Incredible how I came onto this sub to post something just like this, then I saw your post. My story is different, but our problems are the same. ​ My speech was good enough to get me through university and no one really knew until I started working. This gave my manager and others power over me because I could not truly express what I wanted to say or felt without sounding like a blabbering idiot (to others of course). The feeling of being degrading to that level takes a toll on your mental health that people around you can't fathom. All they see is you choking on your words and immediately assert their position of dominance over you through body language and tone. I fucking hated this and I hated knowing that I am actually a genius capable of so much more. I don't say this to gloat, but I feel that us stutterers are generally smarter and way more conscious than the average person knowing that we spend most, if not all our lives having an internal dialogue of immense reflection, contemplation and observation. IF only we could express everything we felt and wanted to share with the world. We could be leaders, achievers and secure the best life for ourselves. IF IF IF..there are many leaders, celebrities and millionaires who have gone through this same pain, yet they conquered it. ​ Well guess what I realized? No one has it easy. You may not believe in faith and divine circumstance, and I am sure you have sat and asked yourself "why me?" Why did I end up with this? I bet you never got your answer. Because you never looked hard enough and I haven't either until recently. I don't want to get all Tony Robbins all your ass and motivate you; I just want to be as real as possible. Me, you and everyone else replying to this post has/is or will go through the same thing as you. You are not alone. Look around the world. Once you truly peer into the lives' of people you get a firsthand account of the pain they mask and carry on their lives with. Unfortunately for us, our problem is surface level for the world to see, but does that not go for people who lose their limbs, have their faces burned off, have diseases that ruin their physical appearance, etc? There are people out there that have been molested as kids, raped, seen loved ones killed, lost their parents at a young age, but they continue to push forward - YOU WOULD NEVER KNOW THIS. ​ With this post, I write not only directly to you, but to myself. Never fucking give up because ONLY YOU know your self-worth. Your parents, colleagues and no one else in this world can assign value to you. You are in a defeatist mindset and you can never win and overcome this until your perception changes. You are letting external circumstances define your internal self-worth and purpose. I know I can overcome this, I know you can, I know anyone can. It is all about perception. Everything in life is about perspective and right now you are wearing the conscious lenses of hell. ​ If you need someone to talk to, practice your speech with, or for any reason at all, feel free to reach out. ​ I am in my mid-20s and have a successful future to build. I cannot be thinking about living on government-aid my entire life because I will eventually fulfill that prophecy. I want a successful, lucrative and respectful career and I want to be my best-self so I die with no regrets. I know you want the same.