postr/StutterJuly 9, 2014

Maybe I can help?

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Maybe I can help? I'm fairly new to this subreddit and wanted to contribute my experiences/techniques in hopes that they will help you to some degree. I'm 26 and have had a stutter all of my life. When I was a teenager, I could deal with it a lot better.. as I got older, I found it manifests itself a lot more due to high anxiety/stress. I have never been able to talk about it openly, it's something I'm truly sensitive about and I find it to be high on the list of embarrassing things. Getting choked on that one word, feeling your stomach sink as you keep trying your hardest to get the damn thing out! It hurts, to say the least. To see people looking at you like "What the actual fuck is wrong with you?" Especially when you listen to everything they say and realise they are ignorant and have no good ideas whatsoever. Yet here I am, full of awesome things to say but I can't talk. So yeah, good ol' stuttering. I've always found that mine worsens if I have to read aloud in front of people, but if I'm just making idle conversation.. I actually sound normal. One thing I've noticed is that sometimes if I change my original voice to a slightly different tone or put a subtle accent on it.. I can speak fluently. It's like acting. I always have trouble introducing myself and I sincerely hate that. I can never get my name out without a minor stutter in there. "Hello, nice to meet you.. I'm Pro-Pro-Pro-tocolDroid_" *awkward smile* I just want to say, being someone who goes from a minor stutter to a crippling cringe-worthy-please-kill-me-now stutter.. You can get a job and be successful. You can do anything you want. Yes, it's scary to go interviews and come out not wanting to kick your own ass. The key is confidence. Dress well and make yourself believe you look good. If you have troubles saying your own name, use a shortened version of your name and introduce yourself as that. Heighten or lower your tones when you speak, take on a different accent than your own. These people don't know you personally and don't know your voice. If you concentrate on anything else other than your stutter, you'll be fine! Keep eye contact when you're talking, don't look down to 'hide', you'll stutter more. I'm not saying change who you are in order to mask your stutter, just do something that makes it all a bit easier for you. For the lot of you that have trouble speaking even if you're on your own, practicing reading aloud.. find someone else who stutters and practice talking to eachother on a skype call or something. I've had a lot of experience as far as interviewing, working in customer service, even telemarketing. If you have questions, fire away. Aside from that, nice to meet you guys!! Hope I can help in some way and maybe you can help me as well! Apologies for the wall of text.

Themes

Identity & DisabilitySchool & Work

Subthemes

Identity & Self-PerceptionEmployment & CareerAuthenticity vs. Masking

Codes (2)

ordering_service_encountersaying_name_introduction