Everything you've said is true, and then some. Having a barrier, even if it's just a piece of fabric can reduce anxiety and tension when it comes to stuttering and anxiety as a whole. A blogger who I've been reading for years struggles with anxiety, going to crowded places and even leaving their house at times. But they love Conventions! They've learned that their anxiety is much more manageable if they are in costumes, or if they have on some sort of face mask. I think a lot of stuttering comes from feedback loops of tension and anxiety. Stuttering can get worse for many people when we are anxious or tense and that results in more anxiety, more tension. Feedback loop. Breaking that loop is critical in my experience. Not going to ever 'cure' my stutter, but using a variety of tactics can reduce it. Those tactics can be Speech Therapy, altering patterns, learning a new way to use a phone, or even.. wearing a facial mask. Glad you're finding new methods that work for you!