>If I say something and somebody responds with "What? Or "Could you repeat that?" my brain immediately just shuts down. If the listener asks to repeat, then we could perceive it as: * *"I need to speak more fluently or my stuttering is a problem"* * *"My stuttering needs to be avoided/fixed"* * *"My words are important so I need to speak more appropriately or clearly"* [Research](https://www.researchgate.net/publication/353636923_THE_VARIABLE_RELEASE_THRESHOLD_VRT_HYPOTHESIS_OF_STUTTERING) (2021) explains above phenomenon as: if (above) reasons *trigger* us, then the execution treshold (or 'speech appropriateness regulator') becomes too high, then a freeze effect (or panic) interrupts us from sending *motor command signals* to move tongue/jaw (and other speech muscles) and then it results in a speech block. Conclusion: I recommend to stop perceiving 'fluency' as needed or special, rather normalize fluency (or forward flow) without (1) letting reasons (or sensory feedback) freeze our articulators, or (2) holding back our speech.