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Recommendations for coaching for business events

Nexus-7

I'm 47F and was diagnosed this year with autism and ADHD. I'm Managing Director of a small business and also Chair of Trustees of a small charity. In both these roles I am frequently required to go to events which involve socialising - such as conferences, networking events, meetings, etc. Also sometimes I am asked to speak - but I avoid this if at all possible. 

I have social phobia, and in my personal life I am extremely anti-social. But in my work life I have to attend these events. I find it excruciating and leading up to any event I have terrible anxiety and dread. Afterwards I play back and dissect every interaction thinking of all the things I said and did wrong, or how I could have been misinterpreted.

I'm super awkward, so even things like someone goes to hug me, or even worse the dreaded air kiss, I always seem to go to the wrong side and cause the interaction to be weird. One time I even went the wrong way for a kiss/hug, then laughed out of awkwardness, and as I was laughing they went in for an air kiss and my teeth hit their cheek. Other times I have accidentally said the wrong thing and offended people. I cringe when I think about these things even from years and years ago. I also experience brain freeze due to anxiety. 

I used to think maybe I was being paranoid but since my diagnosis I realise I'm not. This has made the issues even worse as I have lost all confidence. 

So, my question is do any of you have recommendations for coaching to help with this? I live in London but I'm open to doing it online also. 

Thank you! Grateful for this community. 

Parents

  • I have social phobia, but I find these things easier when I'm in a professional role and know why I'm there and what I'm there to do and talk about. I fiind good preparation essential to talking to groups, my most difficult audience was the WI, they were like school girls all whispering and gossiping to each other. I found myself unconciously copying behaviours I'd seen others do, like standing tall and quietly and looking at them, they soon stopped and paid attention. I try to then minimise as much as possible the time I then spend socialising with that group and stick to networking rather than trying to be friends, I'm friendly to everyone but friends with no one, then I go home and jibber and tweet to myself.

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  • I have social phobia, but I find these things easier when I'm in a professional role and know why I'm there and what I'm there to do and talk about. I fiind good preparation essential to talking to groups, my most difficult audience was the WI, they were like school girls all whispering and gossiping to each other. I found myself unconciously copying behaviours I'd seen others do, like standing tall and quietly and looking at them, they soon stopped and paid attention. I try to then minimise as much as possible the time I then spend socialising with that group and stick to networking rather than trying to be friends, I'm friendly to everyone but friends with no one, then I go home and jibber and tweet to myself.

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