One member mentioned that he has challenged himself by becoming more involved at church and volunteering to do more public speaking there. He wasn't concerned so much with becoming fluent, but rather with getting out there and connecting with others. Other members echoed this: their goal in seeking speech therapy and in dealing with anxiety isn't to stop stuttering but to stop worrying constantly about their stutter.
A technique that often works to reduce worry is not hiding your stutter. A new member confirmed it. Before a presentation, he told his audience that he stuttered, and it had a positive effect both on him and on them. Another member talked about giving a presentation in front of over one hundred people. He thought only 20 would show up! But he was well-prepared and rose to the occasion--something to be very proud of.
Not running away from difficult speaking situations is what my personal goal has been for the last few years. I don't stay silent any more because I'm afraid I'll stutter. And if there's no other way to say what I want to say, I stutter. This is the commitment I want to renew in this New Year: to make my voice heard, no matter what.
Very good points. One of my dreams is to simply say what I want to say without necessarily trying to be fluent.
ReplyDeleteAs far as hiding or not hiding your stuttering (although now the term is "covert stuttering" - a euphemism if there ever was one), I don't think that not hiding your stuttering is a "technique". It's a goal in the life of most stutterers, for some, the ultimate goal, even more important than fluency.
Happy New Year to all!