Content
Feeling very lonely b I (28/M) have had a stutter since the age of 6. I have always felt very self conscious about my stutter. I usually avoid interacting with others because I am afraid I will stutter and embarrass myself. The last time I had friends was at the age of 16. When I was younger I didn’t care so much and I never really paid attention to the way I spoke. I have spent many years in social isolation and feeling disconnected from other people. I missed out on socialising for most of my 20s and feel deep regret now that I am almost 30. It feels like I was robbed of my youth. The loneliness was something I thought I had become accustomed to. However, I see myself longing for companionship and friendship. People my age have friendships groups and are looking to get married and have kids. I have never even dated yet. I feel so behind. I just don’t know how to overcome my fear of speaking. I am constantly afraid that if I try an initiate a conversation with someone that I will mess up and be laughed at, so I just don’t bother and keep quiet instead. I am sick of constantly being told that I am too quiet and people questioning why I don’t talk. I am not naturally an introvert, but it is my stutter that really holds me back.