Fear of reading aloud

[giggles!]

In my second year at high school, i have suddenly developed this fear of reading aloud in class. Whenever I get asked to do it, i start stuttering and my voice shakes. I used to love reading aloud and i can't imagine what's gone wrong. I am really confident otherwise. Now i'm getting really depressed. Please, Please help!!

[mercury]

I had the same thing at school, only i started yawning!!! Speak to your teacher about it if you feel comfortable enough. he/she might lay off you for a bit until u get settled back into school again

[RevShirls]

I think it may be that you are around the age when you can feel self-conscious. I am a minister and very confident about speaking. Like you, I loved reading aloud when I was young, at school, in a theatre group etc. When I reached the age of 13 or 14 I became more self-conscious for a while and I rushed my way through anything I had to say/speak aloud. I got some advice at the time. I was told that I was becoming self-conscious when I focused on myself (worried about what people thought, worried about speaking in front of someone I fancied in class etc) The way to get over that is to psychologically focus on the people you are speaking in front of. More advice I can offer you is to take your time before you start to speak when you're speaking in front of people. Try to relax and look around at people and then speak slowly when you read. Think about what you are reading and what it means and think about how you can best express this to everyone in the class. Try not to think of everyone as a group but rather as individuals (many of them will be nervous too). I know it's eadier said than done - but try to relax and enjoy it.

[londondave]

It could be that you are a good reader and a fast reader, meaning that your brain is reading much faster than what you are actually speaking. Try at home with friends to read aloud, but read slower andkeep your eye on the words that you are reading and not ahead of yourself.

[buchanan]

You used to be able to do it so you still can! The only thing I would add to the excellent advice above is try to picture it going smoothly as well before hand to calm your nerves.

[Slsanchez7]

I am the EXACT same way, word for word. I used to love reading aloud but at some point during my soph yr of high school I became extremely nervous and scared. Some things that have worked for me:
1. Turning that fear into excitement. The same part of your brain that controls nervousness controls excitement. Try getting excited and smile before you read. You used to love it before, so try reconnecting with that feeling.
2. Get mad at yourself. Once, I got so fed up with being nervous I got angry with myself and told myself that my fear was utterably silly and to STOP. I told myself that I had complete control of my voice and that it would not be shaky and nervous. It was as if I willed myself not to get nervous. I ended up being very comfortable up there and delivering it very well.
I know this advice can be easier said than done but it has worked for me before. Good luck!

[Rjespe01]

I am going through this problem right now was we speak. I can not read fro a book in front of class. I get so nervous and can't breath of talk when I am calle on. This advice seemed very well said and tomorrow in my chemistry cald I will try it. I thought I was the only one who had this problem and it is building my confidence up knowing that I'm not the only one in this world with this problem. Thanks to everybody who is helping people and building there self esteem much appreciated!