Perspective from a lifelong 25 year old stutterer

Perspective from a lifelong 25 year old stutterer Hi all - thought I'd make a post giving my perspective on stuttering. Hope this helps some of you. I've stuttered from early childhood through my teenage years and into adulthood, and for me my stutter has improved over time. During my childhood years I didn't really notice it to be honest with you, no one really cared back then and it didn't really seem like too much of a problem. Going into my teenage years however I started to become aware of it and it did really get to me. I almost became mute because of it's severity. I was unable to have a conversation, even with friends, without stuttering and the humiliation and the self-loathing that came with that was tremendous. Even if I had some witty comeback to something or even something to say I wouldn't say it as I'd be afraid of stuttering. Afterwards I'd kick my-self and ask "what's wrong with me?". In my early twenties I saw a slow improvement, I would say something (that I would normally stutter on) fluently and gained confidence from that. Sure I'd probably get stuck on the same sentence the next day but at least I knew I could say it. I gradually stopped overthinking every interaction I've had, what a fool I made of myself and what the other person must've thought. I practiced saying things, taking a breath before I spoke and maintaining eye contact. Of course I would stutter a lot and make those facial expressions and I would still feel the humiliation and anxiety that I would always feel. But I was trying and expressing myself and that's what counts. Those feelings fade after time. I'm 25 and still stutter - not to the degree I did in my teens but I still have those days where I get the urge to not say anything because I'm scared to. But with (some) hindsight I can safely say to overcome those days. If someone finds your stutter uncomfortable/irritating/funny etc. fuck them. It's their issue not yours. You can't help it the same way I can't. Whoever has read this far - stutter. Keep stuttering and work on it! Find out what events/situations/feelings make you stutter and focus on that. Put yourself in those situations. Don't avoid them. Apologies if this post is just a rambling but I admire all of you. Keep going, stay strong and I assure you things will look up.