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From: Pam Mertz
Date: 01 Oct 2010
Time: 11:02:10 -0500
Remote Name: 163.153.6.70
This is an important paper. Thanks for writing it so clearly. I have been stuttering since age 5, and am now 40-something. I was extremely covert. I didn't find self help and suppport until 4 years ago, and I tried some therapy. Fuency shaping didn't work for me. It always made me feel as if I was just trying to be covert again. When it was suggested that I try voluntary stuttering, even after dismissing it as ridiculous, it made sense for me. It allows me to have control - and that totally helps with the helplessness I feel when blocking. I also find VS really does help with desensitization and reducing anxiety. I don't just talk about it, I do it and practice it. So much so that I convinced a friend who has also struggled with not finding "echnique practice" helpful. I told him about VS and we did it together over skype. He has been using it, and has shared with me that he feels less panic. I think one of the most beneficial things of sharing in these conferences as we do, is that we the people that stutter, can try things on, safely. Then, we can share that with our peers. I think my friend got so much more out of me suggesting her try VS because I have done it and found it to help. Thanks again for breaking it down like this.