Can Speech Therapy Help with Anxiety?

Anxiety may cause a fear of speaking. However, it can be treated with speech therapy methods. Keep reading to learn more about how speech therapy can calm your nerves.

What is anxiety?

Everyone feels anxious from time to time. For some people, the stress is overwhelming. Therefore, it may interfere with their mental wellbeing.

People with anxiety may experience the following:

• no longer enjoy hobbies they once loved
• irrationally afraid of certain outcomes
• changes to their daily routine

Anxiety is the most common emotional disorder, affecting 18% of the population every year.

Common symptoms of anxiety include:

• rapid and/or uneven breathing
• restlessness
• difficulty sleeping
• inability to relax
• lack of concentration

What is speech therapy for anxiety?

A speech therapist can help treat speech anxiety in several ways. Speech therapy exercises can help reduce speaking anxiety and improve a patient's communication. Talking to a speech therapist about an assessment can also help you identify causes for your speaking fears.

Speech therapy exercises

Below are some common speech anxiety exercises:

• Breathing exercises to slow down breaths
• Voice projection exercises
• Mouth and tongue exercises
• Physical activity to calm nerves

Speak Fluent's team of registered clinicians can help you with your speaking problems and prescribe you a customized plan. Book your free 15-minute consultation today here.