4 ms·

Propranolol massively improved my quality of life. I used to get panicked at the prospect of public speaking, but with propranolol I feel like I could give a na

by wycy 8y ago

Propranolol massively improved my quality of life. I used to get panicked at the prospect of public speaking, but with propranolol I feel like I could give a nationally televised State of the Union address with no problem. I take it only before public speaking, not regularly. The only downside is it leaves me with dry eyes and exhaustion at the end of the day, but it’s a small price to pay for the huge QoL improvement.

whatshisface 8y ago
Do you think that eliminating the extreme fear -> everything is fine sequence would prevent you from learning to naturally handle public speaking?
- koboll 8y ago
  Others have reported just the opposite -- it helps them develop the confidence to speak without it.
- wycy 8y ago
  Honestly, there is a chance I’m dependent on it now. But I’m still okay with that being a trade off. So long as I always have at least 40 minutes notice before having to do public speaking, I should be fine.
  - sizzle 8y ago
    What if you have poor speaking mannerisms or public speaking/story telling mechanics (e.g. applying emphasis to words, voice inflection, intonation, etc.) to engage a crowd or simply lack social awareness from being on the spectrum, will the drug make you confidently make a fool of yourself in front of a crowd if you haven't practiced the art of public speaking? Thanks for sharing your experience!
    - wycy 8y ago
      Exactly, it’d just let you confidently make a fool of yourself, it won’t automatically make you a skilled orator. The ideal approach would be to take propranolol, then use that confidence to take public speaking classes.
- noelsusman 8y ago
  That works if you can ever get to the "everything is fine" point. I was always able to get through speaking, but it was never fine. It was always a battle to keep the anxiety at bay, and occasionally I would lose that battle. Beta blockers were the only thing that let me experience public speaking where everything was actually fine. Now I don't need them anymore, but I never would have gotten past it without them.
__m 8y ago
Panicked as in a full blown panic attack? Is your timing that off, or do you question this ‘selective erasure’?

by wycy 8y ago

whatshisface 8y ago

Do you think that eliminating the extreme fear -> everything is fine sequence would prevent you from learning to naturally handle public speaking?

koboll 8y ago
Others have reported just the opposite -- it helps them develop the confidence to speak without it.
wycy 8y ago
Honestly, there is a chance I’m dependent on it now. But I’m still okay with that being a trade off. So long as I always have at least 40 minutes notice before having to do public speaking, I should be fine.
- sizzle 8y ago
  What if you have poor speaking mannerisms or public speaking/story telling mechanics (e.g. applying emphasis to words, voice inflection, intonation, etc.) to engage a crowd or simply lack social awareness from being on the spectrum, will the drug make you confidently make a fool of yourself in front of a crowd if you haven't practiced the art of public speaking? Thanks for sharing your experience!
  - wycy 8y ago
    Exactly, it’d just let you confidently make a fool of yourself, it won’t automatically make you a skilled orator. The ideal approach would be to take propranolol, then use that confidence to take public speaking classes.
noelsusman 8y ago
That works if you can ever get to the "everything is fine" point. I was always able to get through speaking, but it was never fine. It was always a battle to keep the anxiety at bay, and occasionally I would lose that battle. Beta blockers were the only thing that let me experience public speaking where everything was actually fine. Now I don't need them anymore, but I never would have gotten past it without them.

__m 8y ago

Panicked as in a full blown panic attack? Is your timing that off, or do you question this ‘selective erasure’?