beta-blockers

[samantha23]

I have an extreme fear of speaking in public and I have to do it very soon. I've heard about beta-blockers but was wondering if anyone has tried them and what you think. I heard you could pass out from them because your heart slows down so much. Any suggestions?

[etarepsed]

I used to have EXTREME anxiety when speaking in front of others. One day a friend of mine called me a "lite weight" and it got me to thinking, you know what.. I can do this whats the big deal people do it all the time. I also thought: There are lots of people with this same "issue" so if I screw up most people would understand and for those that don't well GOOD FOR THEM.. The more I did it, the less and less anxiety I experienced. I have learned though that you have to use mind control when dealing with these kinds of life experiences, if you start to get butterflys think about something else.

Something else you might try is kind of like hypnosis. When you go to bed at night start by relaxing your body, start with your feet and work your way up to your head. Tighten each muscle group as you go up (so you can feel it relax). Once you are relaxed. Picture yourself in front of your group giving your speech. Think about the sounds you will hear, the smells you will smell (it will help "put you there"), picture yourself actually giving the speech. If you start to feel butterflys (as if you were there) your doing it right.. Over time you will de-sensitize yourself to this and it will get easier and easier..

And remember, You are not the only one on the planet that feels this way! And I am just a guy trying to help..

[shelzmike]

Beta blockers are a class of drugs that block beta-adrenergic substances such as adrenaline (epinephrine), a key agent in the "sympathetic" portion of the autonomic (involuntary) nervous system and activation of heart muscle. So that being said, we can see why it helps with anxiety - it blocks epinepherine. It is also perscribed for many other things as well, from hypertension to hyperthyroidism (as mentioned above). Many professional stage acts and performers take these to help with "stage-fright", which is what you are talking about.

As far as I know (and I am not a doctor, but have done plenty of research on the matter), it CAN make you faint, but not really because of slower heart beat, but rather because of a lowered blood pressure.

By all means, if you are at all interested or considering this, TALK WITH YOUR DR. about it and have him/her write the prescription - there are several different kinds of beta-blockers and you will want to be sure that you will be okay with them.

Mike

[savygaby]

they are a prescribed medication that could be dangerous to someone they are not prescribed for, I have taken beta blockers for hyperthyroid, I would not take someones prescription you don't know what it could do to you