Speech problems =[

Ramza

Hey, um so yeah I have like a weird stutter type thing if you could call it that. I first developed stuttering problems when I was like 12 (when I started to gain some weight too). I'm not at all confident because of this problem I have. I hate it so much. Basically like I trip myself up when I'm talking, kind of. It's annoying cause I can't even talk normally when I'm with friends or family, it's soannoying. If I want to give my opinion on something I can't. I don't like going into shops or talking to people like that etc. I always stutter and look stupid then people laugh. And when I go to the cinema I always get someone to buy my ticket for me etc. Like before I say something I kind of say it under my breath a little before I speak out and I stutter there. I lock up, would be a good way of describing it.

It's annoying cause when I want to join in on conversation or give views, or even say stuff, I can't, some stuff I can't say, or totally mess up. Someone told me I try to speak to fast and I should slow down. Well I do and nothing happens, it doesn't help I'm just so sick of it! It totally kills my confidence, it really upsets me

LegacyUser

Go to your doctor & ask to be referred to a speech therapist who will be able to help you.

I used to have a stutter and more or less stopped in my late teens, apart from the odd time still where I cant say words starting with m or b. Now I just make a joke of it & it takes the discomfort out of the situation for everybody.

phic

This may seem obvious, so sorry, but have you spoken to your GP about it? They could probably refer you to a speech therapist who could help? I've a tendency to speak so fast people have no idea what I'm saying, practising reading things to myself in the mirror helped with that, it might work for you?

Darthhoob

my brother stutters quite badly, he did speech therapy as a kid but, although it helped a little, it was still bad. tbh he probably should have gone again as an adult. it used to really make him anxious much like you, but as he grew up he cared less about what people thought and kinda got on with it. if he stuttered he just took a few breathes and started again slower. he now has much more ocnfidence and as a result stutters alot less.

when you are anxious you are likely to stutter more often so you need help with your confidence as well as seeing a speech therapist. go to your GP and explain the situation and he/she should refer you

i also agree with the poster who says they made a joke out of it, it helps ease the situation....for yourself and others. try to rememebr than when people laugh it isn't always out of nastiness, sometimes it can be because they feel uncomfortable and dont know how to act or what to say when you do it x

newbie2009

I strongly suggest you see a speech therapist. There is a programme called the MaGuire programme I think directed at totally eradicating the stutter in people, I remember Gareth Gates was on the Late Late about it with others and he was completely recovered.

pepsi1234

OP, Sorry you are having these problems.
I would suggest going to see a counsellor rather than a speech therapist. The speech therapist will only address the physical manifestation of your stutter. I think it would be better to go to a counsellor to talk about the feelings of guilt,shame,fear surrounding your speech as well as ways of coping and not having to resort to avoidance strategies all the time. Also, since the focus would be on you it would be a chance to fully express yourself and not worry about what the other person is thinking/time pressure.
From what I understand, the Maguire programme addresses both aspects and is a big step to recovery for a lot.
However, it is not a case of doing a course and becoming fluent. It will take a lot of work, acceptance of your stutter, being open about it etc. which is extremely extremely hard (as no doubt you know already). I have utter admiration for Gareth Gates who did the course because he had quite a severe stutter before.
Good luck!

lors233

Hi Ramza, I've been a stutterer since I was about 4. I had speech therapy as a kid and again as an adult. While seeing a counselor is probably good advice I'd really encourage you to see a speech therapist as well. There are different types of stutter and from what you describe I'd say yours is different to mine - I repeat the first part of words. I'm sure it would be helpful to you to know as much about your condition as possible.

As a kid I was told that I spoke too fast and that I should speak very slowly. I'm no expert at all but as far as I know speaking too fast has been ruled out as a cause of stuttering.

In my mid twenties I went looking for speech therapy because my stutter was getting worse and I was throughly fed up with it. Having to make phone calls was a nightmare and it's funny you should mention it but buying cinema tickets was one of the worst situations I could imagine. As far as I know there are lots of different approaches but my therapist worked to desensitise me to my stutter so that I now just don't care so much when it happens. With so much less stress associated with my speech my fluency greatly improved and really it's not so much of a problem any more. Most people I meet in social situations don't realise that I stutter until I tell them. I still stutter but I either ignore it or make a joke of it, depending on the situation.

There is so much information available on the internet. My advice would be to get a referral from your GP, see a speech therapist and see what course of action they suggest. Once you find out what you're dealing with you can do more research. I have looked into the Maguire program a few times (someone even sent me an anonymous letter recommending it - that was weird....). I don't feel I need it at the moment, but I've read some good things.

Sorry this is quite a long post but I'm not sure what bits might be helpful to you so I've post everything I can think of. I hope things go well for you.

TiwstaSista

My friend stutters but he is a very good businessman and very confident.
He doesn't mind and I think people don't mind too. Don't think of it as a
problem and soon you will be talking as comfortable as everybody else.