> *"even when I wasn't thinking about anything, my stuttering continued. So in short, isn't ignoring it normally beneficial for stuttering? "* Comment #2: There is a new (2024) research study that I've read. You highlighted, "ignoring" and "not thinking".. which I think could be considered a distraction (from 'something'), wouldn't you agree? It aligns with what this new research discusses: "*fluency-inducing conditions, include speaking with someone else, following the rhythm of a metronome, speaking under delayed auditory feedback. The most common explanation* ***for this effect is "distraction****.”* ***Because stuttering is partly an***[ **anticipatory struggle behavior**](https://www.google.com/search?q=%22anticipatory+struggle%22)***, a distraction from one’s stuttering reduces fear or anxiety and, thus, may prevent stuttering.*** *Additionally, these conditions reduce stuttering by changing the allocation of attention in people who stutter*" \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ This [research ](https://www.researchgate.net/publication/382821631_Characteristics_of_Attentional_Focus_of_Movement_among_Adults_who_Stutter)(2024) *"Characteristics of Attentional Focus of Movement among Adults who Stutter"* says: *"The cause of stuttering is not known. Certain conditions are known to eliminate stuttering immediately. Examples of these conditions, known as fluency-inducing conditions, include speaking with someone else, following the rhythm of a metronome, speaking under delayed auditory feedback. The most common explanation for this effect is "distraction.” Because stuttering is partly an*[ anticipatory struggle behavior](https://www.google.com/search?q=%22anticipatory+struggle%22)*, a distraction from one’s stuttering reduces fear or anxiety and, thus, may prevent stuttering. Additionally, these conditions reduce stuttering by changing the allocation of attention in people who stutter. The constrained action hypothesis explains the different effects of these attentional focus types on motor control: Internal focus induces more conscious control of movement, disrupting the process of automatic control. Perhaps stutterers pay too much attention to their articulatory movements (IF condition) and become fluent by altering their attention to their environment. "* *\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_* Anyway.. if we often speak fluently when we are alone, yes indeed, this may lead to experiencing reduced conditioned stimuli (i.e., less triggers for the approach-avoidance conflict). But: simply using distraction in this way.. in essence, does not improve our stuttering in the long-term because once another person enters our situation (where we speak alone), we suddenly start stuttering again. Agreed? However, I'm not saying that distraction techniques are inefficient in the long-term.. I'm positive that for some stutterers breathing techniques (i.e., focusing on breathing which basically addresses our intolerance towards conditioned stimuli) may in some people lead to long-term fluency. Although, I think this long-term fluency wasn't achieved specifically due to the use of distraction. Rather because they had successfully (mostly subconsciously) addressed the approach-avoidance conflict in response to their intolerance toward their own unique condintioned stimuli - I argue