Is it normal to be deathly afraid of presentations and critique groups?

91% Normal
2 Comments

For as long as I can remember I've been a shy, cowardly person. At home, I am extremely comfortable and outspoken. Yet in public, I'm extremely quiet and passive. I avoid conversation as much as I can, because my attempts always end up awkward and strange. I mostly hang out at home, watching movies or drawing because those activities don't require communication skills.

I obviously know I should just be calm and like myself, but for some reason, it's so much easier said than done. Amongst my list of many fears, my fear of being seen in a negative way is a huge one. Low self-esteem? Extreme self-awareness? Whatever it is, my social anxiety now affects my grades at school.

You see, I now also go to a design school where class presentations and critique sessions take up a huge portion of the class curriculums. Before classes start, I try to prepare myself and tell myself not to worry. Then when it's time to actually present, I lose my train of thought and screw up again.

When I am in front of everyone, a lot of things come to my mind:

I think about how my teachers are extremely observant and critical.
I think about how more than half of the school already knows I have severe stage fright and are wondering how I'll perform this time.
I think about my inability to hold decent conversation.
I think about how I have to prove myself to young and old designer enthusiasts when I'm not even that passionate about the subject.
I think about how I'd probably mess up even if it wasn't about design.
I think about how my opinions aren't really that important, like I'm just a spoiled kid who was able to go to art school with her parents' help. (to this day, I've never had a job.)

I have so much trouble explaining or expressing myself, which is inconvenient because art school is ALL ABOUT expressing oneself. This year I am a junior. I thought at least by now I'd get the hang of things but I haven't. I really hold myself back as a human each time I forget what words I want to say. People might not take me or my work seriously.

Everyone else in my school seems so confident and articulate. It looks so easy, but it's not.

So is it normal to still have extreme stage fright for my age? I am 20.

Voting Results
91% Normal
Based on 34 votes (31 yes)
Help us keep this site organized and clean. Thanks!
[ Report Post ]
Comments ( 2 )
  • [Old Memory]
    11 years ago

    "When I stand up I think of how critical...observant...etc"

    Fear is your enemy. It works much in the way snake venom does. The more you fear it, the faster your heart pumps, helping the venom permeate your nervous system; by fearing for your safety, you oppose the ends of it.

    Throw out the fear. Don't allow your mind wander where it shouldn't go. Anyone who's defeated mentally can never stand physically.

    But yes it's normal. Almost everyone in my school was exactly like this.

    Comment Hidden ( show )
    1
    1
  • Terence_the_viking
    11 years ago

    i jizz on presentations and critique groups

    Comment Hidden ( show )
    0
    0