postr/StutterAugust 3, 2016

Work sending me on a 2 week consulting trip. I'm terrified.

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Content

Work sending me on a 2 week consulting trip. I'm terrified. Like the title says... I'm a software developer which has been amazing for a stutterer (I have a speech block, been in therapy for about 6 months now). I don't have to talk all that much, but being around other smart, shy people is nice, they tend to be forgiving and let you speak, regardless of how bad the stutters / blocks are. Problem is, my worst blocks are on my own name... and any word that starts with a vowel (My name starts with a vowel). And now I'm being sent off to be a consultant for two weeks on my own. I'm absolutely terrified, like most stutters I assume we always think of the worst and imagine all introductions / small talk / even big presentations will go horribly. Is all of this just linked to how we think people will perceive us? I find I still block around my good friends but I just don't really care what they think. Sorry, guess I just wanted to vent to someone / someplace. How do you all deal with these sorts of things? Is it as simple as not trying to worry about what they think?

Themes

Anticipation & AvoidanceEmotional ExperienceIdentity & Disability

Subthemes

Feared Words & NamesAnxiety & Social JudgmentHiding & ConcealmentAuthenticity vs. Masking