commentr/StutterApril 2, 2018

Content

Think about it in order to make a plan. Entertain *reasonable* contingencies, but don't daydream about weird shit or things you have no control over. The world is better at making weird shit than you are at imagining it, so don't try to keep up. Also, prep porn is pointless. Fun pointless for some people, but not if it's eating away at your stomach lining. Anyway, that's what I do for all stressful situations. For my speech, I focus on what I'm going to say, because prepared statements are easier for me. When I'm in the moment, I focus on how tense my muscles are, and when they're getting too tense, or I'm speaking too quickly, I focus more on how I'm speaking, to slow myself down and make sure I'm pronouncing the words correctly. A more specific strategy I have is "steering into" the stutter by elongating a sound I feel I'm having trouble with. This forces me to make bigger, more controllable motions, which are invariably fluent. You know how Dory talked "whale" in *Finding Nemo*? It's a bit like that, but not nearly as exaggerated. Practice a bit with words you have trouble on, if this is a new idea for you.

Themes

Anticipation & AvoidanceCoping & Advocacy

Subthemes

Preparation & RehearsalFluency Techniques