commentr/StutterJuly 8, 2020

Content

Exposure therapy mostly (never avoiding talking even when I have the option to) once I start avoiding things like ordering food or talking on the phone and stuff like that they become worse for me. I have little thought processes to control my anxiety in the moment. If I'm worried about going through a drive through to order dinner or something and I'm feeling tense.i just think to myself in 3 minutes it won't matter how much I stuttered I'll have what I want and be on my way so there's no point being stressed over a few seconds that won't matter when it's done. When I'm dealing with someone face to face I have a well rehearsed upbeat "hi how are you?" it's amazing how well people respond to it. They brighten up. I relax and even if I do stutter they usually are much less reactive to it because I've started the conversation on a positive note. I've reached a point where I know I can get through most social interactions fine even if I stutter a lot so I don't stress as much about them before hand. And occasionally I'll go through periods of a week or more of my stutter being more severe then usual. So I'll make sure to take ten minutes a day to sort of meditate. Just sit down somewhere quiet, close my eyes focus on breathing slowly. It doesn't decrease my anxiety and stutter immediately but it does help. It's an accumulative affect. Hopefully some of this works for you.

Themes

Coping & AdvocacyEmotional ExperienceSocial & Relationships

Subthemes

Voluntary Stuttering & ExposureMindfulness & BreathingAnxiety & Social JudgmentQuality of Life

Codes (2)

ordering_service_encounteremotional_state