Beta blockers?
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- jox
Possibly the most random, long-shot thread ever.
Anyway, I'm one of those people with stage fright, and often find myself in situations where I need to speak infront of hundreds of people. This is a weakness that is affecting my work enormously and I need to get rid of it. I've spent an unbelievable amount of money trying to get over it with shrinks and personal development coaches, but nothing seems to be working for me. Next month, I am going to present something huge for a LOT of people, and I want to be well prepared psychologically.
A doctor mentioned beta blockers, but I'd rather not stuff myself full of funny pills until I'm sure what they'll do to me. Anybody tried it for the same reasons? Did it work? Any side effects?
- version30
play with a paperclip in your pocket
- doesnotexist0
play with a paperclip in your pocket
version6
(Oct 5 07, 11:04)that's got to be the worst advice ever, haha!
also try saying um a lot.
- version30
(from a movie)
- madirish0
interesting. i have neither:
a. a fear of any sort of speaking in front of large groups of people
or
b. ever heard of beta blockersBUT I WANT TO LEARN!! :)
- jox0
b. ever heard of beta blockers
madirish
(Oct 5 07, 11:09)Then again, you are in Maine....
Hahahhahahh!
- madirish0
damn you sweden....... DAMN YOU
- sureshot0
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxa…
seriously. calms you down homie
I believe beta blockers are for a high blood pressure?
- TheBlueOne0
My dad used to take those for his heart condition...seems like some heavy stuff to overcome stage fright..I'd avoid advice from that doctor...
Have you practiced doing other stuff in social situations? How about karaoke?
- blaw0
take a tab of lsd 60-90 mins. prior to going on.
- sureshot0
and..yoga
- jox0
Thanks sureshot - I love how the possible side effects of these pills are exactly what you're taking them for.
Weakness, dry mouth, anxiety - wtf?!
- Sickman0
side effects for those pills are epic
do a google search and check out all the crazy shit that shows up.
makes talking in front of a large crowd look like a walk in the park
- joyride0
Jox,
I think it has more to do with self-confidence then anything. Fear of saying something incorrectly, or not knowing the subject very very well.
If you're trying to BS a room full of people, you should be worried. But if you have the confidence and knowledge your just talking about stuff you know to a group. That is not scary at all.
- sureshot0
Thanks sureshot - I love how the possible side effects of these pills are exactly what you're taking them for.
Weakness, dry mouth, anxiety - wtf?!
jox
(Oct 5 07, 11:19)I took them too a couple of years ago..no side effects whatsoever.
- jox0
Have you practiced doing other stuff in social situations? How about karaoke?
TheBlueOne
(Oct 5 07, 11:17)Actually, I've done a lot of stuff on stage and I'm not particulary bothered when I've had a few drinks, or even in any kind of social (personal) situation, but when doing it sober and trying to SELL poeple on a product or a service, BOOM - can't sleep for a week and anxious like a motherfucker. I run a business and talk infront of 30+ people daily but someone when it reaches a few hundred people I don't know, I become a mute. I fucking hate myself for it.
- TheBlueOne0
jox man..it's a legitimate fear and I know how hard those things are to overcome..I mean I was deathly afraid of flying for years..I mean I couldn't even get on a plane..panic attacks at the airport and shit...and then finally I just did it..flew..no drugs, no alcohol - did it straight so I could use the experience to strengthen myself and such...I just used my own anger to get over the fear I suppose...
I don't know what to suggest other than the firm belief that you can certainly beat the fear that currently plagues you...you are bigger than the fear and when you get through the other side you can look back and go "Pshaw! Twas nothing!"
- menos0
from what i gather beta blockers can be found in medication for anxiety disorders and similar..
they're supposed to calm you down and prevent fear from 'un-fearful' situations taking over you....
why not try it? just make sure they don't have a high dependancy. Sometimes even if you don't take them, just knowing that you have something to fall back to can provide a lot of relief...
- jox0
Thanks for sharing Blue, I know what it takes to go through with something like that - it's not easy.
The problem in this case is that I do it on a regular basis, at least twice every quarter, without any kind of help in way of pills or "just get over it you sissy"-kind of thougts, but it's not really working and these blockers are sort of a plan B for me.
- TheBlueOne0
I fucking hate myself for it.
jox
(Oct 5 07, 11:23)Don't do that. That'll get you started on an endless emotional rollercoaster.
Look, something about that situtation scares the bejeesus out of you. The immediate problem is getting past it - fuck the emotions that it stirs up and fuck trying to figure out why you feel that way..get through it. Just consentrate on getting through it. If you start getting that inner emotional dialogue that wants to spin around endlessly, stop it. Come up with a quick mantra you can mentally tell yourself to shut down that process - I used to use the "There's no need.." Don't ask me what it means, but if I got on the plane even now and I start getting that panic attack I just go - "There's no need.." and put the fear in a corner you know? You can't not ackowledge whatever fear it is, but you can box it in and let it be where it is and do your thing...
Not sure if that made sense...