>Question: how to get rid of the self-imposed rules that I've setup? Answer: I should not feel that I have to reduce or increase certain "technique or emotions" Good question. I think that we should not aim for a certain thought or feeling. You pointed out that we should aim for 'not feeling that we have to reduce/increase a certain techcnique/emotion'. But, I think this is wrong, because then we still fall into a trap where we are relying on a certain state of feeling, you get what I mean? Let's say that I'm thinking in my mind: 'I need to first reduce fear/anticipation'. I think it's not the 'thought or feeling' that is the problem, but the action that we take towards this thought/feeling is the problem. In other words, even if I have the feeling that 'I first need to reduce fear'.. this feeling itself isn't what is increasing the defensive mechanism. Rather it's the 'action' which is, our action is: we rely on this feeling (or thought). In other words, we need to stop the **action** of 'meeting the self-imposed rule/demand/expectation' (rather than needing to reduce this thought or feeling). So, there is an action, a feeling and a thought. I think that we should prioritize 'addressing' our maladaptive action (1) where we apply the rules, (2) rely on the rule, (3) or do what the rule says, rather than the thoughts or feelings. Does that make sense? The need to reduce a feeling is exactly what creates a defensive mechanism, and thus, creates a stutter disorder by itself - in my opinion. So, I think that we should not aim for reducing a certain feeling.