postr/StutterAugust 28, 2019

Hey I've got a new tip that has been working for me pretty well.

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Hey I've got a new tip that has been working for me pretty well. So it's called mewing (google it if you want). It pretty much means that you get in the habit of all of your tongue being pressed against the roof of your mouth (not just the tip of your tongue, but as much as you can). It is supposed to be a jawline thing but I started doing it because apparently it's like good posture but for your throat and pharynx muscles and it makes you breath through your nose not your mouth, which is better for oxygen intake. It took me three days for it to be a subconscious habit that I do without thinking about it, the first three days takes a lot of conscious focus all the time. I noticed it helped with my stutter a ton and I was able to initiate phone calls way easier. At first I figured this was the novelty effect because plenty of other things had helped me but for only a couple of days then it doesn't help anymore. It's been 4 months now since I made it a habit and it is still significantly improving being able to start sentences and start phone calls. I don't want to give people false hope here but I think it is worth trying and maybe it will help you guys like it has been helping me. I've wondered why this helps too. One theory of mine is that it strengthens and tones your throat muscles which gives you better conscious control over the muscles and they relax easier when they need to relax (much like people who get daily exercise get better sleep and fall asleep faster because exercised muscles relax easier). My main theory though, as I believe that a stutter is more a problem in the brain and not the throat, is that this technique can give you more confidence talking to someone, much like good back posture or keeping your voice low and relaxed, and with more confidence about your personal image, the less likely you are to stutter. My last theory is that breathing through your nose, not your mouth, improves oxygen intake efficiency and your brain doesn't clash commands saying you need to breath but need to speak at the same time. Just thoughts I'm no doctor (though I'm studying to be one hah). If anyone else tries this and it does or doesn't work, let me know. I want to know if it's just me that this helps or this could be a big help to stutterers everywhere.

Themes

Anticipation & AvoidanceCauses & VariabilityEmotional Experience

Subthemes

Avoidance & SubstitutionOverthinking & MonitoringSituational VariabilityHope & Motivation

Codes (1)

telephone_video