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From: Alan Badmington (additional comments)
Date: 09 Oct 2007
Time: 04:24:40 -0500
Remote Name: 195.194.75.225
Hi Judy, Please accept my apologies for the slight delay in providing an additional response, but (as you are aware) I have only limited Internet access at present. My earlier response was typed (at the local library) with a great deal of haste – hence the abundance of typing errors. ;-) Returning to the thrust of your initial post, nature has equipped us with a means of dealing with stress, namely ‘fight or flight’ (pounding heart, rapid breathing etc). These physical responses are ways in which our bodies automatically prepare us to cope with situations that may place us in danger. In bygone days, stress generally related to physical emergencies. Today, stuttering does not create a physical threat to those who experience dysfluency (except, perhaps, in the most extreme circumstances, where our inability to speak clearly/immediately might cause a risk to our personal safety). However, it can certainly threaten our social and psychological well being by adversely affecting our communication/interaction with others. I have heard it argued that stress (and its reactions) can have positive and beneficial influences. Actors and athletes harness their stress to improve their performances. Most of us are programmed to retain the status quo in life. We feel more at ease when we adhere to a well-trusted routine/environment, where there is an absence of risk. When we start challenging ourselves, and move outside our habitual comfort zones, stress may well occur. Change represents the unknown - it also exposes us to uncertainty and possible failure. Two strategies for reducing stress are adequate preparation (for an event) and discussing our intended actions with others (so that we may receive reassurance and, maybe, approval. We all react differently to stress – we have our own trigger points and ‘discomfort thresholds’. These are hugely influenced by our belief systems, self-image and emotional baggage, while our personal lifestyle can also be an influencing factor. Relaxation techniques, a healthy diet and exercise are recognised ways of reducing stress, together with increased assertiveness and resisting time pressure. In my own personal case, I found it useful to use positive affirmations and creative visualization. I also closely monitored my negative self-talk and adopted a more positive approach to life. A positive outlook helped me to view obstacles as challenges/opportunities, while also assisting me to stay motivated. Keeping my glass half-full did not mean that I was denying the negative. It simply meant that I made a conscious decision to see encouragement, rather than discouragement. We move in the direction of our dominant thought. If our dominant thought is failure, then we will inevitably create failure. If our dominant thought is success, then we are more likely to create a successful outcome. When we sow negative seeds, we can expect a crop failure. When we sow positive seeds, we are much more likely to experience a fruitful harvest. With regard to creative visualization, when we imagine ourselves achieving a goal in our mind, our brain accepts the experience as authentic. We even experience emotions and sensations similar to those that would have occurred had we achieved the same goal in real-life. When we regularly ‘see’ ourselves achieving a goal in our imagination, we begin to believe that we can achieve it in everyday life. By using visualization techniques, I was able to generate images of success that allowed me to build up a pattern of positive behaviour in my sub-conscious mind. When I expanded my comfort zone, I approached the new speaking challenges with the expectation that I would enjoy positive experiences. The combined strategy of using a positive approach, together with the reassurance of invaluable new techniques/tools (to overcome speech blocks and ‘difficult’ words), meant that my confidence was always sky-high. Consequently, I was able to manage my stress levels. Thank you for taking the time to read my paper and for contributing to the threaded discussion. It’s always a joy to communicate with you. Kindest regards Alan