How do you speak up?

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Hello,
One of my biggest problems with AS is that I speak very quietly, to the point that teachers,etc. have to come over to me to hear me and I have to constantly repeat myself. I don't know what to do, I just get really anxious about trying to speak loudly which just makes me even more quiet. This only started a few years ago when I first moved schools, but it affects me even at home where I'm comfortable. I'm also really tense all the time and have started to experience sudden "muscle spasms" that are like a release of tension, which people have also noticed. Has anyone else had any similar problem and how did you cope?

My heart used to beat in my chest wildly before I would speak. I had horrible stage fright. I would shake.

I overcame this by using the method Churchill used. Start by growling a bit low in the throat and then slowly speak your first few words, with a low pitch. And then continue. Speak slowly. Concentrate on speaking in the lower range of your voice. Practice speaking more and more, no matter how scary.

Eventually what will happen is that you will have had enough exposure to your fear that you will become more confident. The process will become a new habit, and you will be much less afraid.

Now I speak in public all the time.

Try practicing speaking from your diaphragm - make sure your voice is resonating from in your upper chest as you speak, rather than the back of your throat, or pinging around inside your sinuses. It helps to keep your back fairly straight, so you can get a full breath.

If you learn to speak clearly this way, your voice will "carry" better, without you having to "raise" it until you feel like you're yelling or talking too loud. You will have to practice it while you're alone, until it becomes second nature, then you won't even realize you're doing it.

It's a technique professional singers and broadcasters have been using for years.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STkUMEp562o[/youtube]

Yeah, I have this problem, too.

Thank you, that's really helpful.