Sorry, sure you didn't mean so,in my opinion you just wrote a very depressing story that, in my opinion, is absolutely not true!  E.g. this: --  "we do not realize how bad our speech is. To us, it is a little stutter. To others, it is difficult to endure just to listen and for any length of time. It wasn't until I was able to record the meetings I ran that I got to hear just how rough my speech cadence could be." -- Excuse me? Yóu found you sounded like that. We are overly sensitive regarding our speech.  Also many stutterers  come to realise their stutter is less bad than they thought when the listen to their recording, because during the stuttering itself there is the fear, shame, panic that is felt. Listeners only pick up on a small bit of those emotions. The recording let's you realize what the listner hears and many of us will realize: oh doesn't sound as bad as it FELT. I wish you had realised earlier on in life that others perceive you like you perceive yourself. They respect you to the degree you respect yourself!  Sorry your wife said those words. Probably to protect you. She's wrong. You could have stood up for your stutter: lead that blooming meeting, with your stutter! Your wife meant well, I guess, because of your emotional connection together. She projected expected awkwardness of participants on herself and you. Participants didn't feel awkward. People like or don't like meetings. Does'nt make a difference if the leader stutters! They are not your wife, they don't feel you! They shouldn't feel you, they're collegues, rmember, no bff's, there's a business relation, money to be made. Lead the meeting! Stutter away! You will get your message acros, or at least part of it. It's a handicap, they will and have to respect that. Nobody wants to lead a meeting anyway, so most of them were glad you did it. By leading you gain their respect not make them feel awkward. They will feel as awkward as you feel, they will respect you to the degree you respect yourself. I don't agree with the fighting. I don't agree with putting your hopes on s.l.pathologists, especially on those who happen to be in this girl's school, vacant for some new project. To the topic starter: being relaxed, yes, with your stutter, is far more important than being fluent! Relax!! It will make you more fluent even. Mention your stutter, bri g it up: yes that's my social challenge! Live your live, girl, stutter freely. People will respect you and you will become more and more fluent. Love you, love yourself, take care! No offence intended by this post. Will edit later. English is not my language, hope you understand what I meant.