18F, first year in college stuttering is making me feel invisible and alone
Content
18F, first year in college stuttering is making me feel invisible and alone Hi everyone, I’m 18F and a first year college student. I stutter, and honestly, it’s been really hard. I don’t have friends. I avoid social interactions as much as I can because speaking feels exhausting and embarrassing. I can’t even pronounce my own name properly. People sometimes look at me like I’m stupid or slow, and that hurts more than the stutter itself. During class hours, even saying “present” feels impossible. I sit there panicking, hoping the teacher skips my name. When I can’t speak, it feels like my chest tightens and my mind just shuts down. I feel stuck. Lonely. Like everyone around me is moving forward and I’m frozen in place because of something I can’t control. College was supposed to be a fresh start, but instead it feels worse than school.