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From: Alan Badmington
Date: 02 Oct 2010
Time: 15:41:00 -0500
Remote Name: 95.144.70.91
Hi Judy, Thank you for contributing a paper that is very close to my heart. Having commenced stuttering in early childhood, I developed a variety of strategies to protect myself from shame and embarrassment. I began avoiding words that appeared to cause me difficulty. Almost unconsciously, I substituted them with others that I felt more confident in using. Avoidance crept insidiously into my life. I was unaware of the true extent of my dependence - it became such an integral part of my existence. Until recent times, I was completely oblivious to the fact that, whenever I changed a word, I fuelled my fear of saying that word. Each time we avoid something, we strengthen its influence over us. We can avoid for so long, but the time will come when the situation demands that we have to say a specific word, or speak in a particular situation. When that happened, I found that my fear level had increased to such a level that I stuttered more severely. Had I been aware of the implications when I was younger, I would certainly have made every effort to reduce my avoidances. By deliberately introducing such words into my daily conversation (and not waiting until they had to be said), I found that the fear gradually receded. Today, I no longer avoid words or situations, nor experience any anticipatory fear. In recent years, I have met a number of stroke victims who needed therapy to help them regain the ability to speak. Interestingly, several admitted to practising substitution in respect of words/sounds that they found difficult to say. Kindest regards Alan