postr/StutterOctober 20, 2018

Do any of you suffer with a "block" stutter?

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Do any of you suffer with a "block" stutter? Hey, folks. I was just wondering if anybody here suffers from a "block" stutter? I've stuttered all my life, and indirectly it has compounded a lot of aspects of my day-to-day. Much of my social anxiety, or any anxiety, really, stems from my stuttering. When I was younger, it was the classic repetition, but ever since I reached my teenage/adult years, it developed into a "block" stutter. By "block", what I mean is that I simply cannot get the word out, but I don't have the repetition, either. Typically, it happens on the first word of a sentence, particularly hard consonants like 'B', 'D', and 'G'. So, for example, if I were to ask someone "Do you like apples?", I'll sometimes just go "D-", usually followed by them staring at me strangely for a few seconds as I force the rest of the sentence out. It's incredibly frustrating. I used to manage it by dropping the problem letters totally, as I tend to talk pretty fast so it isn't noticeable. This doesn't work anymore. Outside of that, if I'm stuck in a block, I find it impossible to get out of. I almost wish I had the classic repetition, as at least people know I'm stuttering then, as opposed to the typical confusion I sometimes get. I've recently started a new job, and because nobody there knows I stutter, I have barely said a word and have come off as standoffish or awkward at best. There's so many jokes, conversations, etc. I could have hopped in on, but have simply been unable to say anything. I'm also lost in a perpetual anxiety that during a meeting or conversation, I'll suffer from a really bad episode and alienate pretty much everyone I work with. Anyway, I was wondering if anyone has any tips for the "block"? I recall being in speech therapy when I was younger, but whenever I was in session, I wouldn't stutter at all, which is odd. Ever since, I haven't bothered going back, but have tried to patch together some coping mechanisms myself, but these are getting pretty threadbare now. Thanks in advance, fellas.

Themes

Speech & StutteringEmotional ExperienceSchool & Work

Subthemes

Blocks & StoppagesAnxiety & Social JudgmentEmployment & Career