Finding this subreddit, and how my approach to cashiers has changed.

Finding this subreddit, and how my approach to cashiers has changed. I happened across this subreddit late one night last week when I couldn't sleep, and I just want to thank you all - I have only encountered other stutterers a handful of times in my life, and never another female stutterer like me. I've always had such difficulty trying to express to my fluent friends what the experience is like for me, and how it has been a big contributor to who I have grown up to be. When I read some of the posts here that night, I felt understood for the first time in a very long time. I felt fortunate that my stutter is not as severe as it once was, and I felt (and feel) incredible empathy for my fellow stutterers. Thank you for being here. :) ​ Something I've been doing the past few years, that I wanted to share with everyone: for years, I felt like I was worthless if a server, cashier, or other service provider would laugh at my stutter, or be very obviously impatient with me. But I reflected on that, and my time as a cashier and later a pharmacy technician - I would never, ever rush or laugh at someone with a physical or mental disability, and I always tried my best in those jobs to be supportive and open-minded. Now, I tell a cashier when I sense I will be disfluent "sorry, I have a stutter" (or, if I can't say the word "stutter", I just say "speech problem"). I realize I don't need to say "sorry", but I can't help myself I guess. Most of the time, they are very patient with me after I have given them the heads up. If they continue to laugh or are very rude, I've decided that that is not acceptable in a customer service role - and I will contact their head office and make a formal complaint. Just because my disability is not visible, does not mean it is not valid. It's helped me to feel like I am not the problem, and I do not need to be ashamed. And as an added bonus, I got a $25 gift card at Starbucks once, so that was nice! (though the experience at Starbucks that led to it was not nice at all). ​ To clarify, I understand that many people laugh when they feel uncomfortable, and if I do not tell them I have a stutter they might be confused and react with laughter. Though that stings, I understand the impulse. But after they've been told, I no longer find that response acceptable at all. ​ Sorry this is such a long post, but I just wanted to express my gratitude for this group, and share something that's made interactions with service providers more empowering!