Communication Apprehension

What is Communication Apprehension? Almost everyone can remember a time where they had to prepare to speak in public, and the nerves kick in. Often times even after preparing for the speaking engagement, one can relate to the common symptoms: sweaty palms, dry mouth, shaky voice, racing heartbeat. Communication apprehension, according to communicationapprehension.com, "[is] oth erwise known as the fear of speaking in front of a public." Although it is a very common fear, with a range of symptoms there are ways of coping with the fear. The symptoms of communication anxiety are easily identifiable to most. Some are only noticeable to the one experiencing them. They include mental, emotional, and physical symptoms (Symptoms: Friends of Fear, changethatsrightnow.com). The mental and emotional symptoms are those that only the individual feels and knows about such as “obsessive thoughts, fear of losing control, anticipatory anxiety, and desire to flee.” It is once these thoughts and feelings are transformed into physical symptoms that the audience begins to take notice because they are easily visible or they cause an obvious discomfort to the individual. Some physical symptoms that are difficult to hide from the audience are “shaking or dizziness, sweating, palpitations, nausea, feeling of choking, and numbness.” Therefore, through these symptoms is how most can identify communication apprehension, but now its definition must be discussed. The most basic of starting points is describing communication apprehension. As stated before, communication apprehension (also known as glossophobhia) is a basic fear of public speaking. "To talk is one thing, but to speak and be able to make people listen is one thing that is not true for everyone," according to Communicationapprehension.com. The physical function is the ability to talk; once people start to talk a step further than that to communicate is when the difficulties arise. For some, there may be underlying reasons for the

References: Communication apprehension: symptoms & diagnosis. Retrieved from http://www.changethatsrightnow.com/communication-apprehension/symptoms/ Communication apprehension. (2012). Communication apprehension. Retrieved from http://communicationapprehension.com/ Mosel, S. (2010, July 27). Steps to relieve communication anxiety. LIVESTRONG.COM. Retrieved from http://www.livestrong.com/article/186345-steps-to-relieve-communication-anxiety/ Papa, N. (2010, May 12). What are the causes of communication anxiety? EHow. Retrieved from http://www.ehow.com/list_6510102_causes-communication-anxiety_.html Taylor, H. (1987). Communication apprehension: the quiet student in your classroom. ERIC Digest. Communication apprehension: the quiet student in your Classroom. ERIC Digest. Retrieved from http://www.ericdigests.org/pre-926/quiet.htm