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From: Mike Lefko
Date: 10 Oct 2012
Time: 21:50:40 -0500
Remote Name: 74.168.103.37
Natalie- It is an interesting question, " which came first, the anxiety or the stuttering." I haven't done any research so I am only speaking from my life's research. I began stuttering at age 3, after speaking fluently for a while. When my sister was born was when it was reported that the stuttering began. I was born a month premature without the sucking reflex, which I understand research says has a connection. As far as the anxiety, in retrospect, I believe I always exhibited it. I was formally diagnosed by a psychiatrist as having generalized anxiety about 20 years ago. I believe perhaps in my early years it was a snowball effect. I stuttered, which produced anxiety which made me stutter more. Fast forward to present day, I truly believe that I now have the skills, and the controls to be fluent, yet there are times when it is difficult for me to put those controls in place, if I am feeling anxious. I don't generally feel anxious about speaking, which is a relatively new thing for me over the past couple of years or so. So I would love to see what, if any research has been done in this area. I really feel there is a connection.