Do beta blockers work 4 public speaking phobia?

Hi all

This is my first time posting on a forum so here goes!

It's very interesting to read all the postings on the topic of public speaking and of course, the first thing I’m thinking is 'that's exactly how I’m feeling!'

I've had huge issues with public speaking and social phobia mixed with depression since my mid-teens (am 29 now) which comes and goes to varying degrees but it's been pretty bad recently. I've been through some hypnotherapy, CBT, meditation techniques, normal counselling and public speaking groups but more recently beta-blockers (Propranolol) and I must say that they have really helped most significantly.

But I went back to see my doctor recently as I was unsure of the correct dosage and the implications of exercising whilst taking them (due to the effects lowering of the heart rate). He decided to take me off them and has now diagnosed Citalopram anti-depressants (which apparently help anxiety sufferers) which i'm very unsure about as have always resisted the temptation of that kind of medication. Would be interested if anyone out there has any experience of this drug (although what’s good for one person isn’t necessarily good for another!)

Like many others I’ve had good and bad days. I’ve had a lot of job interviews recently most of which went really well after the first few mins as it seems to be the initial 5 mins of any meeting, social situation, interview etc which sends me into a huge, heart-pounding panic! I’ve read on this forum that many others seem to go through the same thing and I can only assume that it’s your body and minds reaction to the fact that nothing catastrophic is actually happening so your heart rate starts to lower and you begin to feel calm. For me if I go into a meeting and I’m the first one to speak (or perhaps the last) it goes horribly wrong and that happened in an interview recently where the opening sentence was “right, tell us all about yourself”. I had to stop after about 30 seconds of talking and admit I was very nervous and they were fine about it. That prompted me to start thinking about the possibilities of being far more open an honest about my anxieties rather than continuously hiding them away and putting on the ‘brave face’.

If I tell people about my issues they are genuinely surprised and shocked as I always strive to come across as confidant even when I’m not and I’m beginning to think that perhaps the only way to start beating this thing is to be honest about my issues! I’d be very keen to know if anyone else had tried this method though.

I have been in despair in relation to my career recently as I work as a finance manager in the arts and charity sectors and I need to be able to hold meetings, presentations etc but avoid them like the plague to the extent that I will choose a job based on its presumed level of public speaking. I really want to pursue a career as a producer for festivals and film and made a great start at it last year but I jacked it in because of the public speaking/social elements of the job which has been devastating. So basically I feel like my life is being forced in a certain direction due to my anxiety and public speaking fears because I just couldn’t cope to be in a job where I have to deal with public speaking every day.

So this has recently prompted me to get more involved with other people who are going through it in the hope that this will be another step closer to a more happier life! Reading some of the posts on this forum have helped already to make me realise it's not just me and there are so many others out there in exactly the same boat.

Lisa

Propranolol works absolutely amazing for public speaking.

I asked my doctor to give me something for some presentations as I had severe fear of speaking in front of large groups. I had to do some presentations last year and the propranolol worked better than imagined.( i had doubts about it)

That nervous feeling you get before speaking publicly lasts for about half a second and you feel it going away, its the best feeling on earth to have no fear.

After a while I gradually phased it out and was naturally able to do presentations without it.
It really did help to improve my quality of life and actually graduate college

(drop me an IM if you want to talk about it and get into details in a more private manner)


Good luck

I have had issues with public speaking for a good 20 years. The symptoms I have are classic such as very fast pounding heart rate when my turn comes as well as weak and shaky voice.

During this time, I did Toastmasters for a couple of years, a bunch of other communciation courses, CBT and NLP to name a few. None of these helped in the long run. Thought are everything but not always easy to change.

In any event, I discovered beta blockers by accident in the last 3 years to treat a hyper active thyroid. I take beta blockers now on an as needed basis (usally 4-5 times per month) and they work wonders! There you are exepcting your heart to start pounding out of your chest and just like that, nothing! The confidence brought on by the beta blockers is amazing and you can literally carry on with very little anxiety.

I only tried Propranolol once but it didn't work so great for me as I started to sweat profusely after abouth 15 minutes. What has worked better for me is atenolol about 1 hour before the event. I have experienced with qty's and I usually only need to pop about 1/4 of a 25mg pill. If its a very stressfull situation, I will pop 1/2 pill and that has always been sufficient. The effect lasts all day.

There are however a couple of side effects for me. The most significant ones are fatigue, light headness, short term memory loss and sweating if the consumption is high (this is not a very well known fact but I have validated with a couple of people who take beta blockersl). This being said, the advantages of taking atenolol far outweight the disadvantes and this has been the best thing since slice bread for me and has helped me tremendously in my career.

Share your thoughts and give it a shot you won't regret it!

Hi Guys,

going back to the main question, in my opinion beta blockers would help. Let me explain.

When you go up and do a presentation or speech, adrenaline rushes through your body and you get that excited, but nervous feeling. Adrenaline, although a hormone used to excite certain the certain body organs, does have negative effects. Its effect puts extra strain on the heart. Adrenaline has a common feature that increases heart rate. If you suffer from a fear of public speaking or nervousnees, you are more prone to its negative effects. We dont want that!

Beta blockers thus have a job in controlling these effects. The blockers inhibit adrenaline receptors so that adrenaline cant cause the effects. Simple. (well kinda)
There are loads of beta blockers available on the net, for e.g. propanolol.

Invisible Man - You describe me down to a T! I experience exactly the same. In some ways waiting to introduce myself in a group situation is worse as i cant just get up there and get on with the presentation! My heart pounds so hard and i fear i am not going to be able to speak properly!

The first time this happened to me was way back in year 9, and i have feared this ever since. I completly avoided presentations or public speaking, but there came a point when i realised i would have to confront this if i ever wanted to sucees in my career!

I think the worse points for me are the waiting, and anticipating when i will be speaking - this just exaggerates my symptoms.

I have done a few presentations were i managed to overcome the heart pounding/voice shakyness - i can count these on my hand though. All of which i new the presentation of parrat fashion, and had everything i wanted to say on my slides as i new i would forget something in the mass of anxiety i experience.

Eventually i went to see my doctor as i had an interview presentation i knew i wasnt going to be able to prepare for - my worst nightmare!! He prescribed me a very low dose of propanalol - 10mg, if i do a presentation/have to speak in a meeting i take one in the morning and 1 a few hours before i have to speak. First time i used them, i couldnt believe it!! Felt amazing to be able to speak without my voice being inhibited!!

I am having CBT currently and want to join a TM near me as i dont want my confidence to rely completly on these pills.

My Job is high pressure in terms of there are a lot of people watching my development and directors etc pay special attention to me - another anxiety provoking situation. I have begun to feel concious of when i have taken a betablocker and therefore if a director comes to speak to me and i know i havent taken one i panic!

I have the same reaction to public speaking - which i know is CRAZY! I am generally a confident person, which i feel makes it worse as people expect me to be confident all the time! I struggle to speak at first and go bright red (literally beetroot - and it takes me ages to return to my normal colour).

As people have said in this post i think it is the pressure of having to perform well at work, and knowing that people are judging me and watching my development..

I am just hoping the longer i am in my role - the more comfortable i will get. The more experience i can gain to prove myself that these reactions do not happen - the more i will be able to control them.

Is so refreshing to read this post and realise there are more people out there like me! Friends always tell me they feel the same, but then i watch them get up there and give a presentation and they are fine!

'Whatelsecanido' - I cant PM you, but would be really interested to know how you managed to phase betablockers out. I feel at the moment that i will never be able to give a presentation without them !

whatelsecanido wrote:Propranolol works absolutely amazing for public speaking.

I asked my doctor to give me something for some presentations as I had severe fear of speaking in front of large groups. I had to do some presentations last year and the propranolol worked better than imagined.( i had doubts about it)

That nervous feeling you get before speaking publicly lasts for about half a second and you feel it going away, its the best feeling on earth to have no fear.

After a while I gradually phased it out and was naturally able to do presentations without it.
It really did help to improve my quality of life and actually graduate college

(drop me an IM if you want to talk about it and get into details in a more private manner)


Good luck

Sorry for the late reply, and you should be able to PM me.

You can slowly reduce the dose to half a tablet or quarter tablet over time, as your confidence grows you should be able to present without it. Without it the fear may still be present but it wont be as bad and once you start speaking you can feel confident.

I cant speak for others but it has worked for me.

Good luck.

ditto to everyone who vouched for the effectiveness of the beta blockers. I still panic before a presentation a bit but the pills really do seem to stop the adrenaline kicking in, thus providing confidence that everything will be alright! All the best to everyone who suffers from this awful thing

Hi All,

I found this thread when searching online for tips and advice for public speaking. I like a lot of the people on this thread have the exact same problems, sometimes when i am reading the posts it sounds like me talking!

I managed to dodge as many presentations/public speaking opportunities but this one i cannot ignore - i am best man for my brothers wedding.

Nightmare.

So I keep hearing about this Propranolol and it sounds like my ticket to success. Only problem is I have no idea where to get it. I am from Ireland so not sure if I can get my hands on it like you guys! My friends mother had a heart condition and she uses Emcor also known as Bisoprolol. Do any of you guys know if this will be as good as Propranolol? Especially for public speaking?

To get a prescription for Propranolol is it as straightforward as seeing your local doctor, explaining that you have anxiety problems and that you need the drug?

Reading these stories have inspired me and I would love if you could come back to me and help me out, the wedding is in three weeks!!

Thanks in advance,

Cowen