[ Contents | Next | Previous | Up ]
From: Patti Bohlman
Date: 10/8/03
Time: 4:07:08 PM
Remote Name: 169.227.254.3
HI Woody and Janet, I found your paper interesting. I have a question. What about people who have both the genetic predispostion to stuttering and anxiety. I have the stuttering predispostion from my father's side. The anxiety/depression pre-disposition from my mother and father's side. My siblings who do not stutter have anxiety and depression problems too.
A long time ago, a person in the NSA wrote to many of us, stating that he thought that stuttering was an obsessive/compulsive problem. He had went on medication for obsessive/compulsive disorder and his stuttering improved. But if you read the whole letter, you realized that his thinking about stuttering was obsessive-more than your typical person that stutters. What about people who have more than just one disorder. I can buy the PTSD about stuttering. But for me, it is exacerbated because of the anxiety problem. The medication I am on for it-klonopin has improved my fluency. But the most noticeable difference I found is that when I went on it, I would be raising my hand to participate in large discussions (and then think-what am I doing-I stutter) My shrink told me that klonopin took away the anticipatory set for panic attacks. So klonopin has helped my fluency and enhanced my life. Just a word of caution. I would not recommened it for people who stutter unless they have an anxiety/panic attack disorder and see a psychiatrist-along with psychotherapy.
Patti