I don't think it's only anticipating a feared word. There's more fear when speaking to another person, which feeds the tension, but alone there is less fear so less tension. The question then becomes: how to reduce that fear when speaking with others? The answer may be different for different people. And removing the fear doesn't remove the genetic/neurological condition, just some of the emotion that amplifies it. I'd say it's worth doing, though. The more parts of the puzzle that are in place, the easier speaking becomes.