Holding you back

[nick1991]

Im 16 years old and i really don't know who i am. I know i'm a funny guy, really nice to be around and generally quite interesting to talk but the fact is im being held back and it sucks. I don't know if i will ever be in control of my life or if my life will be in control of me. I look back at secondary school and feel really sad at all the opportunities i missed, like socializing with girls etc. I just feel that for me, the art of socializing has been completely destroyed, leaving me a weak, self concious person with incredibly low self asteem. Sometimes i don't even know how to talk to my Dad. And it's not just the stuttering that is bad, i lose the ability to think, what to say, and what should be said. Sometimes when you know you're capable of great things but you will never achieve them you just feel like saying 'why is life worth living?'
I just want reassurance that there is light at the end of the tunnel. Thanks.

[Nicholas]

Hey Nick, many of us have been in the same spot. I missed chances to socialize, and my family has gone through hell because my brother and I stutter, and it took us years to become comfortable with that. Luckily, we were able to encourage each other along the way, and keep our heads out of madness.

Things will get better Nick. You may not see it now, but it will come. College itself is mind opening and has made me generally a much happier person.

You can achieve great things, you're young, and even when I was 16 I thought the same way as you did. Look ahead, but keep in mind it won't be easy. No one ever said it would be easy.

[Danny]

Nicholas is right-- you will soon become comfortable and next thing you know, you'll be a social butterfly. You're on a forum with a lot of people who not only share your experiences, we will be more than happy to support you, too!

There is a really, really, really, really BRIGHT light at the end of the tunnel!