commentr/StutterJanuary 31, 2017

Content

I understand your perspective but you need to realize you're coming from an ignorant place on this. Yes, some people have some level of success with therapy, techniques, life changes, etc., but for the vast majority, stuttering is something we cannot flick a switch to turn off or on. It is not like washing the dirt out of our hair. It is like telling someone to fix their height. The best fix for stuttering, in my view, is becoming happy with yourself and not letting it hold you back. I recognize you want to help, and that's good, but my honest first reaction to this post is that I'm glad you're not my wife because, frankly, that would bother me too, and I'm a believer in a tough love approach. My advice would be to come at this from more of a loving, understanding perspective, loving your partner for who he is, encouraging him to keep pushing himself but not treating his stutter as a problem he can fix if he only tries a little harder. To be honest, if you push that too far, I would be skeptical how long that relationship would last, at least from my perspective. I would fear that he would view you as not loving or liking him as much because of his stutter, which you must understand he has very minimal control over. What he has all the control over in the world is how he lives his life and views his stutter.

Themes

Identity & DisabilityEmotional ExperienceCommunity & Support

Subthemes

Acceptance & PrideHelplessness & AgencyValidation & Empathy