How do I achieve my career potential with a stutter.
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How do I achieve my career potential with a stutter. Sorry, I don't know how to TLDR this one. I am just venting and appreciate any feedback from those who have gone through or understand what I'm going through. We all know how hard and perilous stuttering can be or generally is regardless of your age. I'm in my late twenties and I just feel so hopeless lately that I am not realizing my career potential because of my speech. As someone who is a male 28, I am keeping myself in positions lower than my skillset/capabilities simply because I can't talk and express myself when and how I want to. ​ I see all my friends succeeding at high levels in their careers, and I have to lie to them about my job and significance of my role to feel better about myself. I am the same person who taught/helped most of these people pass their exams in college and I for a fact know I am capable of so much more. If only the ability to speak was there, could I really achieve it. On a piece of paper/resume, I look like a top notch professional, but when it comes to what I do, I basically put myself in a corner where I am stuck at entry-level work. I am in IT/Business analysis and speaking is what takes you places in these roles. I know the general advice is to accept myself and unapologetically stutter and say whatever I want regardless of blocking. I just can't bring myself to do it in meetings full of people or 1:1 meetings or in mostly any verbal circumstance at work. I understand social dynamics at a deep level and I just feel weak from all aspects being quitet and feigning a shy/reserved persona to get by. Even if I want to say something confidently, I will block on the first sound or in a sequence and I can just feel the mixed concoction of patience, impatience and confused reactions in the call/meetings. Luckily, I work from home so it is not as bad as stuttering in person, but I command zero presence and just do my job from the sidelines - almost invisible. ​ I am not a technical person and I don't want to pivot my career path into something I don't like doing just because I can't speak to make some money. I understand a lot of people who stutter get into careers like development for that reason, but I can't fake interest in something. I am also not insulting anyone that does so, it is extremely difficult and takes a lot of skill/dedication. ​ Overall, I just want to be able to speak and share my ideas and contribute verbally without feeling like there's a giant proverbial gate infront of my vocal cords every time I try to. I just feel so defeated and helpless. I just want to take care of myself and my wife and am now even doubting having kids because I don't want to give them a lesser life than I had simply because I can't even speak properly. I am fortunate to have a partner who is supportive and understanding. She has a great job and I am not comparing myself to her. I am just comparing myself to what I believe is my true potential, and I feel so far behind. ​ Sorry if this post was depressing, most on this sub are. I just needed to get it out. Thanks for any advice or support. ​ I have tried speech therapy for years and paid out of pocket as well. My fluency comes and goes in waves like most stutterers. I just want an answer to at least consistently be 70-80% fluent. This could help me really get there. I just want to speak without any constraints. I just want to express myself and be able to contribute in all discussions, meetings and showcase my worth.