Great answer. There's also a factor of the gradual introduction of the stimulus you fear the most. It's called successive approximation to the goal. If you're deathly afraid of white rabbits, the first thing is the introduction to a fluffy white object, to which you are positively reinforced for being able to touch it. Then gradually other white fluffy things are introduced and when you can tolerate them, you finally are able to hold a real white bunny. Each exposure is gradually rewarded until you can tolerate what you fear the most. It works the same with exposing your speech. The more you have little successes, the closer you get to becoming comfortable speaking. Google ‘exposure therapy, successive approximations’, for a full explanation. Good Luck, Sue