Oh yes! Everyone reacts differently to things. I wasn’t repeatedly raped or anything but my parents emotionally abused and marginalized me. I can remember being loved and valued up to the time one eye slightly turned and I began also to stutter. Before that I was a little charm on their bracelet. I was presented as a marvel at the age of 3 because I could recite poetry and identify classical music pieces and their composers. The stress must have been terrifying. However, after I was no longer perfect, having an eye muscle issue, stutter, I was no longer their darling little prize. Instead of presenting my verbal abilities, I was asked to ‘modulate my voice’ to avoid being an embarrassment to them. I bet I was the only 4 year old who knew the meaning of the word modulate! After that I became heavier than they wanted, not ever obese, but not as slender as they liked, I was treated with disdain. At about 8 a male family friend began to groom me toward molestation. The abuse occurred in their presence as he held me in his lap and fondled me. Because I’d been marginalized, I believed I had been sacrificed to this pedophile. It took me until the age of 13 to tell anyone because I thought they had instigated the situation and had approved of it. I suffered other abuses as the years passed and my self esteem was destroyed. Amazingly, I married a wonderful man and never had to compete in the professional realm after university. He loved and accepted me stutter and all. Though my married life compensated for my childhood, I continued to stutter until a very talented therapist helped me deconstruct my anger and resentment. Shortly after my successful psychotherapy, I realized I was totally fluent. No one can believe I ever had a speech impediment. I finally found my voice. If there is any suspicion of early trauma, no matter how insignificant you think it might have been, I suggest investigating that possibility with a psychotherapist. Speech therapy was unsuccessful throughout my life. Repressed anger and resentment causes latent stress and in my case affected my speech for 70 years. I wish you well, keep me in the loop, Sincerely, Sue