thank you! It helped some to see someone succefully go through something similar! I just hope I can manage to pull out a success too, my last couple attempts have been pretty embarrassing 

[jonathan123 2269]

Hi There Mrs.  Welcome to AC. .

I do know what you mean because I too have had a similar experience. But I think you are allowing memory to govern your present activity.

It also happened a couple months back when I had to give an oral report. I am so embarrassed and I'm scared its going to happen again.

Yes, exactly! Because something happened once we become apprehensive and fearful because it's in the back of our mind. 'What ifs' can be very anxiety making. There is only one real answer to such a situation DO IT!! Oh yes, I know what I am saying and how difficult it can be, but deep breaths and carry on. If you don't you will have to keep going back until you do succeed. You will never be happy with failure.

Any advice to help with my issue? and can anyone tell me why this is all of a sudden occurring??

Does it matter why? Looking for answers can often send you off on an exhausting wild goose chase. Leave it. Something triggered the feeling but it doesn't matter. The main thing is not to allow memory to fool you and bluff you into a false belief. Practise acceptance of the feelings when you next have to talk in front of people. Working yourself up beforehand creates fertile ground for panic. And if you do panic see it through. Relief from panic always lies on the other side of panic. Panic ALWAYS has a limited life. It must do because there is a limit to what the adrenal glands can excrete. It always passes if we don't add panic to panic. Dr. Weekes calls this adding fear to fear 'second fear' The first flash of fear we may have no control over, but it's the 'second fear' that causes the problems. 'What ifs' and 'Oh my goodness'. Know what I mean? I am sure you do. Every 'what if' adds more fear and thus perpetuates the panic.

The more you do something the more you will be capable of doing it if you persevere. But if you hand it over to someone else you will never win. The easy way out is NOT the best way. The hard way, done willingly and with acceptance, is.

[Mrsknoitall 1]

Good news! It didn't go as bad as I thought it would, wasn't perfect, but I didn't completely lose it like I have before. Thanks so much for the advice it really helped!