public speaking fear
Dreading the podium
Public speaking fear is anxiety triggered by speaking before an audience, ranging from mild nervousness to paralyzing dread.
It's among the most common phobias, sometimes called glossophobia in clinical contexts.
Symptoms include racing heart, sweaty palms, and blank mind: Her public speaking fear made presentations torture.
The fear often exceeds any actual danger, yet feels overwhelming in the moment.
- stage frightFear of performing publicly
- glossophobiaFear of orating
- fear of crowdsDistress around large groups
- anxietyPersistent apprehensive distress
- sweaty palmsMoist hands from nerves
cold sweat · trembling · butterflies · fight or flight · podium · microphone · audience · spotlight · blank mind · stammering · nervous · panic · dread · vulnerability · exposure · judgment · freezing · heart pounding
- phobiasphobia, claustrophobia, agoraphobia, bibliophobia, acrophobia
- Anxietyanxiety, nervousness, panic, worry, generalized anxiety
- performance anxietystage fright, choking, freezing up, jitters, nerves
- school stresstest anxiety, homework stress, final exams, finals week, academic probation
- teen anxietysocial anxiety, test anxiety, school anxiety, peer pressure, self-doubt
- social fearssocial anxiety, social phobia, fear of judgment, fear of rejection, fear of embarrassment
public speaking fearextroversion
Outward-focused temperament
boldness · ham · showmanship · eloquence · self-assurance
public speaking fearoutspokenness
Bold, direct expression
holding forth · speaking up · volubility · loquaciousness · preachiness
public, publicly, publics, publication, publish, publisher, publishing, republic, republican