Dear Lindsey:

The emotional experience of fear/ anxiety is feeling that something is wrong. This is why animals, when they feel fear, become alert- they are looking for what is it that is wrong (a predator approaching would be something wrong).

So no wonder you worry about how wrong you come across because you feel this experience of fear/ anxiety (anxiety is fear repeated without an imminent and present danger).

Every time you catch yourself feeling fearful- pay attention to your breathing, focus on inhaling and exhaling. It  grounds people (this is why guided meditations always start and end with breathing). And slow down- if you feel that you are pronouncing words wrong- and it is not necessary for you to  talk- don’t talk. If you have to talk- slow down. If your voice sounds too loud- pause and lower the volume. The more you slow down your movements and speech when anxious- the better.

There is a practice, tai chi, that is all about slow motion, very slow, it relaxes people. Of  course you can’t move real slow  motion  at work, but slow down some.

anita