How to Prevent Your Voice from Trembling When Speaking Under Nervousness?

Tension often arises from a fear of the unknown. Whether it's unfamiliarity with the environment or a lack of familiarity with a certain individual, individuals may feel unsure about what to say, leading to feelings of nervousness. When nervous, the voice may tremble, and this can be avoided through both pharmacological and psychological treatments.

1. How to Avoid Trembling Voice When Nervous?

If trembling voice due to nervousness occurs in specific social situations, it may be indicative of social anxiety disorder. If diagnosed with social anxiety disorder, the primary treatment methods include exposure therapy or systematic desensitization. In some cases, benzodiazepines (such as lorazepam and oxazepam), antidepressants with anxiolytic effects (such as sertraline and paroxetine), and propranolol may be prescribed. If nervousness is persistent across all social situations and accompanied by other symptoms of anxiety such as irritability, obsessive thoughts, and constant worry, significantly affecting one's life, work, and studies, a combination of pharmacological and psychological treatments is recommended.

2. Reasons for Trembling Voice During a Speech

2.1 Inferiority Stemming from Cognitive Perspectives

Speakers may develop feelings of inferiority when they only focus on the strengths of other speakers and fail to recognize their own worth, leading to self-denial. This feeling is particularly strong when experts or leaders are present, as speakers may fear embarrassing themselves with their words.

2.2 Unaccustomed to Public Speaking

Everyone has a rational self-image and expects others to view them favorably and evaluate them highly. However, public speaking involves many unknown factors, and the rational self-image is constantly challenged and threatened. In such a complex and variable environment, it can be difficult to adjust and maintain accuracy, leading to feelings of nervousness and stage fright.

2.3 Lack of Preparation

Preparation refers to both subjective and objective aspects. Subjectively, speakers may feel unprepared if they haven't carefully reviewed their speech, haven't memorized it well, or haven't designed it thoughtfully. This lack of confidence can lead to stage fright. If a sentence is not spoken well, an action is not executed smoothly, or a line is forgotten, the nervousness can intensify. Objectively, speakers may feel nervous if they are not familiar with the environment, such as the size of the venue, the number of audience members, the order of speeches, or the atmosphere of the podium.

2.4 Poor Physical Condition

Poor physical health can distract speakers, affecting their emotional investment and leading to feelings of nervousness.