Content
40 year old stutterer Hey guys (and gals). I'm so glad I found this subreddit! I turned 40 last year and have stuttered for as long as I remember. My uncle stutters too so in my case it's probably hereditary. It's wonderful to hear from all of you that share the same struggles I do, but at the same time heart-breaking when I read posts from you young guys (and gals) who are wondering what kind of future you can have as a stutterer. I can tell you from experience that a stutterer can have a very successful, happy, fulfilling, absolutely wonderful life. My speech has improved considerably over the years. I've worked hard at it by practicing fluent speaking when alone, recognizing my social anxiety and thought patterns, and facing my fears head-on. And age helps too because you tend to accept yourself and stop caring so much what people think as you get older. I still struggle to be fluent in certain situations and yeah it sucks sometimes. I have trouble making phone calls for routine things like scheduling my kids doctor visits. I have trouble talking with new people at my gym. For some reason I have trouble saying one of my kid's name - it's pretty embarrassing when somebody asks you your child's name and you block and they are wondering what kind of parent forgets their kid's name! But I can honestly say that stuttering really doesn't bother me any more and most days I don't even think of myself as a stutterer. I have a successful career (started a software company 8 years ago that now employs 15 people), have a wonderful (and hot) wife of almost 19 years, and friends who are better to me than I deserve. I truly don't feel like my stuttering has held me back in life - at least not in any meaningful way. For you young guys (and gals) - it will get better. Stuttering is frustrating, embarrassing, and often completely bewildering - but it doesn't have to control your life. If you want to have a successful, happy life the same rules apply to us as everybody else - figure out what you want and then work hard to make it happen. Nobody is going to do the work for you - you have to go get it for yourself. And you can do it.