If you have Social Anxiety Disorder, you’re not alone. About 11% of Australians experience social anxiety during their lifetime, and 7% approximately experience social anxiety in any 12 months [1].
A person with social phobia can fear or avoid situations, including social gatherings, public speaking, starting or having a conversation, voicing opinions, meeting someone new or dating, among others.
Public speaking is often high on the list of examples of social anxiety. This is unsurprising as standing in front of a group of people and speaking is one of the situations where people feel most vulnerable and exposed. The main worry you may have is that you may look and sound foolish when you are doing just fine on most occasions.
People who need to speak in public regularly usually become accustomed to it and develop a range of skills and behaviours that help them overcome their “nerves.” However, for around 11% of the population, social anxiety or social phobia is debilitating. It restricts your access to employment and education opportunities, all kinds of social contact and, in extreme cases, even normal outings like shopping.