I know this feeling so, so well. There's no right answer to how to handle it. Just know that you are able to survive it. My stutter was (probably still is, to outsiders) pretty bad, but what I think has made me a bit less self-conscious lately is focusing on how much I really want to communicate things. I focus on the subject of the conversation, not so much the way in which I'm explaining things. I'm starting to feel like the listener actually is privileged to listen to me because I actually have meaningful things to say! My stutter is still with me, but I would have never though that I would actually be able to feel this way - not perfect, not "cured", but actually eager to say things, to tell people my thoughts. Maybe it's just a period, it may not be permanent, but it means so much to me, to feel, even so slightly, less insecure. PS: as we all know, the more we talk, the better it gets. So please never shut up! And you are not alone <3