What are you more scared of having an injection or speaking in public?
By Jenaisle
@Jenaisle (14078)
Philippines
February 10, 2009 12:56pm CST
I know they're not in any way related, but if you were to select between the two, would you opt for the needle than talking a large group of strangers? They say that exposing yourself repeatedly to the stimulus that causes you stress will desensitize you from it, therefore if you're scared of public speaking, then you should find a way to expose yourself more often. What are your thoughts on this?
9 people like this
47 responses
@VorTy01 (36)
• Romania
10 Feb 09
Hey there.
Definetly i would choose speaking in public. Though most people have troubles with it because they are not very self-confident, which is bad. I hate injections since I was a kid. When they come at me with a needle and they stick it into me, I get numb and start having stomachache. It's ok after a while, but it was really embarassing at school when we had to take some injections in hand or leg.
I think if I'd have to take more shots I would get used to them, and finally go to the doctor confident :)
2 people like this
@SusanShayAvon (1003)
• United States
11 Feb 09
I would rather speak in public anyday. My needle tolerance is not good at all. I usually run when I see them. When I went to the dentist last year he asked me to keep my eyes closed and he would start talking and just go for it. I cannot stand needles. Getting my blood drawn is horrendous because I cannot stand blood or needles.
2 people like this
@cheenlly (3476)
• Philippines
11 Feb 09
I think it would really depend on how crowded the people on where you will speak. Honestly i am scared of both but if were going to choose then maybe i would opt to speaking to public because that's what i really want to overcome. I am aware that if i overcome my fear then maybe i will be good in speaking..lol not that i will like to be famous in speaking but i just really want to overcome it so i will have the confidence. Honestly, i can write but i am scared when it comes to speaking which is not productive of course so that is why i want to change it. I hope soon i will. About injection, well i think i can manage to overcome the fear.
@haydeecorbilla (242)
• Philippines
11 Feb 09
Speaking in public is one of the things I hate the most. I can speak in front of a few people but not in a crowd. I always escape myself from doing a recital or presentation in front because most of the time I stutter and I feel ashamed about it.
2 people like this
@tonibanzai (79)
• Indonesia
11 Feb 09
if i have to choose i choose get injection but with standard needle coz i'm not afraid with needle but if i must speak in public i guess not coz i scared if i have to speak in public make me nervous.
@Bebs08 (10681)
• United States
11 Feb 09
Hey!! this is a great question. hahaha!! I preferred to speak in public than to have an injection. I use to speak in front of people because I was teaching a huge class for many years but I am afraid of the needle. I think speaking is great is you are prepared of what you say, but having injection is really hard for me to take unless I am in pain that could not be relieved without injection. I am really nervous to see the needle, although I know it is not that painful but I don't know I am scared whith injections.
@ivan2000bd (1009)
• Sweden
11 Feb 09
its a not deal for me to speak in public. i always have to do that.in every month i hve to do presentatiopn on certain topics. so its not a big deal for me but injecting an injection is very painful to me.
2 people like this
@sandymay48 (2030)
• Canada
10 Feb 09
It is true that the more we do something that makes us uncomfortable, the more used to it we will eventually beoome...I would say it depends on what the injection is for and who I am speaking to about what...lol...I get needles regularly and they do not bother me one bit. On the other hand, I am somewhat shy to speak in front of large groups of people. From past experiences however, when I have had to give a speech, I have made it funny and apparently done a great job. When I was in my mid 30s, I enrolled in a health care course. My fellow classmates at the end of the year, voted me to give the year end speech at our final awards and dinner because they said I never talked....lol...I was so quiet. Well I did my speech, tried my best, and the whole audience was in stitches. The instructor told me it was the best one she had ever heard for that course. Sooooooooooo, having said all that, and having no fear of needles at all, a speech could never kill me but an injection could....From the one who has no fear of needles, I now opt for the speech!!..lol
1 person likes this
@sandymay48 (2030)
• Canada
14 Feb 09
Thank you, I couldnt have been more pleased to hear everyone laughing so loudly..It was very satisfying...On the other hand, I had to go for bloodwork on wednesday...The nurse couldnt find the vein and started wiggling that needle and I actually thought of this discussion....lol
1 person likes this
@HansonFan (1653)
• United States
10 Feb 09
Injection - I have never had a problem giving blood or getting shots. Speaking in public is one of the things I can't stand. I've gotten better, but I still don't like to do it. I took a public speaking class and that helped but I would still rather take that needle!!!
2 people like this
@masata (408)
• Indonesia
10 Feb 09
I will be more scared of speaking in the public place as compared to having injection. Having injection is pretty fast and there is not much pain there. But speaking in public will make me nervous before and during the speaking. Even, if I perform poorly in the speaking, then it may cause distress for a while.
2 people like this
@Tinkerbell7 (160)
• United States
10 Feb 09
I think that would have to depend on how big of a needle and WHERE on your body are you getting the shot and in front of how many people do you have to speak. I'm not thrilled about either but they are facts of life. I don't mind getting up at a clinic and teaching people about horses and talking to lots of people. I have no desire to speak in front of thousands of people though. Same with a shot, I'm not thrilled about getting a tetnus shot or blood drawn but it doesn't interrupt my life. If I have to get rabies shots in the stomach I might think twice about speaking in front of thousands of people. HAHA
I think you should expose yourself to as much as possible whether you are scared or not. Its the only way to grow as a person.
@Jenaisle (14078)
• Philippines
10 Feb 09
Thanks for that vital input, of course you have to expose yourself, everytime I do it however, it's always like the first time. One can never totally remove the butterflies in the stomach. Since I am from the medical field, I know that an injection is relatively painless in the hands of an expert health worker, so I would prefer the needle anytime...he he he...even if I'm not really that inexperienced in public speaking. What about you how many experiences did you have already? Cheers and happy mylotting.
@itsme_cha (504)
• United States
11 Feb 09
i think in my case i am more scared of an injection as i afraid of needles..lol. talking in public is something i can handle pretty much better. but if i needed to have injection i would but of course i need to close my eyes...lol's.
2 people like this
@strawberrychocodahi (4818)
• Philippines
10 Feb 09
Definitely i would choose injection which will take only a minute unlike public speaking which would take longer than 10-15 minutes and you would use your brain to think of what to say or stick to the topic on what you have to deliver heheh!
2 people like this
@kenchiprincess (5296)
• Philippines
11 Feb 09
I believe with what you have said that the more you expose yourself with the things that you are scared of doing this will help to overcome this fear. Whenever I meet up with old classmates and when they learned that I work as a lecturer now most of them are thinking twice. Why? because they know I have stage fright back then. Every time I spoke in the middle of the class i would usually fidget. My eyes are all set to the ceiling only showing off the white part. But now I can face and talk to a large crowd with calmness. Indeed I have overcome my fear of speaking in public and I am acing it.
1 person likes this
@shalli17here (627)
• Indonesia
11 Feb 09
i'd rather speaking in public lol coz i dont like needle/get an injection. i even avoid myself to go to the doctor eventhough i was ill or something. i'd rather stay healthy, eat well, and keep doin my activities as a replacement of an exercise, coz im not exercise much now loool.
speaking in public sometime can be good for us, specially to improvize our self confidence=) but one thing u should know, is what u will speak in front of the public? is it just a b***s*** or something that can be usefull for others?
1 person likes this
@KatieDidit (989)
• United States
11 Feb 09
That would definitely depend on the injection and the public! Generally I'm not scared of either. But having given many an injection and received more than a few I can tell you there are a few shots that I rather speak just about anywhere on anything to anyone than get those particular injections.
1 person likes this
@VorTy01 (36)
• Romania
11 Feb 09
Belonephobia (fear of needles) is horror for some of us. Read some articles on the internet and got dissapointed because the only solution for this problem is just to thing about pink horses runing wild on a green hill while they thrust that big metal in you :(. Too bad most of us can't think of that :D
1 person likes this
@jongdeguapito (140)
• Philippines
10 Feb 09
Many of us have a fear of speaking in public. Like me, I can speak well when I am speaking with 1 to 5 persons. But whenever I get to speak to a crowd, I got so nervous and I hardly present my ideas in a nice way. My tongue got stiff that I can hardly pronounce the words I'm saying.
That was before until I got my "presentation skills" training. The tips I got in here is that, whenever you speak in public, make it as conversational as possible. Meaning, talk like you are just talking face to face with a friend. Second, come prepared. When you are preapared and you have mastered your topic, you gain confidence. And last, your discussion must contain these 3 thing: 1. Say what you are about to say (Meanig give introduction on the topic). 2. Say what you need to say (discuss). 3. Say what you have just said(summarize).
Hope this helps..
1 person likes this
@Jenaisle (14078)
• Philippines
14 Feb 09
Those are very brief but concise pointers Jong, I appreciate it a lot that you have contributed . I am now remembering it say I can also transmit the pointers to other people. Thanks for that excellent input, it contributed greatly to the discussion., Cheers and happy mylotting.