How I Answer 99% of Questions About Stuttering

How I Answer 99% of Questions About Stuttering I often get direct messages from strangers on social media asking about overcoming stuttering. I send links to my publications, but most of the time they don't want to study my journey; they want me to help them personally. I won't say I have a lot of free time for such consultations. And yet, I remember and understand perfectly well the pain one has to face, so I try to answer everyone, albeit without much pleasure. *The request is 99% of the time as follows:* # "In general, I speak normally, but periodically and in certain situations, I find it difficult to speak. How can I deal with blocks in those moments? How can I avoid setbacks? And do you (meaning me) still stutter?" *I understand these questions perfectly and would have asked them myself 6-7 years ago. And now I will try to formulate an answer as briefly, clearly, and vividly as possible:* If stuttering occurs again, it should be taken as an indicator calling for timely action. When I felt speech was becoming more difficult, I started recording voice messages to a fellow sufferer. Then I listened to them myself to track aspects of my speech that I could improve. If the speech sounded choppy, I tried to record a new message more smoothly. If I noticed I was speaking too fast, I tried to record the next message more slowly. Do you understand what I mean? And each new message sounded better than the previous one. Every successful voice message boosted my confidence again. Each such message gave me the feeling that I can influence my speech, that I can speak as fast, slow, loud, or emotionally as I want. I can smile while speaking or maintain a stone-faced expression. And when I achieved this with voice messages, I tried to replicate this state in conversations with people I like. And only then could I try to transfer this state to communication with people who make me a little nervous. This path is like a big staircase. Each type of speech situation is a separate step. Talking to yourself, with family, friends, colleagues, strangers, bosses, subordinates, peers, one-on-one, in public, in person, on the phone, on Zoom, in voice messages, and much more—these are all different steps. If you're asking me how to step onto a step that, as you yourself feel, you're not ready to take yet, then you first need to achieve "total confidence" on the steps where you can somehow stand right now. **"Total confidence" means you can speak as fast, slow, loud, or emotionally as you want. Moreover, it doesn't mean you don't feel anxiety. It only means you can express any emotion at that moment.** And only then, taking a step that previously seemed impossible, will you feel only slight anxiety. At the same time, you will understand that you can do it in principle, and then solidify your footing on that step by developing "total confidence." If you ask me if I stutter at work, in the hospital, or during interviews, those are steps I have been firmly standing on for a very long time. However, there is still room to climb. Now, for example, my next step is to gain full confidence when speaking on a big stage in front of 200+ people. And I always check my speech and state by recording and listening to my voice messages and try to make timely adjustments so that the daily stress from work doesn't accumulate in the speech apparatus as tension. If I have answered the questions exhaustively, then to gain even greater benefit, I recommend rereading this answer again. Like if you like. Dislike if you dislike.