Will taking Xanax or beta-blockers help take the edge off a presentation? I am really freaking out!?

[sweetangel25]

Im scared to death to speak in front of a group of people. I am like the least shy person so it is weird for me to have to deal with a situation where i feel like this. Is it a bad idea to take something the day or my presentation?

[westlakewizard]

Fear of public speaking is the most common phobia there is. Take a VERY small dose of Xanax about 30 min before you start, and that will take off the edge but not make you incoherent...
It is anti-depressants that take about 3 weeks to take effect; Xanax takes effect w/in 30 min.

[lbbutterbean]

one time i took 2 xanax and a shot of whiskey before a presentation in psychology class in college. it helped me actually get up and speak, and i spoke clearly and effectively, but my face was monkey-ass red and sweat was pouring off my head. if you heard the presentation o the radio you would have thought it was awesome but if you saw it in person you would feel awkward and sorry for me.
from other presentations i have done i can tell you the best thing to do is pretend, act, or actually believe that you are better than everyone in the class. you can do this by the "classic" visualizing the audience in their underwear. you can also think of how dumb everyone else really is and you have to school them. you can also take to heart the fact that everyone else in the class has to give a presentation and that you could not possibly be the worst out of all those people.

[x50cc59]

Those types of things usually take weeks to take full effect. I doubt taking one will do it.