Stuttering and anxiety

[Winnie]

Hi, I have had stutter and consequently severe speech anxiety from a young age. I am now 30 and am managing to work for a few days a week but I am very socially isolated and find it difficult to be in any form of social or group setting.  Can you please provide some suggestions about how I can connect up with people in similar situations. Thank you 

[Croix]

Dear Winnie~

I'd like ot welcome you here to the Support Forum and can well imagine the limitations that impediment places upon you, particularly in social or group situations. I have trouble in those areas for a different reason, a hearing injury which often stops me from saying anything as I cannot respond to what was said. It can be a very isolating expereince.

May I ask if you have been diagnosed and treated by a clinician for the anxiety and a speech-language pathologist to deal with the mechanics of the stutter?

Nowadays there a several methods to improve stuttering speech, and these include electronic devices. Treatments have improved over time and even if you have gone when younger it might be worth trying again

Hopefully the title you chose for this thread may attract others in similar circumstances.

You know you are welcome here anytime

Croix

[tactlesskwi]

Hello! This is my first post here, but I wanted to reply to this. I also had a stutter and speech impediment when I was little, but it was resolved with speech therapy. However, I can definitely relate to the feeling socially isolated - it seems even more so in larger groups, the feeling of being alone even when surrounded with people, you know?
In hindsight I can see that this is probably not super constructive for you, but just know that you are not alone at all! Maybe seeking some support from a psychologist would help? Also, it probably does not seem like it at all, but a lot of people have a stutter - maybe more than you would think 🙂 
Anyways, I really hope everything goes okay!

[Winnie]

Thanks so much for your reply and well done on working out how to overcome your stutter.  I am going to try psychology and give speech pathology another go. It’s a curse but trying to stay positive. Cheers

[Croix]

Dear Winnie~

I'm very glad you are going to give psychology and speech therapy another go. Not a quick fix, however I think you would be the exception if it did did not make significant difference over time.

As with my own issues I found I had to 'click' with the therapist in order for treatment to be effective, so if you find one person does not assist you then please consider trying another.

If you would like to please let us know how you get on

Croix

PS you might be interested in the Real King George VI's speech as recorded at the time, made famous nowadays in the 2010 award winning film The Kings Speech, most encouraging.

-C