postr/StutterFebruary 27, 2025

Frustrated with spouse's stutter

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Content

Frustrated with spouse's stutter Look. I love them and I want to be a good support. I'm asking for feedback in a genuine attempt to figure out how to navigate this sensitive situation in a productive manner. Please don't just hate on me for being frustrated. My husband stutters. He struggles to get sounds out and repeats or enlongates sounds. He also has so many pauses and sounds like William Shatner, but almost entirely monotone. Sometimes it takes 20-60 seconds for him to process what I am saying and respond. He really struggles to talk loudly enough in loud areas and I've had to ask him to speak louder six times in a row. He has also taken so long to finish a completely monotone sentence that I've forgotten what he was actually trying to say. I am trying to pay attention and not get frustrated. I am genuinely not remembering and I have ADHD. And my internal frustration at his pauses and monotone voice are making it harder for me to actually pay attention to his words, but I do try. He told me tonight I have no poker face and it stings that I make faces when he tries to talk. I cannot imagine and didn't realize. The thing is, I know you are frustrated too. I read enough of your posts to see that it so negatively impacts many of you. There is a barrier between me and my husband and I love him so deeply, but this is brutal. I'm so tired of having to ask him to repeat himself or waiting for 30 seconds for him to process something and start saying something only to have five or ten second pauses after every handful of words. It's like trying to scoop water with a strainer for me to retain it. And then once he does get the words out we still misunderstand each other because he is so incredibly literal that I have to ask clarifying questions to be on the same page and I have to pay all of that extra attention again to hopefully not misunderstand this time. So. I love this man. What can we or I do? I know this is a space for people who stutter and it might not be easy to read this. I am genuinely trying to be better and can try to change what I do. I also have a communication disorder that is recently diagnosed so I am trying to figure out if there are any skills I can learn that appaaaaarently I didn't possess this whole time that might help this situation. I am really not trying to make him feel bad, but apparently I am. You guys seem like the only ones who might be able to give me some advice. How can this improve?

Themes

Anticipation & AvoidanceCauses & VariabilityEmotional Experience

Subthemes

Avoidance & SubstitutionOverthinking & MonitoringStress & Fight/FlightSeverity & FluctuationFrustration & AngerAnxiety & Social Judgment