An Opinion - Fear of Speaking?
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There are many fears or phobias that people suffer from. You've got claustrophobia, arachnophobia, agoraphobia, coulrophobia, hydrophobia, trypanophobia, tonitrophobia, coprophobia, and hundreds more. Basically, you can take any word and put phobia behind it and you will find someone who claims to suffer from it.
But, the number one fear as rated by most Americans is fear of public speaking. At a recent speech someone asked me how I overcame my fear of speaking or did I still have it?
Fortunately, I do not suffer from this fear. I don't recall ever having a great fear but more of a feeling of 'not knowing' what to expect or how the experience would go.
I overcame this uneasiness by doing one thing - speaking! If you have this fear or are just uneasy, I highly recommend you join Toastmasters. This non- profit group assists thousands of people in facing their fears and learning fundamental speaking skills.
Since the group was founded in Orange county it has some excellent trainers and leaders and a formal process of achievement for those who really want to become adept.
Now, I have to confess I do have one fear. It is called slacksaquaphobia. It is little known but an insidious crippler of those it affects. It is the fear of coming out of a public restroom with a wet spot on the front of your pants.
Now that I think about it, it is probably just as bad on either side of your pants. Nevertheless, I focus on the front since I can see it too. It is kind of like a Tim Burton movie gone bad where the urinal somehow jettisons water forward, like a reverse flush, soaking my pants.
So for all of my fellow sufferers I have formed a new group to help alleviate your fears and tribulations. It is called slacksaquaphobiatesunite and can be found at slacksaquaphobiatesunite@slacksaquaphobiates.flush
and if any of you actually can find this site I have a large cash prize for you as well a t-shirt that says ""I fear slacksaquaphobiates"", the letters wrap around but it was the best I could do handwriting them.
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