The below information is based on my clinical training and experience working with many clients. It is for your information only and does not constitute clinical advice or establish a patient-psychologist relationship.

Public speaking anxiety is often treated as if it is one problem - the fear of speaking in front of large groups of people. Sometimes, it really is that simple. But in my work specialising in social and performance anxiety, I often find that the number in the audience is less relevant, but more the social meaning of what that audience represents.

Understanding what the person believes is actually at stake when they speak can help us understand the problem.

I tend to see in my work three common themes that arise separately and sometimes together:

1. Competence and status threat: what if they think I’m not good enough?

2. Belonging threat: what if this confirms I don’t belong here?

3. Anxiety and loss of control threat: what if my anxiety gets out of control and everyone sees it?

But what is the core fear underneath those questions?

The Underlying Fear

Someone may tell me ‘I’m afraid my voice will shake’. 

So I may ask, what would be so bad about that?

Everyone would realise I am nervous.

And the problem with that is?

They’d lose respect for me as I shouldn’t be nervous at this level of my career.

And if they lost respect for you?

Well I could lose everything I’ve worked for.

Here, the fear is actually the loss of everything, even if on the surface it appears like public speaking anxiety. That doesn’t change that the presenting issue is now public speaking anxiety, but understanding why the situation is a trigger helps direct appropriate treatment.

Another example with the same surface fear…

‘I’m afraid my voice will shake’

What would be so bad about that?

Once I know it’s shaking I’ll feel more anxious

And the issue with that is?

I’ll forget what I’m saying, and freeze on stage

And why would that be an issue?

I’d be socially humiliated.

And the consequence of that would be what?

I’d be socially ostracised.

Here the underlying fear is of an emotional state - that of humiliation and ostracisation.

Dual Beliefs

Many people, outside of the public speaking moment, do not necessarily believe these thoughts to be true. They are experiencing a dual belief system, meaning outside of the moment the fear ‘if this goes wrong I can lose my job’ feels about 10% true, whereas in the moment, it feels 90% true. This can leave people incredibly frustrated, trying to bridge the gap between their logical and emotional minds.

Why This Matters for Treatment

If different forms of public speaking anxiety are organised around different threats, it doesn't make sense to treat every case identically.

Exposure is often an important part of treatment. But what someone needs to learn through exposure depends on what they are afraid of.

If the fear is competence and status, the work may involve dropping behaviours designed to constantly prove competence and discovering what happens when you allow imperfection to be visible. 

If the fear is belonging, the work may focus more on reducing self-monitoring and learning to participate as yourself rather than constantly adapting yourself to earn a place in the room.

If the fear is anxiety itself, the work may involve deliberately relinquishing attempts to control anxiety and discovering that you can continue speaking while anxious, uncertain and visible.

For some people, earlier experiences of humiliation, bullying, exclusion or chronic social threat are also relevant. A current presentation can sometimes activate a much older expectation about what happens when attention turns towards you.

But it does mean that repeatedly practising presentations without understanding why being seen feels dangerous can sometimes miss the point. Exposure without specific understanding often leads to ‘white knuckling’ and no new learning.

Conclusion

Public speaking anxiety isn't always simply a fear of public speaking.

Sometimes it is a fear of losing status.

Sometimes it is a fear of having your sense of belonging questioned.

And sometimes it is a fear of losing control of anxiety while other people are watching.

Often, it is some combination of all three.

Understanding that distinction can make public speaking anxiety feel considerably less mysterious.

Your anxiety isn't occurring in a vacuum. Your brain is responding to what it believes is socially at stake in that particular room.

And so perhaps the most useful question isn't:

Why am I so afraid of public speaking?

It is:

What feels like the risk of being seen negatively by these people/this audience?

This will tell you what the real fear is.