commentr/StutterApril 14, 2025

Content

I've had a girlfriend for over 4 years and have dated quite a lot before that. If anything, dating has helped me build confidence in myself. Speech therapy hasn't helped for me either and tbh it still kinda sucks to have a stutter, but I've come to learn that your stutter isn't the problem, it's the self limiting belief, which admittedly can be quite crippling as well. For me, meeting someone in the club or during a night out or something was really difficult and was something that was just waay too scary for me to do because of my stammer. So I resorted to dating apps at first, and you can say what you want about these apps, but I have nothing but positive experiences (not including 1 terrible date, but hey, that happens). Even if it doesn't work out, which will be most of the time unfortunately, it's still a great exercise to get over social anxiety. And honestly, most girls have been absolute sweethearts about it. You really have to become comfortable with your stammer, it's part of you, and it's not going anywhere. I know it's hard living with it and accepting may be a life long journey. I'm 29 and there are still a lot of things that I haven't fully accepted yet, but having to deal with your stammer builds character and I can guarantee you that you'll become a better man because of it. I love the expression: "beauty in the struggle." I think it's very fitting for living with a stutter.

Themes

Anticipation & AvoidanceCoping & AdvocacyEmotional ExperienceIdentity & Disability

Subthemes

Avoidance & SubstitutionHiding & ConcealmentMindset shiftHope & MotivationAuthenticity vs. MaskingAcceptance & Pride

Codes (4)

socializing_group_sizesocializing_one_on_oneemotional_stateperceived_judgment