commentr/StutterMarch 2, 2025

Content

Well I can’t guarantee that this will work for everyone, but for me it has worked. Also it is not easy, it takes a lot of practice and I was really persistent. Basically I trained myself to be able to stop trying to force the block, and instead just allow a few moments of silence, without any effort or anything, literally just a real pause and moment of rest. I would take a few deep breaths and release some of the tension in my throat. I would allow the silence to stretch a little longer, then I would just say the word. It’s tricky because it’s actually VERY hard to purposefully allow a few moments of silence when someone is looking at you, expecting you to keep speaking. It feels very awkward and uncomfortable (at first!) and even a few moments can seem to last an eternity. The block happens because it’s so natural to just KEEP ON FORCING IT. You feel this panic and you just push harder and harder. But if you just stop and release the tension and wait a few moments, you may find you can just say the word. Again, it took me a long time to get the hang of this, so don’t get discouraged if it’s really hard at first. If you keep trying, you’ll get the hang of it. To me it doesn’t feel particularly awkward or uncomfortable anymore, I’m totally used to it. I suppose other people may feel uncomfortable, but that’s not my problem lol. Also, I’ve found that after years of practicing this technique (AFTER the year or two it took me to even master it), I’ve stopped having the blocks at all. Well, I suppose it’ll happen like once a month or something. But it used to happen like 5 times a day. Please let me know if this even makes sense, it’s very individual and i have no idea if someone else could even replicate what I am doing at all.

Themes

Coping & AdvocacySpeech & Stuttering

Subthemes

Voluntary Stuttering & ExposureBlocks & Stoppages