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From: Ellen-Marie Silverman
Date: 10/8/03
Time: 7:36:15 PM
Remote Name: 172.141.158.233
Sue,
In addition to becoming more in touch with my physical body and calming my mind, the practices of yoga and meditation, which are not all that dissimilar in intent, help provide me with a perspective that allows me to relate to stuttering and other experiences I view as challenging more skillfully than otherwise.
Changes in flexibility, ease, and equanimity occurred slowly for me, but they did occur and have accumulated. Because I found these practices novel, intriguing, challenging on many levels, and satisfying in their own right, I was willing to be patient (most of the time!) and allow whatever was going to happen occur in its own way. That, in itself, was a huge accomplishment for me, since I have been quite impatient and controlling. Obviously, not everyone finds these practices so attractive. There are many other ways people who stutter can develop a sense of personal mastery, even some which may seem remotely related to speaking more fluently, such as learning to introduce people to one another, argue effectively, and give presentations, taking part in a sport --- individual or team, passionately developing a hobby, etc. Whatever, helps mind and body work together in the present can help.
You asked about visualization as part of a program of change for someone who stutters less often and less conspicuously: My personal bias is that visualization focusing on communicating effectively, seeing oneself attending well to the other, following turn-taking rules in conversation, making statements with ease in a way that they can be taken in by the other, seeing themselves enjoying the exchange, seeing the other enjoying talking with them ---- neither specifically visualizing speaking fluently nor not stuttering could be quite helpful if done sincerely and by incorporating as many sensory avenues as possible, certainly auditory, viusal, and tactile-kinesthetic.
I hope my thoughts on these important issues are useful.
Ellen-Marie Silverman