How I Changed My Stuttering Mindset

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Re: Question for Alan....

From: Alan Badmington (to Katie)
Date: 21 Oct 2005
Time: 16:30:03 -0500
Remote Name: 81.79.43.22

Comments

Hi Katie, I was delighted to receive your post. Thank you for your kind words and the questions that you pose. In my experience, stuttering is, indeed, a complicated issue, particularly when it is accompanied by a web of avoidance and other strategies. I have personally met several hundred PWS during the past five years. Commonalities have been apparent, yet all are unique. Beliefs (and I’m not just talking about self-limiting beliefs) play such an important part in our lives. As children, we don’t have an opportunity to choose our beliefs – we inherit them from our parents and others. We believe what others say and then adopt those beliefs as our own. Our belief system can be likened to a book of laws that rules our mind. A country will devise a set of rules by which their citizens abide – similarly, our belief system governs our individual lives. Whatever beliefs we hold (and there are so many) influence our thoughts and actions. Personally, I feel that it would be beneficial for anyone (not just PWS) to examine their beliefs, particularly those that might be operating to their detriment. For example, if someone believes that they are not attractive, or overweight, or cannot perform a specific task, then it could be useful to challenge those beliefs. If you care to sit down and list your beliefs, you will find that the list is endless. Incidentally, I didn’t just challenge my self-limiting beliefs relating to my speech. I also identified (and worked upon) other areas of my life (e.g. assertiveness). So, yes – in answer to your question, I do believe that PWS could benefit by examining their self-limiting beliefs. In some of my earlier responses, I mentioned that I firmly believe in John Harrison’s hexagon concept in which stuttering is viewed as a system, comprising such components as beliefs, perceptions, emotions, intentions, speech behaviours and physiological responses. You may read more about it by clicking on the following links: http://www.mnsu.edu/comdis/kuster/Infostuttering/Harrison/hexagonarticle.html ; http://www.mnsu.edu/comdis/kuster/Infostuttering/Harrison/john.htm ; I know many PWS who have achieved considerable success by adopting a holistic approach. “How does one go about starting the change in their lives?” Well, in my case, it occurred when I joined a specific programme (McGuire Programme), but that need not necessarily apply. As mentioned in my paper, I acquired a new breathing/speaking technique that freed me from blocking in a controlled environment. That gave me the springboard (and confidence) to set out on the path that I took. I was assisted by a support network (24/7) that provided encouragement and opportunities to consolidate the improvement. I don’t have time to go into further details in this threaded discussion, but you may wish to gain a better understanding of the steps I took by reading my paper, ‘Stuttering is not just a speech problem’. Simply click on the following link: http://www.mnsu.edu/comdis/kuster/Infostuttering/badmington.pdf The article also relates the stuttering hexagon concept to my own circumstances. Although I didn’t seek professional counselling, I think that such help can be of assistance to people with psychological problems; low self-esteem; lack of assertiveness; poor self-confidence; panic attacks etc. I did, in fact, attend a course that covered many of these factors. Ironically, I was probably the most balanced individual present – most of the others had serious psychological issues, although I was the only person with a stuttering history. I principally attended that course (and several others) in order to gain the experience of interacting with total strangers. “At what age did I begin to change my mindset and self-limiting beliefs?” I began changing my mindset the moment that I attended my first McGuire Programme course in May 2000. At the time, I had stuttered for more than 50 years. Within a relatively short period, my life had changed and I was doing things beyond my wildest dreams. (You can read about this, in greater depth, in my article, ‘Stuttering is not just a speech problem’ – see above). My stutter ceased to be an issue for me within a matter of months, although I continued to persevere with my personal growth by expanding my comfort zones in an energetic manner. Once again, you can learn more about this by reading my paper, ‘STEP OUTSIDE: Why expanding comfort zones can improve our stuttering and lead to more fulfilling lives’. Simply click on the following link: http://www.mnsu.edu/comdis/isad6/papers/badmington6.html My journey has been so exciting and eventful, but I have only been able to scratch the surface in this response. Reading the papers I have recommended above will certainly enable you to gain the overall picture. Katie, I have been very impressed by the questions that you asked. They demonstrate a really desire to gain a better understanding about what stuttering involves. I thank you for taking the time to communicate with me, and wish you every success with your future studies and life. Kindest regards Alan


Last changed: 10/24/05