Week Full of Stuttering

[Gary1450]

I told some of you that I had to go a conference for my job in Las Vegas. I just got back so I thought I would share my experience.

My worst fear was having to introduce myself in the various classes they had for us. I actually got lucky and didn't have to do that until my last day there.

I stuttered a little - not too bad. We had to say our name, the school that we worked for and what state we're from. I can't say ARIZONA - so I said Phoenix. Introducing myself to a group of people is my worst fear - worst than the phone.

I chickened out on some of the classes - I would sit in the back so if we we're asked to introduce ourselves I would leave from the back door then come back in about 10 minutes.

Anyway I'm so happy to be home - I feel emotionally and physically drained trying to avoid all these speaking situations.

[mos]

good onya

;)

[Gary1450]

Thanks man - I've never been so stressed in my life.

There was one point when I felt so light headed I thought I was going to pass out because I thought he was going to make us introduce ourselves in front of a 100 other people but he changed his mind.

[ElectricVersion]

I thought he was going to make us introduce ourselves in front of a 100 other people but he changed his mind.

it's amazing how someone's whims, however nonthreatening or irrelevent to them, can rip our world temporarily apart.

we truly are a fragile people. hang in there Gary, i've done some of the same stuff. I am going back to night school and I Hate it when the professor starts off class the first night with an intro. i do the same crap. counting the number of people before me. it gets worse and worse. heart beats harder and harder. get a little more sweaty each minute. I often think about ditching out and coming back in, but that can backfire.... cause most professors will make you introduce yourself when you come back in, putting you on the spot even worse. so i usually stick it out.

in the past, when i've had a problem... i first just make an attempt to introduce myself like everyone else.. usually doesn't work, it's just a dead-lock, so i revert to the "discler" which is usually... "i have a speech impediment, so i may get stuck sometimes" once i get that out, usually the teacher will say like... "i get stuck too", you know, that feeble attempt to make you feel you're not alone. it's well intended, so i take it that way.

if all else fails and i can get nothing out, i can usually manage to say "i'll talk to you after class", in a tone of voice as to say "there's stuff we're gonna need to go over". :)

one really simple thing to do... is get to class, or your conference, or whatever it is early... and try to get the instructor / teacher /professor to give you a minute, and explain you have a stutter or speech problem, and ask them to make an effort not to put you on the spot if they can help it. they usually are pretty cool about it. I've made the mistake of just trying to "fake it" or avoid the fact, but it usually backfires and i'm left in a horrible situation.

[Gary1450]

That's a good point - I sent an email to my professor once before a speech and it really help and she was really understanding - she thought I was just "shy" as most people do.

I hate introducing myself - I just lock up.

[mos]

when i started my schooling career when i was in my young hay days.
i used to hide under the table and try to get unoticed.
but the teacher always caught me out.

after that my nickname became 'ms floor feeler'

lol

:D

[llw03c]

I told some of you that I had to go a conference for my job in Las Vegas. I just got back so I thought I would share my experience.

My worst fear was having to introduce myself in the various classes they had for us. I actually got lucky and didn't have to do that until my last day there.

I stuttered a little - not too bad. We had to say our name, the school that we worked for and what state we're from. I can't say ARIZONA - so I said Phoenix. Introducing myself to a group of people is my worst fear - worst than the phone.

I chickened out on some of the classes - I would sit in the back so if we we're asked to introduce ourselves I would leave from the back door then come back in about 10 minutes.

Anyway I'm so happy to be home - I feel emotionally and physically drained trying to avoid all these speaking situations.
i feel the same way whenever i have to do stuff like this. isn't it just funny (and sometimes unfair) that society makes no provisions for stutters. physically disabled people have priority with parking spaces, they get ramps to enter buildings, etc.. but yet, we're expected to conduct ourselves like everyone else; in effect, our disability is trivialized. we still have to take speech class, make presentations, read in front of people (my worst nightmare, i can speak, but not read in front of people :rolleyes: ). ITS NOT FAIR!!! they never ask disable people to take PE so why do we have to take speech class??

us stutterers need a voice in society. people really need to understand what we go through everyday..sometimes living is a real pain (not that i'd ever consider suicide but..). we shouldn't have to be subjected to situations like the above posts describe. we should n't have to live lives of misery. i wish we could just not speak at all sometimes. just write our thoughts and ideas...then again i'd be dreaming.. :rolleyes:

[Gary1450]

I know how you feel - at the conference I'm looking around at other people and they're just as carefree as could be, while I'm having a heart attack because I might have to say my name in front of them.

Fluent people should just live one day as a stutterer just to experience the anxiety.

[llw03c]

Fluent people should just live one day as a stutterer just to experience the anxiety.
i agree..then they'll quit with their condescending advice like our problem is just a "minor detail".