Interview Anxiety

20 Comments

1. Meghal BhattNovember 14,2025 at 5:15PM UTC

   I have and it helps :)

2. Ashley SamfordNovember 14,2025 at 8:34PM UTC

   It's one of my meds for anxiety as needed. It helps! The way it was explained to me, it's it prevents your hear rate from getting to high, which physically prevents your body from getting anxious. Not sure how accurate that description is or if it's over simplified, but it makes sense.

3. Melissa WatersNovember 15,2025 at 1:47PM UTC

   I've used it for the same reason. It does help.

4. Sarah GreenwoodNovember 15,2025 at 10:06AM UTC

   I can completely empathise with the feelings of your body in overdrive. I have experienced similar dealing with my own anxiety. To be completely open I take medication for my mental health but it isnt propanolol. I view my mental health problems as valid just the same way as physical health problems which I take medication for too.

   I am a Dr of medicine and employed as such in the UK but don't practice clinically now. There is the biopsychosocial model of all conditions which is relevant for my mental health. My medication takes care of the bio part...

   I use a technique when I speak for public speaking or interviews which is to slow my speech down. I was advised to do this to speak effectively and powerfully. I noticed this slows my thoughts down to a sensible pace, the slower speech and thought processes calm my physical anxiety symptoms of shaking, sweating and getting overwhelmed. This is my psychological part covered...

   For the social part, I have a great support network. I use their support before and after. They remind me of my small and big wins which helps my resilience. They also help me practice for confidence.

   I am also profoundly deaf. I use a 20 year old cochlear implant. I can't hear myself speak, or detect lots of common speech sounds. I can't hear my volume and do feel self conscious about what I sound like.

   This isn't medical advice. It's what works for me. I was so impacted by anxiety communicating I used to freeze being around 2 or 3 colleagues in my small base office in 2022. Since then I have become very active within our organisation diversity equity and inclusion initiatives. This has resulted in many opportunities to speak live or filmed. I haven't found it easy, my support network helped a lot, my anxiety speaking is pretty much gone now.

   Your post shows great self awareness and insight. Your anxiety is valid, I know there will be all manner of approaches to help your anxiety. My advice from experience is to consider all options until you find what works for you.

5. Tiffany PittmanNovember 16,2025 at 1:37PM UTC

   I've never heard of propranolol, but it sounds like your body goes into fight or flight mode where your adrenals go into overdrive. I've experienced this through severe adrenal dysfunction from an illness. What helped me was taking adaptogens that were recommended by my functional medicine doctor. They're natural supplements like ashwaghanda, rhodiola, and holy basil. They've helped me tremendously to calm down my nervous system. One good one is called Integrative Therapeutics HPA Adapt - Stress Resistence Complex. It's a blend of adaptogens. I hope this helps. Be well!

6. AnonymousNovember 16,2025 at 2:01PM UTC

   Tiffany, propranolol has been used for people with significant intrusions from PTSD, and I don't have current best practices for its use, but when I was researching it for mine, the consensus was that it either worked well or not at all. For me, since it lowers blood pressure, it wasn't worth trying, because my blood pressure can be on the low side.

7. AnonymousNovember 16,2025 at 1:46PM UTC

   I don’t use a propranolol but I’ve used another beta blocker to help with anxiety and if you need it, then why not try it?

   I had a meeting the other day and for whatever reason I couldn’t finish my sentence… I was only introducing myself, nothing complicated, so I know how you feel and how debilitating symptoms can be. I tend to use meds infrequently and other holistic treatments too. I don’t like taking meds and it’s good to have other ways to try and gain control and manage your symptoms.

   Hope you’re able to find something to help you.

8. AnonymousNovember 16,2025 at 1:56PM UTC

   I have used other anti-anxiety drugs before, but I know some can make you drowsy enough to appear uninterested in the conversation. My suggestion would be to have a conversation with your psychiatrist. You may need to try more than one before you find one that works well with your body chemistry. I have used THC in a chewable tablet through a medical card for MMJ, and that works well for my social anxiety issues, but what works for me may not work for others.

9. Bucket listNovember 16,2025 at 3:15PM UTC

   i have been taking propanol for my hight proration ( hight blood pressure) also it dose work for anxiety said prescription paper work but it doesn’t work for mine anxiety at all because, I take it very day for blood pressure instead of anxiety have been every night so I take clonazepam.

10. AnonymousNovember 17,2025 at 4:42AM UTC

    I have used Propranolol for anxiety in situations similar to those you have described and it has significantly reduced my anxiety. It stops the body shakes, sweating, constricted throat and trembling voice which in turn calms your mental state so that you can function at your best. I would highly recommend it. Also, I have found it to have zero side effects. All the best.

11. Esther LeeNovember 17,2025 at 12:15PM UTC

    Yes, I've been using propranolol for years. It stops my heart rate from racing and makes me feel much calmer in interviews.

    I know exactly how you feel, I'm better in small groups and 1:1 settings too. Public speaking, interviews or any other challenging scenario makes me reach for the propranolol. I'm sure you'll be fine once you've spoken to your GP and started taking the medication. Good luck!

12. AnonymousNovember 17,2025 at 1:59PM UTC

    Hi! I’m a therapist of 20 years. I treat anxiety and have an anxiety condition. One recommendation I have on top of medication is mindfulness training and meditation before an interview. Both have efficacy in helping with symptoms. Unfortunately, medication helps but doesn’t relieve fully, all the time. Chances are, your anxiety requires treatment (therapy) as well as meds. I always recommend d physical activity and a good diet, too. If you experience anxiety around interviews, it is likely you experience it at other times too. Go for a long term solution over a quick fix. Take care of you!

13. AnonymousNovember 17,2025 at 10:01PM UTC

    I have the same anxiety. I do well on 1:1 but groups forget it! I’m trying to follow STAR and all that but they don’t follow it so why should we? I use CHAT GBT to practice and it helps.

14. AnonymousNovember 18,2025 at 9:31AM UTC

    Wow .. There are some good ideas below. The only thing I have to offer is to treat the situation as if it were practice. When I taught junior and senior high school math, I would occasionally have a student who did well on classwork but could not take tests. What I found that worked with them was to tell them that I would count the test as a homework assignment if they did poorly.

    The strange thing was that I never had to do that. They calmed down enough that they realized that the test was just basically what they had been doing habitually.

    This example does not really parallel your situation, but I thought that it may give you an additional idea of how to deal with what you are facing. Wishing you the best!

15. AnonymousNovember 18,2025 at 3:19PM UTC

    Its also completely ok to to walk into an interview and say, "Interviews make me really nervous". The interviewer can also help make it easier if they know that. I can usually tell if someone is super nervous and give them a bit of a break, more chances to stop and think, etc. If its really hard, you can also add, "if you would really like to know about my work, you can contact.... " and give references upfront and list what the references can tell them about . (e.g. company x, person y: team experiences, leadership style).

    Bring a bottle of water to stop and take a cold drink (bring a yeti with lots of ice), having a lemon drop or something very sour in your mouth can also help.

    Finally, the worst that can happen is that you don't get the job. While thats not good, you will leave the room and things will still be ok. No one is going to call every employer and tell them you are terrible or blacklist you because of an interview. Think through what good things can happen (eg. great interview practice, you could get the job, you treat yourself to coffee after, you get to see a new company) and also whats the worst that could happen (you can't think of an answer, the person is a jerk, - at the end you still walk out ok). The pros of interviewing always outweigh even if it goes terribly.

16. AnonymousNovember 20,2025 at 2:13PM UTC

    I do use Propranolol all the time and it works great! No shame in taking it. Also someone suggested joining the group Toastmasters so you can improve your public speaking.

17. Lu MezaNovember 20,2025 at 4:19PM UTC

    I am Sr Executive and I love Propranolol/Inderal. I use it to calm my nerves for public speaking and stage fright. Every doctor I have had, whom I have told I need to refill this prescription, loves that I have used it to alleviate this stressor. Over time, I have had times I haven't used it because I as traveling and forgot to pack, but it's helped me build confidence because I have been building confidence and experience in public speaking because I had used it in the past. I was told by a doctor that he has some musicians/performers who use it & that made me feel good. You will still feel nervous... it doesn't solve that but it eliminates the physical jitters, which would make me feel even more nervous, so then I'd freak out. With it I don't have those physical symptoms, and I can speak with confidence. So in that way, it's been so transformative to me. I only take as needed as well & have a healthy heart.

18. Leader135412November 21,2025 at 4:50PM UTC

    I work for a non profit and had to speak to large crowds when asked.

    I found if you pictured everyone naked in your head it takes their power away. Especially the ones that are problematic.

    It'll put a smile on your face at the same time.

    Practice makes perfect !

19. AnonymousNovember 22,2025 at 10:43AM UTC

    I tried Propranolol a couple years ago and noticed an increase in shortness of breath. I try more holistic approaches such as nervine herbs, Ashwagandha, breath work, meditation, affirmations, eating clean foods, and getting out into nature.

20. OLIVIA JOHNSONNovember 23,2025 at 2:03AM UTC

    Hi there,

    Great question and you are not alone!

    Sometimes the pressure we put on ourselves can be quite overwhelming. Especially in high pressure situations.

    One of the ways I share for people to work towards embracing interviewing is to try to approach it differently. Being that you are great in 1:1 settings and small groups but stifled by the pressure this suggestion may work for you.

    Let's play pretend :)!

    So once you have that time secured. I want you to think of this call as a networking opportunity. Think of this as an chance to network with someone new, with a company of interest and possibly for a role of interest.

    IF by chance you need to take it a step further, create a scenario for yourself to make it exciting. i.e. You just won a 30-minute call with an Executive to find out more about them and their company. What would you want to know, what questions would you ask, etc.

    There are additional techniques prior to your call. Depending on your personality type that you could implement. IF you need to relax, then do something relaxing up to the time. IF you need to be busy and distracted, work on something completely different up to the time of your call.

    Do some investigation on what may work best for you.

    Hope one of these suggestions resonates. Would love to know if any work out for you.

    Coach Olivia