Expanding Your Comfort Zone

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Re: Fluency techniques or no?

From: Alan Badmington
Date: 10/9/03
Time: 4:19:39 PM
Remote Name: 195.92.67.76

Comments

Hi Judy,

Thank you for your kind comments about the ISAD paper and my role as joint moderator of Stutteringchat. A consequence of expanding my comfort zones is that I may have to relinquish the latter position in order to fulfil the host of other things that are now happening in my life.

Let me see if I can answer your questions:

Question 1: I began expanding my comfort zones on May 4, 2000 – it is indelibly imprinted on my memory. I know it may sound crass, but I consider that I was re-born on that day. In fact, the Professor of Speech and Language Disorders, and SLP students, at Arkansas State University kindly presented me with a birthday cake 12 months later to celebrate the first anniversary.

Having acquired a new technique (and tools) to overcome the debilitating speech block and ‘feared’ words, I wanted to use the impetus that I gained to challenge the negative/limiting beliefs (about my stutter) that had adversely influenced my life for half a century.

Applying my progress to John Harrison’s stuttering hexagon concept, I had only gained improvement in one of the six components (namely the physical side of stuttering). I still had the emotional baggage and psychological framework that had supported my stutter throughout the above period.

I knew that, in order to sustain the gains that I had attained in the controlled environment, I had to venture out into the real world and use my new speaking technique in everyday situations. I had to face up to my fears; I had to do the things that I had always avoided over and over again until my negative beliefs about myself were changed to positive.

Here are some of those beliefs:

(1) I believed that I could not say 13 letters of the alphabet. (2) I believed that I could not speak in front of a group. (3) I believed that I could not speak when I was the centre of attention. (4) I believed that I could not give detailed explanations.

There were so many more!

I had gained a considerable degree of momentum from the new speaking method and was enjoying far greater fluency. I had also promised myself that I would never again avoid any word, letter, sound or situation, having learned about the implications of avoidance and word substitution. I had acquired an insight into the physiology and psychology of stuttering, together with the importance of eye contact, the value of pauses, resisting time pressure and (most importantly) the need to expand my comfort zones. Assertiveness also figured prominently.

I knew that there would never be a better time to move out of my limited parameters and change my self-image.

No Judy, I have never been taught, or used familiar easy onset, stretching words, rate control etc. However, pausing and voluntary stuttering became an essential part of my armoury.

You ask what I did when I stuttered on a word. Well, in the event of me blocking, I would merely release the block by breathing out (we use the term ‘block release’). I found it so simple, that I have rarely blocked since 2000 – and any blocks, which have occurred, have been minor.

Did I stutter on a word? Well! I made a point of voluntarily stuttering in certain circumstances but, as you know, this is so different from involuntarily stuttering. I chose when to voluntary stutter, and for what duration. I selected the word(s) on which I would stutter and did it with good eye contact and dignity. I was in control.

When I began ‘exposing’ myself to the public, I decided I would have fun – that’s what was recommended and so I duly obliged. I smiled at the person to whom I spoke. I told him/her about my efforts to overcome my speech problem and found that, almost without exception, they were genuinely interested.

By implementing disciplined technique in the initial stages, I found that my fluency levels were high. I didn’t consciously aim for fluency – it just happened. In my support groups, and also when at home or in the presence of others who were practising similar techniques, I exaggerated my new speech pattern, so that I could call upon it when I entered more demanding speaking situations. Very much like a golfer who spends hours rehearsing how to retrieve a ball out of bunker. This allows him to call upon that skill when it is required, under pressure, in a tournament.

If I had setbacks, it didn’t worry me – I only focussed on the positive aspects of every speaking situation and discarded the negatives. After all, dwelling on the latter was how my stutter had developed and thrived, fuelled by the memories of numerous bad speaking situations throughout my life.

Question 2: When is it right to expand comfort zones?

This is a difficult one, Judy. We are all so very different. Personally, I believe that expanding comfort zones should be an ongoing event in everyday life – not just for persons who stutter. It doesn’t have to be too challenging – something small to begin with – as long as we are not standing still. There is a tendency to stagnate when we do the same things over and over again and remain in familiar surroundings. We need change.

Judy, it was right for me to commence expanding my comfort zones three years ago. I embarked upon my adventure using a new technique. I was all fired up and raring to go, aided by an abundance of support.

Deciding upon the correct time for someone else is so difficult. In fact, he/she has to agree to move forward. Having said (in an earlier response) that the decisions of each individual PWS must be respected, I suggest that some will not choose to change their direction without a little nudge, or words of encouragement.

I’m afraid that I must close here, Judy, as I have so many other responses to prepare. Although my reply has been hastily composed, I hope that I have at least answered some of your queries.

Kindest regards

Alan


Last changed: September 12, 2005