The upside-down method for treating stage fright

The best example of the upside-down method is an episode of Seinfeld in which George decided to do everything the opposite of what he used to do - that if he always ordered a fixed dish at a restaurant, he will now take something he has never tasted (and discovers that it is very tasty), If he sees a beautiful girl and he never dared to approach her then now he will actually try (and to his surprise she is actually happy), and if he goes on a date with her and in the end she invites him up then he will actually say that it is still too early (which makes her desire him more). In short, to do the opposite of his initial impulse.

So how does all this relate to fear of crowds? Because social anxieties cause us to have automatic reactions that usually put us in a closed circle, and by breaking this circle using the upside-down method, you can fight the fear.  

This happens because the very act of confronting fear gives a sense of coping, and also because of the irrational nature of fear. Remember: the very essence of a phobia is anxiety that the sufferer is aware of the lack of logic in it (otherwise it's psychosis and not a phobia) but still feels the anxiety. That's why the action is very effective because it 'proves' to us that the fear is not real and that nothing will happen if we look at the audience or slow down the pace of speech, etc.

Tip #1 The problem: lack of eye contact
For example, an effective technique in my courses is to have a participant who avoids eye contact with the audience begin their speech with a long, searching look at each participant.
its not easy. The first two times you really have to press, and then also remind a little. But it usually works great and after three or four practices the eye-contact problem disappears for good, and the participant experiences a decrease in audience fear. The advantage of the 'upside-down' action is that it gives the participant an experience of coping that replaces the experience of escape and avoidance.