commentr/StutterOctober 11, 2020

Content

Hey. I can relate. I was valedictorian when my stutter was at its worst. I had to give a speech and I was so anxious the preceding days I sweated buckets out of my palms and I seriously considered calling in sick and missing grad (I actually had severe palpitations, headaches, cotton mouth etc). But somehow I did it. When the applause rang at the end I almost cried. Today that video tape is my personal reminder that I can do anything. Here's what helped me: Make sure you know your speech in and out. Practice it in front of a mirror, repeat it to a trusted friend or family. Speak at your own pace, choose a cadence that suits you, put in words you know are easy for you and avoid problem syllables. Go easy on yourself. No one is perfect, not even the greatest orator on earth. Absolutely do not fixate on the fact that you might stutter. Visualise your speech going perfectly. Force that image into your mind, see yourself giving the speech smoothly and being proud of yourself in the end. During the speech, focus on an encouraging member of the audience or your teacher. You can ask a friend to sit somewhere that'll be visible to you and make encouraging gestures while you speak. Look at other general tips on public speaking. A lot of them focus on easing anxiety, and anxiety is a major exacerbator of stuttering. I'm sorry if this is a lot, but your question touched me very personally. I vividly remember the dread I felt and sometimes still feel when I have to give a speech. I believe it will go perfectly for you. All the best.

Themes

School & WorkEmotional ExperienceAnticipation & AvoidanceCoping & Advocacy

Subthemes

Public SpeakingAnxiety & Social JudgmentPreparation & RehearsalFluency Techniques