Dr Girl/Dr Dejour Q&A
Hi Dr Dejour,
I am 16, female and I have a really embarrassing problem. I get really sweaty. When I get nervous or when I am doing something like giving a talk at school, I sweat heaps. It isn't just under my arms but my face/forehead gets all sweaty and shiny, my hands and everything gets all wet. Please help, what can I do?
Signed Sweaty
Dear Madame Sweaty,
Mmmm, two options I think. One is to move to a place like the Amazon rainforest where the whole population is in a state of sweat, and it's quite adaptive and even glamorous to be glistening and outdoors-y.
The other is not so exotic, but more practical. Try to keep cool by wearing cotton and avoiding sugar loads (too much energy to burn off, excess lost as heat) when you anticipate a sweaty situation. The crux of the matter though, is in trying to relax when put on the spot. Most people would prefer to die than speak in public (and in the words of Seinfeld, "most people would prefer to be in the coffin than giving the eulogy???!!!"). You sound normal in this respect. It is categorically hard and there are several techniques to reduce the stress. You can try visualising yourself giving the speech and when you start to feel 'sweaty' STOP and think of a peaceful thing (like sitting by a beach, or whatever it is). When relaxed again go back to where you were in your speech, and repeat the process until you learn to quickly switch off the rising panic. It will become second nature.
Another is to remember (often and repeatedly) the better experiences you have had, and extinguish IMMEDIATELY, the more uncomfortable ones. Really! Similarly, when you are in the situation and feel the 'heat', extinguish that thought immediately. Do not let the 'Oh no it's happening again' line even get close to your precious mind. Eventually you will gather 'successes' and the ball will be rolling.
And of course the antiperspirant ball must be rolling under armpits.
Regards,
Dr Dejour
I am 16, female and I have a really embarrassing problem. I get really sweaty. When I get nervous or when I am doing something like giving a talk at school, I sweat heaps. It isn't just under my arms but my face/forehead gets all sweaty and shiny, my hands and everything gets all wet. Please help, what can I do?
Signed Sweaty
Dear Madame Sweaty,
Mmmm, two options I think. One is to move to a place like the Amazon rainforest where the whole population is in a state of sweat, and it's quite adaptive and even glamorous to be glistening and outdoors-y.
The other is not so exotic, but more practical. Try to keep cool by wearing cotton and avoiding sugar loads (too much energy to burn off, excess lost as heat) when you anticipate a sweaty situation. The crux of the matter though, is in trying to relax when put on the spot. Most people would prefer to die than speak in public (and in the words of Seinfeld, "most people would prefer to be in the coffin than giving the eulogy???!!!"). You sound normal in this respect. It is categorically hard and there are several techniques to reduce the stress. You can try visualising yourself giving the speech and when you start to feel 'sweaty' STOP and think of a peaceful thing (like sitting by a beach, or whatever it is). When relaxed again go back to where you were in your speech, and repeat the process until you learn to quickly switch off the rising panic. It will become second nature.
Another is to remember (often and repeatedly) the better experiences you have had, and extinguish IMMEDIATELY, the more uncomfortable ones. Really! Similarly, when you are in the situation and feel the 'heat', extinguish that thought immediately. Do not let the 'Oh no it's happening again' line even get close to your precious mind. Eventually you will gather 'successes' and the ball will be rolling.
And of course the antiperspirant ball must be rolling under armpits.
Regards,
Dr Dejour
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