What is the best way to control anxiety related to public speaking?

Zoloft.

By joining Toastmasters! Toastmasters is the best way to get over your fear of public speaking. Your communication and leadership skills will improve greatly. To find a club near you visit toasmasters.org

whatever the ''subject''is that you will be speaking about...do your homework and know it well...remember your audience does not know the subject....even if some do..pretend they all do not know. and just be confident and speak with authority..you are what they are there to listen to..capture their imagination with your confidence, through your facial expressions and your precise-clear-audible-speaking voice and your knowledge of the subject...if you manage all these..you will be dying to do it all over again..its an amazing thrill when you do it right..oh..and remember to say a little prayer before you begin..good luck...you will be fine..

Start by introducing yourself to neighbors, get a little more comfortable talking. Then escalate it to talking to different people, maybe at a local club or outing or social event. The more you talk to people you don't know, the more you will get comfortable speaking publicly. Be confident, people can sense when you are not confident and will lose interest quickly........good luck

the more you do it, you will gain more confidence and be more comfortable. however, talk to your Dr. about xanax, it's an anti-anxiety drug. you can't take it everyday, it can be addictive. when my daughter was little and had to have surgery, i was a basket case. it was routine, no complications or anything but the closer it came to the day of her surgery, i was practically hyperventilating. besides needing to be positive and brave for her, there was also my health. we talked to the Dr. told him my symptoms and he decided that xanax was the best way to go. it did wonders. it just creates a calming effect. you really need to talk to your Dr. there might even be something new and improved without possible addiction. My Dr. only gives a prescription for 5 pills at a time. and I only take them when it is absolutely necessary. (I hate to fly, hardly ever do it....but call my Dr. if flying is coming up) I'm just a jumpy person by nature anyway, hate scary movies, don't like surprises etc. our anxiety blues may not even be related, it's just my past experience i'm sharing. Good luck to you tho.

Have confidence in your grasp of the subject your speaking on.