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From: Anita
Date: 16 Oct 2012
Time: 02:43:56 -0500
Remote Name: 81.229.220.43
Dear Shira. Yes, it was hard to talk about stuttering, both at home and in school. I was doing something wrong. My fault. My problem. Something that was taboo to talk about. While, which I realized later, it was something OTHER PEOPLE had a problem talking about. And the moment I found that out, I have not been quiet one single moment. :-) And of course humor is helpful. It helps me to relativate. And my button, with the phrase on, helps others to open up and ask questions. i just got a new job and the first thing I told the people I'll be working with, that, if they call me, and the phone seems to be dead, they have come to the right preson. :-) I won't accept others making fun of me or my situation, other than people who've walked in my shoes, or me myself. When I tell my story, people cry over what I've been through, but the anecdotes, (as yes, we do enter some hilarious situations, most of them caused by our listeners who simply don't get it) make them laugh, and the bottom line of it all makes them realize stuttering is a problem on itself and we need help from people treating us as well as people dealing withour speech, but doesn't define me as a human being. We might as well laugh at it. As the enemy you laugh at, will get no grip on you. But all that came later. My writing and my music has been very helpful to me. My writing I kept to myself until later, but playing in a band was my lifeline. No bullying, if I wasn't there, I (or at least my part) was missed which made me feel important, we shared the same thing, and afterwards we spent some social time. Needless to say I was playing in five bands at the same time. :-) It's important, when you feel like an outcast, and as worthless as I felt, to find something you are good at. Something that can make you express yourself. Something that creates a connection to other people. Now if that's writing, music, art, theatre, at least it helps to make you feel you ARE good at something and that you play an important part and can hare something of yourself. Everyone is good at something. You just need to find that something. And hopefully share it. Do check out my papers in previous ISAD conferences and I hope we get the time to chat at the world congress for people who stutter next year. :-) www.stuttering2013.com. Keep talking!