I read MintChococo's comment today [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/Stutter/comments/1bj4c8j/comment/kvoz3ir/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button). They are saying that word-substitution is an avoidance behavior (a trick): * it can become exhausting * it doesn't bring the fear (or pressure) down of the escaped word * it allows temporary escape * it increases monitoring-reactivity level Do you remember when you were in primary school? In primary school, I never heard of the concept: "*Look someone in the eye to get past a speech block*". At that moment in time, my stuttering wasn't influenced by looking someone in the eye. So, if I was making eye contact or not, it never affected my stuttering. But then, in high school, my speech therapist explained to me that looking someone in the eye increases fluency. Of course I listened to my SLP, but I never saw improvement in fluency, pressure, or fear when using eye contact. My therapist still continued saying that eye contact improves fluency, and a lack of eye contact results in more stuttering, fear or pressure. Conclusion: I draw the conclusion that, in this context, holding eye contact is simply an expectation that we can associate with executing speech movements. In my experience, I never needed to avoid eye contact or make eye contact - specifically to move the speech muscles more easily.. but by relying on making eye contact, it then becomes an avoidance behavior and trick, in my opinion. How do you see this in your own experience?