I was called a broken record when I was growing because of how bad my stutter was. My best friend always had to be by my side, she was the only one that could understand me. I went to speech therapy for 7 1/2 years and now my stutter is manageable. It's hard to explain and I have ever asked other stutterers, but can you 'feel' when you are about to stutter. When I am talking I can feel that I am going to stutter on a word... So i either put the word "the" in front of it or I change it. Sometimes it is too late and I just get stuck. Since I have left high school and am in college I haven't really had anyone pick on me for a stutter. I had one friend that mocked me and then when I told him "yo I have a fucking stutter."he apologized. Now since we all are a close group of 5 they sometimes rag on me when I get super stuck on a word but I don't care.. that's friends. But only them and my family are allowed to. Also, I usually tell people I have a stutter if I hang out with them a few times or if I stutter bad in front of them. But more often than not they are say they didn't even notice it. That's always good to hear. But it is still nerve wracking to talk to new people and public speaking. I will say though I often am quieter around people I like and such because of the stutter. Sometimes the things I want to say I won't say because I can 'feel' that I am going to stutter. That sucks. However, I think that is mostly due to nerves. I'm sorry that your stutter made this happen but trust me when you find someone you know it and your stutter won't even matter. You won't want to shut up and have short conversations around them even with the stutter. I don't let my stutter define me. I usually take it with a laugh. Now I have never loved someone yet, but I hope a stutter wouldn't break up our bond and relationship. My mind and thoughts are really all over the place because well I never really get to talk to anyone who actually has a stutter. I hate the people that stutter once in a blue moon due to public speaking and they say they have a stutter and "understand my obstacles." It's refreshing to find this sub!