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From: Anita
Date: 01 Oct 2009
Time: 02:08:05 -0500
Remote Name: 83.223.9.17
Hallo Ari. In my opinion long time blocks are the worst, simply because people don't know how to react. Speech suddenly stops, mouth, eyes, body parts suddenly paralize, that scares people. What is the worst scenario? At a youth meeting a group of kids made a movie about the worst scenarios and a guy with a block freaked out a woman who directly called for an ambulance. :-) I don't think this will happen. They won't run away. What they might do is look away, fill in words or simlpy look scared. I used to close my eyes, pretending the stutter didn't happen. But as soon as I closed my eyes, it was ME who shut out the other, which made an end to the conversation. So if you still show you're talking, it just takes some time, by remaining eye contact, using the same body language you use as you speak (moving hands in an explaning way), you show that there is still communication going on and that, if he/she just holds on for a moment, the words will come out. Another thing that has helped me tremendously is to wear a button that I stutter, using funny comments like "S-s-sure I s-s-stutter. What are you good at?" or the one I stole from Russ "It's ok that I stutter, because what I have to say is worth repeating". Those buttons make people understand what is the matter with me and also shows them it's ok to talk about it. It relaxes me, as I don't have to hide it, which helps my speech, and it relaxes them as they are not afraid I'm having a fit. I just have a stutter. And if I'm not embarrased or feeling uncomfortable by my speech (or at least pretend I'm not...), they won't be either. It's easier sais than done, I know. It took me many years. But life is so much easier now. And, taking away the fear, has improved my speech automatically. A win-win situation. :-) I wish you all the success and don't forget to keep talking, no matter what. Warmly, Anita i am dealing with the fears of stuttering,but there is one fear that is very frighting : the fear of losing communication because of long time blocks. how you overcome this fear?