commentr/StutterJanuary 7, 2021

Content

Sorry to hear. I sympathize, I get so anxious before I have to do phone interviews (or really any talking). The thing about public speaking is that it takes practice, my nerves always prevented me from getting the practice, I would feel the same way as you - anxious and stomach in knots. I think some people have luck with practising in front of a mirror until it’s so memorized that you are more calm. I didn’t stutter until I was in grade 4 or something, and in grade 6 I was one of the leads in a play! Memorizing everything to death was the only thing that helped. Fast forward to university and I would drop a class in economics if I knew I would have to do a presentation. I never was able to transition what I learned in the play into school, I think I never had the patience to practice the speech and was lazy and it was just easier to avoid. I know you’re in pain, you’re not alone, I love reading this sub because even posts like this where there was a bad experience - it opens up the possibility that someone can maybe give a hint or trick or something that helped them and it might help you turn this into a positive experience. It’s so easy to self loathe with stuttering, but you’re doing amazing with your grades and maybe you can talk to your teacher about doing the presentation 1-on-1 for part marks so you can keep your scholarship, just explain how you explained here, nothing to lose, you’d be surprised how accommodating people can be. Good luck!

Themes

Anticipation & AvoidanceCauses & VariabilityCommunity & SupportEmotional ExperienceSchool & Work

Subthemes

Avoidance & SubstitutionOverthinking & MonitoringStress & Fight/FlightAdvice RequestsAnxiety & Social JudgmentSchool & Academic Life