Forward_Sky, I hope you hold on. Your age, 18, is so difficult anyway, but dealing with stuttering only makes things worse. From what you've written, it might be useful to talk to a mental health professional about your childhood. Many times just acknowledging and dealing with the with trauma helps dispel it. I'm not a professional but I advise you to be selective in whom you choose to confide. It's ok to share your feelings with friends, but there’s something unique about a professional therapeutic relationship. About your recent issue, of stuttering when saying your girlfriend's name, I found when that happened, it was just a temporary glitch associated with fearing I’d stutter on a particular sound or word because I had in the past. When I had that problem it was only temporary. I substituted my daughter’s name with ‘honey’ and tried saying her name at a later time and It always worked for me. If you continue having a constriction in your throat, perhaps a speech therapist could answer that issue. Please continue your education, whether at a trade school or university. More education will only boost your confidence. That will increase your ability for better employment. Anything you can to increase your self-esteem will help you stutter less because you'll feel emotionally stronger. I wish you the best of luck in your life experiences. There is even new research into treating stuttering with medication. Be strong and do anything you can to treat your stuttering, such as joining a self-help online group and practicing the exercises other stutterers do to improve fluency. Best of luck, Sue