Hi there

[Dimez]

Hi there everyone

I've been looking around this forum for a couple of days now and, I must admit, it seems a cool place.

Brief info about my fine self: 18, male, on a gap year, university as of fall this year reading Mathematics + Economics, football crazy (British football, mind ;) ) etc. etc.

I've been stammering (or stuttering, as the yanks like to call it :eek: ) for as long as I can remember. Last year before Christmas I embarked upon an intensive course which really helped. Ironically enough I was stammering more often after the course but that was because I wasn't avoiding anymore (I used to be an expert at avoidance, soo good in fact that hardly anyone knew I stammered :o ).

Now my stammer is 'out in the open', so to speak. And boy does it feel great. I'm fluent most of the time but now I've learnt Van Riper's modification techniques to modify my speech during moments of stammering. I LOVE v-v-v- oluntary stammering, especially when I'm enjoying moments of high levels of fluency. It's a bit weird isn't it? Why would someone do something on purpose that they've been avoiding all their life? Well, it's telling the world "Hey! I stammer and I have absolute control over it, not the other way round. I choose when I want to stammer and it's great!"
I've been thinking of creating a YouTube video on Voluntary Stammering, just so you guys and others know what exactly it is and how to do it. Would it be worthwhile do you reckon

Recently I've been toying with different approaches and seeing their efficacy. I've been phoning up radio stations, asking stupid questions to complete strangers and a whole plethora of other stuff.

I'm also quite fascinated about the cognitive side of stammering. I very much believe I thoughts influence the way we speak so I decided to purchase a small notebook and I jot down what thoughts I'm having in different speaking situations.

Afraid of speaking because of your speech impediment? A wise one once said "Head straight to the heart of danger for there you will find safety". Absolutely! :D

[3FingerBrown]

Welcome aboard Dimez! It sounds like you are in a great state of acceptance and I look forward hearing your ideas and contributions.
Regarding your small notebook dealing with the cognitive side of things check out what I've been doing as outlined here (http://www.stutteringforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1135).

So where did you Brits come up with stammering anyway? Why is it that nearly every google news alert I get on stuttering is always about this football team or that cricket team stuttering in their play? :rolleyes:

I think you'll really like my worksheets, I'm very impressed with your use of voluntary stuttering, I haven't gotten myself to try this yet and no I don't know what I'm waiting for.

Mind the gap!
Ari

[Marrow]

Hey Dimez glad to see someone who is football crazy. What team do u support, have to say im nal till i die:D .
Hope your not a spurs fan or their could be trouble on the horizon;) .

That 'your stammer is out in the open' is cool, and im sure people on here would appreciate a youtube video on voluntary stammering, im intrested and would definatly watch it.

Great quote at the end. I used to be quite afraid of speaking in certain situations, but now ive tried to not care if people judge me about my speech. Accepting myself as i am is the way forward me thinks. I often find my stutter makes my day more exciting anyway, for instance a boring task such as going to a shop and asking for something behind the counter or a magazine from the top shelf :eek: (i never ask for a magazine from the top shelf, as i can reach it myself) is spiced up by feeling a bit nervous and that gives me a wee bit of an andreline rush which is never a bad thing.

Anyways look forward to hearing about ur experiences on the forum, laters

Nick

[Requiem]

Hi glad to see another Brit in the forum! I've done voluntary stammering when I was at speech therapy, I actually found that it was harder to try and stammer purposly than it is to stammer naturally. Nobody really notices my stammer but you'd always hear it in the classroom having to read a loud. That's something I haven't accomplished yet and still trying.

Well that's enough of me so hope to hear from you in the forums.

[Dimez]

Thanks for the replies guys!

@3FingerBrown: I am impressed with your worksheets and I have no doubt they are of incredibly useful! I think the more detailed we can break down our (negative) thoughts about stammering the easier it would be to see where exactly we are going wrong. Kudos to you matey!

You guys will be sure to see me around and stay away from the top sheves Marrow! ;)

[Standingtall]

a quick hello Dimez,

I understand the passion you have for football, i got same for Hockey. Let us know if you do post on youtube and share the link. There is another guy that share his videos on youtube.

Welcome to one of the coolest places in the matrix.

Peace