What’s the thing you’re most scared to do? What would it take to get you to do it?
Glossophobia is a psychological problem. The person faces a morbid fear of public speaking. Written in a style of storytelling, the article discusses it through the protagonist Anil. It is the journey of a timid person with shaky confidence to a confident man. His fear stems from an abusive childhood marked by constant humiliation. During his youth, Anil met his colleague, who showed him the way. His supportive colleague helped him discover the nature of his phobia. Over time, he gains self-confidence. Later, he chooses to express himself through writing, aiming to connect with a broader audience and find his voice.
Table of contents
Key Takeaways
- Glossophobia is a severe fear of public speaking, stemming from Anil’s traumatic childhood experiences.
- Anil, initially timid and unconfident, learns about his phobia from a supportive colleague who educates him on Glossophobia.
- Understanding his problem empowers Anil to confront his fear and gradually build self-confidence over time.
- Instead of becoming an orator, Anil chooses writing as a means to express himself and connect with others.
- Ultimately, Anil transforms from a timid individual into a more confident person, learning that public speaking is manageable with practice.
An ordinary young man
He was a charming and moderate young man. After graduation, he was admitted to a postgraduate course in life sciences. The days were passing happily. Anil, our protagonist, was not an outstanding student but was not a dullard either. He had planned to do something in the field of life sciences, but luck had planned something different for him.
Upbringing
His upbringing was average. Anil belonged to a lower-middle-class family. The family he belonged to was fairly large. The dearth of money had always been a problem. His father, an irascible man, worked as a clerk.
(a) Aloof child
Anil, solitary in nature, usually didn’t mix with people. Always apprehensive, he wanted to be with himself and tried to stay on the brink.
(b) Not a pampered child
Anil was not a pampered child; he was timid and terrified. He was frail, whose personality was overshadowed by his irascible father. His father would thrash him blue and black on frivolous issues or sometimes just for fun. Anil remained frightened and subjugated, always feeling scared of receiving blows. Repeated scoldings and thrashings made him slip into a den of pessimism and negativity.
(c) Early schooling
He had been hesitant since the days of basic school. At times, he would become nervous and start stammering. This happened whenever he faced a situation where he had to speak in front of a few people.
(d) Reminiscences of childhood
He vividly remembers his childhood days. On a particular day of the week, a congregation was organised. Students would take part in a poem recital, free speech, or show any activity they chose. Anil never actively participated in any of the activities, though he never missed the compulsory congregation. His shortcomings and psychological problems were never addressed at any stage, nor was anybody aware of them. They did not consider it a problem. Instead, they viewed it as a serious, deliberate lapse by the boy.
Problem aggravated
Anil grew up with this problem. Even in an insignificant gathering, he would start stammering. He would perspire when his name was called out for a brief speech. Words would get jumbled and thoughts intertwined. He would behave like a fool, and after speaking a few disjointed sentences, would slip away from the gathering.
A young man in job
Later, when he was on the job, he encountered similar situations. He was requested to speak at a farewell party or a similar closed-group gathering. He had to apologise in one such gathering, expressing his inability to speak. During the speech, his demeanour was shaky and timid. Sensing his position, one of his senior colleagues rescued him and took up the mike.
Kind colleague
His colleague was friendly to him. After the party was over, he invited Anil to his table in the office. They went to the office canteen and ordered tea. While sipping tea, the colleague started a light conversation.
(a) Conversation
Moments later, after they started conversing, he asked Anil why he was stammering while speaking. Continuing further, he declared, “You are ailing with Glossophobia”. Anil did not know about the term, nor did anybody talk like this before. He became perplexed.
Glossophobia
Sensing his perplexity, his colleague tenderly smiled and continued his conversation. “Glossophobia is a psychological term. It is used to express morbid fear of public speaking,” his colleague was telling him. They were discussing the problem Anil was facing. Elaborating on the point, his colleague said, “It is the sum of fear of negation. It includes lack of self-confidence, poor practice, and lack of proper knowledge about the topic,” he concluded. (verywell health)
(a) Words reverberated
The point resonated with Anil. His colleague’s words reverberated in his ear. He slipped back in time. Cinematic pictures started emerging. Scene by scene and frame by frame, the pictures rolled before his consciousness.
(b) Glossophobia explained
“Glossophobia is derived from two Greek words,” Anil heard his colleague saying. He became attentive and started listening to his colleague carefully. “The words are “glossa” and “phobos”. While “glossa” means Tongue, “phobos” means fear. Joined together they form the term “Glossophobia”, his colleague concluded.
(c) Friendly touch
Anil startled. He never expected that someone would explain to him in such a friendly way as his colleague was doing. He nodded in affirmation and looked at his colleague, who was affectionately smiling. Anil was assured. He felt a little calmed.
Problem diagnosed
Anil now knew about his problem. During their conversation, his colleague said that about seventy-five per cent of people suffer from this phobia. Anil was not new nor the only one, he had said. Analysing further and delving deep into his past, Anil managed to figure out the symptoms of his phobia in detail. He realised that he had had a problem focusing and also that he was not good at public speaking.
(a) Past recollection
He recollected how he felt when called for a speech at a gathering. His heart was beating violently, and he felt a void in his chest. His hands had started shaking. As he started speaking, his mouth became parched, and he went blank. At that time, he brushed it off. He thought it was a regular thing. Now he realizes that it was not so.
(b) Resolve
He realised his weakness a long time ago. Yet, he was not getting rid of it. This was partly because he did not need to speak in public. Additionally, he felt apathetic towards it. He still realises that the phobia needs to be overcome. Mere realisation was not enough. He had to resolve to vanquish the phobia, and he did.
(c) Realisation and remedy
There are various types of phobias which annoy people. Some are scary to the extent that it becomes very hard to lead a normal life. Anil’s phobia was of a different category. He has a realisation about his timidness and shaky self-confidence. The toxic seeds were sown during his childhood. The seed germinated to become a tree. Cutting the tree will keep growing coppice. Uprooting was the only remedy.
A changed person
Time has made Anil a changed person. He is no longer timid. He is still not capable of speaking out loudly about the things which annoy him. Still, he has regained his lost self-confidence. Anil is now an informed person and an experienced older citizen. His demeanour has changed. The timid and terrified-looking child has matured. He now understands that public speaking is not a daunting task. It can be defeated with preparation and practice.
Writing is equally effective
Eloquent and effective public speech is an art. It needs to be learned and mastered. It comes with persistent practice and honing. Anil has no ambition of becoming a fierce orator. A simple and down-to-earth person, he has learned to express his emotions differently. He uses writing as his tool, practising it and honing it to bring a punch to his writing. He thinks he can fill the void of public speaking by writing.
Epilogue
May the Almighty grant Anil success in his endeavour to reach a larger audience through his writing. Will my esteemed readers join me in blessing my lovely older citizen friend? If this piece resonated with the readers, please disseminate and share your thoughts about glossophobia. Please share your experiences in the comment box below.
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