>Ever since, I've never brought it up and talk as little as possible. Of course that's what this would make most of us want to do. But....well, it sounds like maybe you already know it's leading to things actually being even harder. The apologizing thing, that's a very ingrained habit, one you can't just "decide" to stop. But if you're conscious of it, and are motivated to stop, which you are, you will begin to do it less and less until you don't do it at all anymore. But that will probably only work in conjunction with *not* stopping socializing and telling people that you stutter. Thing is, though, that you kind of have to set the tone when you tell them. Right now, they are feeling your comfortableness with the whole thing; that's why you're getting the silence. I'm not a fan of telling people to "just stop being self-conscious; just don't let it bother you." I don't think that helps. What helps is continuing to be engaged even if you don't do it perfectly right now, even if it sucks for a while longer. See, to me it's clear that you do want to be part of things....eventually, maybe sooner than you think, you will be able to tell people you stutter in a way that sets them at ease, in a way that shows them it's no big deal to you. You know, in a lighter way than you're able to do right now. Please don't stop going to those clubs and societies. For now, if you could add a few more words to what you say after "I've a stutter," it will help even if you're still just as uncomfortable. Like "it might take me longer to say things, but it's really not a big deal." I know it *is* a big deal still, but it will become less of one. It has to if you keep doing that, to the point where you actually believe what you're saying. You're in a place where people are more reserved; it's *you* who has to give them permission (so to speak) to not be so uptight. And you will; you will find yourself able to set that tone if now, right now (like today) you just keep going even though it will still be quite hard for a while. There's not really another way....