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speaking in public

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Being in the public eye can be a pressure-filled environment, leaving many famous people struggling to handle the stresses and strains.

Creative types, top athletes and many other people cannot handle being in the spotlight, often leading to them suffering with worry, anxiety and depression.

However, by working with professionals to understand these conditions, many celebrities have learned to manage the symptoms and thrive in their respective careers.

Read on as we look at some of the world’s most famous people have managed to conquer anxiety and worry.

Demi Lovato at Elvis Duran Show

Exercise the key for Lovato

Singer Demi Lovato has regularly spoken about her struggles with mental health and says she uses a variety of methods to deal with her anxiety issues.

The founder of the ‘Be Vocal: Speak Up For Mental Health’ initiative, Lovato has regularly opened up about living with bipolar disorder and battling anxiety in the past.

She says that solutions can vary from person to person and has encouraged people not to stay silent about mental health issues.

“I can’t stress enough to vocalize your needs to a great support system – whether it’s your family or even an online community of people who are going through the same thing that you are,” she told the Huffington Post.

“It’s so important to vocalise what you’re dealing with instead of internalising it and letting it manifest into unhealthy behavior. That eventually leads to lifelong problems. That’s the most important thing you can do.

“Exercising is another way I deal with anxiety. Painting, and writing music and expressing myself through art are other ways that I can release emotions. Meditation is another one. Whatever it is, it’s important to find what works for you.”

Soreness, tiredness and feelings of nausea are amongst the main side effects of intensive training and restrictions on certain pharmaceuticals make it difficult for athletes to get relief from the symptoms.

With top level sports being a pressure-filled environment, many athletes also suffer bouts of anxiety often brought on by concerns about their injuries or worrying about performance.

Performing helps Stone cope

Oscar winner, Emma Stone, says performing on the big screen helps her cope with lifelong anxiety and panic attacks.

Stone struggled with deep separation anxiety as a youngster and was eventually diagnosed with generalised anxiety disorder and panic disorder.

She learned cognitive therapy techniques that helped her cope with anxiety and channel her feelings into productive behaviour.

“I believe the people who have anxiety and depression are very, very sensitive and very, very smart,” she said.

“Because the world is hard and scary and there’s a lot that goes on and if you’re very attuned to it, it can be crippling.

“But if you don’t let it cripple you and use it for something productive, it’s like a superpower.”

Today, she manages her anxiety with therapy, meditation, being with others and keeping busy. She also steers clear of social media to ensure she avoids putting herself in difficult situations.

Lady Gaga

Helping others keeps Gaga grounded

Lady Gaga has been open about her experiences with mental illness, particularly in light of being a survivor of assault.

She takes medication to manage her depression, but freely admits that talking about the problem is the key to her wellbeing.

The ‘Star is Born’ actress created the Born This Way Foundation in 2012 to build empowered communities and improve mental health resources for young adults.

Gaga believes that mental health is just as vital to our wellbeing as physical health, and insists that talking about it can really help.

“I’ve suffered through depression and anxiety my entire life – I still suffer with it every single day,” she said.

“I just want these kids to know that that depth that they feel as human beings is normal. We were born that way. This modern thing, where everyone is feeling shallow and less connected? That‘s not human.

“I think it’s better when we all say: ‘Cheers!’ And ‘fess up to it.”

Fish urges people to talk

In 2012, tennis star Mardy Fish began suffering from anxiety attacks so serious that he had to withdraw before a match against Rodger Federer at the US Open.

His anxiety ultimately led him to retiring from the sport, but therapy, medication and talking openly about his mental-health difficulties have proved to be a life-saver.

“Mental health is not a very easy thing to talk about in sports,” he told the Players’ Tribune. “It’s not perceived as very masculine.

“We’re so trained to be ‘mentally tough,’ in sports. To show weakness, we’re told, in so many words, is to deserve shame.”

Fish has refused to be defined by anxiety disorder and has found his way back into tennis as captain of the US Davis Cup team.

He believes that his previous experiences make him well-equipped to help the current crop of players deal with the pressures of representing their country.

“To be the Davis Cup captain, the next Davis Cup captain, I’m incredibly humbled,” Fish said. “I can’t even express how excited I am, how excited I am that the players have supported the decision.

“The friendships I’ve made throughout the years, relationships of all the players, not just the top players, is very special.”

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We all have to speak in public from time to time, whether it’s contributing to a team meeting or delivering a presentation to a large group of people. Public speaking is a key leadership skill to have; it is valuable in both our personal and professional lives and can enhance future career opportunities. The pressure of speaking in public however can cause a lot of stress and anxiety for an individual who perhaps lacks in confidence, and this can result in a poor delivery. According to the Daily Mail, public speaking is one of the most common fears in women.

public-speaking

Getting the message across can be difficult if you don’t plan ahead and understand the audience’s mindset. One of the top keynote speakers on branding will tell you that. Take the time to research what you are saying and who you are sharing it with, and at the start of your presentation, tell your audience what they can expect. Below are some effective ways to ensure your presentation is received well:

Don’t let nerves get the better of you
First things first, to deliver a memorable speech, you’re going to need to overcome the nerves. Easier said than done, but when you learn how to control them, you can use the adrenaline to stay alert and be more enthusiastic. A public speaking coach can show you the proper way to do this. Many people will try to rush when they’re speaking in public but it is important to breathe slowly and take your time. One of the biggest mistakes people make is being unprepared. If you know you are going to be delivering a presentation or speech, start preparing as soon as possible. The earlier you start, the more time you’ll have to practice and the more you’ll know the content inside out. Remember that people in the audience want you to succeed, as they want to take something away from it too. You are there to help or educate them in some way so think about them, not you.

Think about how you present yourself
This is where your appearance, posture and body language comes into play. The way you present yourself will make a difference in whether your speech is memorable or not. If you deliver with passion, this will come across to your audience who will then take your message more seriously. Giving advice about public speaking, Speaker Mentor, Deborah Meaden, told the BBC:

“Find the thing that you are passionate about. Automatically you’ll deliver it with conviction. You believe, they’ll believe it”.

Dress smartly and stand tall, with shoulders back and your chest out, don’t slouch or lean and remember to smile. Walk around and use gestures to engage with your audience and make sure you keep your eyes up and focused on them to ensure each individual feels connected.

Enliven the delivery and make it interesting
One of the best ways to convey a message is to add variation to your presentation. It can be difficult to captivate an audience by simply talking for 30 minutes, but there are a number of things a speaker can introduce to enliven the presentation. By mixing up your speech, you have a better of chance of reaching a broader range of people. Visual aids such as photos, graphs and data can be extremely effective, and videos can be powerful too. Don’t try and be too clever though; if you’re new to public speaking, stay within your comfort zone, for example don’t plan a 10 minute video spectacular if you’ve never done it before!