>So this is why I'm pondering as to whether I'm really looking at it the right way. Because this is not how other skills work. In regard to other skills, the skills stay the same whether there are people or not. There is a well known phenomenon called **performance anxiety** that happens **especially** to masters of a skill. Thats why rappers or athletes "choke." Ones ability to display a skill can become severely affected when other conditions change, depending on an internal or external stimulus. For me I know that I've mastered one-on-one communication or rather monologue and dialogue. What I still have trouble with is phones (miles better than I used to be) and group banter ( and even then only when I am interrupted). So even though I am an expert in one situation, I struggle a bit in others. that doesn't mean Gove up, it means double down and work harder oin those areas in which I am struggling. Why? because that me living my best life. Being able to really have insight into the situations that improve or exacerbate your stutter requires a lot of self awareness and insight into yourself and your body and the situations. This is the only way you can prepare yourself and start to modify your speech. Just flying blind and winging it is a kak way to go about it. Just so you know, I think most people who stutter can speak perfectly when alone. I talk more to myself than to anyone else and I never stutter. Thats why I know, that fluent me, is authentic me.