Older adult here - been stuttering really well for 50+ years. I was covert for more than half those years, because I was filled with such shame and fear of rejection. Being covert - in hiding - handcuffed me for far too long. I avoided speaking opportunities, pretended to be shy and nervous, when I’m anything but, and generally let stuttering make all of my decisions. I was longing for ways to be more authentic and just be myself and stutter. Losing a long held job in part due to my stuttering, or more rightly so, denial, opened the door for me to really understand stuttering more and MY stuttering, which I’d never really examined because I was so full of shame and internalized stigma. I began to lose my ability to employ my tricks and crutches and decided to just let go and be me! It’s been nothing but liberating to just fully embrace me - who I am - all of me. I wasn’t - and am not - broken!