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From: Richard
Date: 15 Oct 2012
Time: 04:36:21 -0500
Remote Name: 89.243.100.161
Hi Heather, I did receive therapy as a child. However I was already about 12 years old and back in 1979 the therapy consisted of tapping my hand against my leg and tapping my foot. That lasted about about 6-8 weeks one hour a week. It took me until I was 46 to consistently face my fears of stuttering until I lost the negative feelings that I lived with so so long. Once I made peace with my stutter and stopping worrying about my stutter I was able to change. I really believe the longer a person can go through live living with shame and guilt and not facing their fears the harder it becomes to do what is necessary to bring the stuttering feelings down to a manageable level. I also believe The stuttering feelings rule a stutterers life and are so hard to deal with. To stutter openly and not do anything to try and hide the stutter was so hard to go through on my own. There is an built-in impulse to try and change the stutter or avoid the word or situation. Stronger than I can put into words. I liken to when you know your about to have a blood test and a needle is going to be inserted into your skin, there is a built-in impulse to tense your muscles and to think about the needle and what pain might occur. Same thing with stuttering. You automatically want to do something about the stutter. It's such a strong habit. I needed to get to a point when I the feelings of shame,guilt, wanting to change something that hasn't even happened yet. By dealing with the stuttering feelings and putting my life on hold for a sustained period I slowly lost the negative stuttering thoughts that had ruled my life so many, many years. I wish there was an easier way for me, but I think I had tried everything else. It would have also have been great to have had a therapist pushing me forward in the first few days of my self therapy, but alas that kind of therapy isn't available and would have cost a fortune. Hope that help Heather, regards Richard.