Mental Health and Speaking in Public
Today is #BellLetsTalk day. January 25. A day when Bell Canada will donate 5 cents to every retweet they receive of their original tweet. Or, for every tweet using the #BellLetsTalk hashtag. Possibly capping their donation at a number. Or... it's hard to know. They don't actually advertise those pieces. And they've potentially fired somebody specifically for sharing her mental health issues. So, y'know. Big corporation. Big reach. Potentially shady undertones. Not surprising.
But let's, instead, actually talk about mental health. Which is what the campaign claims they are trying to do. We'll take them at their word.
There are myriads of different types of mental illnesses. Some are diagnosed, some are not. Some are a result of injury, some are genetic, some are chemical imbalances, some are triggered from trauma and abuse, many are a combination of all of those aspects, and there are many, many more different pieces. The one overriding feature is that mental illness can affect your daily life, can curb your happiness and joy, can create problems for you in work and in life, can feel insurmountable. Always, the best option if you are feeling "off", or unwell, or that something isn't right, is to see a doctor and be referred to a mental health practitioner. There are several types: counselors, therapists, psychiatrists, psychotherapists (ranging from certified psychotherapists to doctors). Many religious groups offer spiritual guidance from counselors, chaplains, even your minister, priest, rabbi, imam etc. can provide some support.
Talking about it makes it real. Which makes it tangible. Which makes you available to begin to help yourself. It also can make it scary, and can feel overwhelming. It's a brave step forward to begin to manage your mental health. But it's essential.
In terms of public speaking, anxiety is something most clients list to me as one of their biggest hurdles in moving forward. Whether it's a job interview, asking for a raise, asking questions in a meeting/presentation, or delivering a solid presentation or speech - nerves get in the way. The jitters are a normal physical process that happens when you anticipate stress. This is not to be confused with depression and anxiety, though jitters can trigger those bigger issues.
Building confidence, and being able to move through anxiety/jitters/worry/self doubt are achievable goals. Whether you want to be able to speak to a room of 2000 people, or simply have an assessment meeting with your boss, taking the time to understand what is keeping you back, and creating a plan to work through your difficulties will move you in a forward direction. Arming yourself with tricks and adding new tools to your toolbox will ensure that you have the confidence you need to reach your goals. And taking good care of yourself should always be your number 1 priority.
Good luck!
