Stuttering as a 'blessing'?

[Jaykon]

Hope I don't get crucified for this, but can anybody think of any good that has come from your stuttering?

All I can think of is that its made me a better listener, more humble and (in trying to come to terms with my stuttering) a better communicator (work in progress!).

let the stoning begin..

[thaddeus]

I can, its made me a good listener, im very open, im smart,humble. ive finally accepted my stutter and focus on the things i can do( i do things in my own way)

[grantM]

I hear this a lot from motivational speakers at conventions. This is really an individual issue. For myself my stutter does not define me so I don't think it has shaped me at all into a better person. Perhaps I show more empathy for individual diversity?

[emily445455]

I know I have this disablity for a reason...not sure I would call it a blessing though. It definlty has made me a lot more humble, patient, understanding, etc.

[WhiteLatinoBoy]

yeah i really dont see any good in stuttering. some people even go far as to say that they dont wanna get rid of their stuttering cuz its been good in their life. well for me--heeeeckkkk noooo. lol but if i were to say some good things it would have to be that it has caused me to think alot and be open-minded. its also a way to get close to friends and family i guess.

[grantM]

The trouble is it is impossible to know how you would have turned out if you were stutter free.

[Keyo]

I also have always believed that i had a stutter for a reason, and i believe someday i'll get the prize of stuttering all of my life, its just not my time yet...

speaking of the positive things i gained from stuttering is being patient, kind and first of all losing the ability of getting nervous or yell at someone because i just stutter like hell when am nervoud or while yelling (although its sometimes not a good thing because in some situations you need to yell) so am always calm, and i dont even know if thats a good thing...

[JFan]

The only good....is I feel I am a very strong person.... and I think it has helped me be more respectful of other people's disabilities.

[cjm555]

i have never thought about it being a good thing... but the more i think about it i do see some "good" coming out of it. it has realy made me more of a laid back person in a way. i accept most things as they are. um... i think in most ways it just comes down to making me a better person because of it...

stuttering is one of those things that can make you bitter to the rest of the "normal" world or it will make you a better, more understanding person

[squiggles]

a nun once called my stutter a blessing..

I could see it as that. The unhappiness it created within me drove me to better understand myself. As I continue to do so.

I'm grateful for that

[danistuttermom]

I wouldn't call it a blessing, but it's made me who I am today. I'm definately more patient.

I once worked in a pharmacy in South Louisiana after Katrina. They had this man who had verbal apraxia, and I had to make myself stutter to let him know "i understand". My pawpaw had the same speech problem with a stutter, so I could understand him. When stuff like that happens, it makes you realize you have this for a reason.

Would I like to know how my life would have been if I didn't stutter..of course. I mean I would be more outgoing.

I'm not ashamed of my stuttering as well.

[chris2112]

This is a quote from another thread, I thought my response would fit here.

The human spirit is very dynamic and when someone feels shunned by society and turns inward his inner life can become just as satisfying if not more so than a life more integrated into society. Pain in life can actually be rewarding if it spurs one to think more deeply about the human condition. I'd rather be grappling with the nature of my own existence than be lost in a limited world of social complacency.

But it's important to maintain a sense of humor, one that is authentic and genuine, so as not to take one's situation too seriously.

This is such a good point. The experience of stuttering has definitely led me to see certain things about life that I don't think I would have if I didn't have such an obstacle to deal with. It has played a huge role in molding who I am, how I think, my goals, and my passions. For that reason I consider it a gift in a way, but other then that I hate it lol.

[kobe4three]

i can agree with you there..im defainetly more humble and a good listener... is stuttering a blessing?well like someone who knows how you would of been if you didnt stutter..

[grantM]

Hmm the blessing bit sounds like someone is trying to make you feel better about yourself. Its like going to a support group and a non-stutterer saying that stutterers are the nicest, most caring and understanding people they have ever met..get real....it does not automatically mold you into a great person!

[mufaa]

Hmm...i am not too sure.

I won't call it a blessing. It hasn't improved my life even in the tiniest bit. It hasn't helped me in any way. It has only brought me embarrassment, and humiliation.

The only good thing that has come out of it is, in my tears, frustrations and hopelessness, i found a strength to pull through. I found an inner belief to strive harder. But would i have found this, had i not been stammering? Maybe. Everyone faces testing times in life, for me it mostly always have been stuttering. But i would have faced another difficulty that had brought out the inner strength and belief i found from my stuttering.

[Iron Cable]

The trouble is it is impossible to know how you would have turned out if you were stutter free.
Yeah. If I actualy had a choice, I preffer to not stuttering anymore, rather than never stuttering in the first place.
My life may have been much better if I didn't stutter, but I think I'd be a completely different person....

[Bodryn]

This morning when I was getting up I thought to myself, given a choice between stuttering and having Tourette's, I think it's far better to stutter. At least it doesn't get you kicked out of libraries like I saw in one video, and even though people will ridicule you, there are a lot of people who seem to be understanding and patient.

[ClinPsy]

Yes, I have used it to my advantage. When I went on interviews for my doctorate in clinical psychology, I told the interviewer before we started that I was a stutterer. They were very fascinated by this. I explained to them my journey of denial, acceptance and overcoming my stutter. They all seemed to be really impressed. I think that's a big reason why I was accepted to some programs. :D

[nerrad]

My stuttering has made me a really understanding person. And I think it's made me smarter because unlike everyone else, I don't really talk during class. I spend my time paying attention.

[PhilGarber]

I can, its made me a good listener, im very open, im smart,humble. ive finally accepted my stutter and focus on the things i can do( i do things in my own way)

This. Maybe I'm crazy, but I count my stuttering more as a blessing that a hindrance.

[TK421]

Yes, I have used it to my advantage. When I went on interviews for my doctorate in clinical psychology, I told the interviewer before we started that I was a stutterer. They were very fascinated by this. I explained to them my journey of denial, acceptance and overcoming my stutter. They all seemed to be really impressed. I think that's a big reason why I was accepted to some programs. :D

Excellent advice. I'm in the midst of a job hunt myself, and I think this is a perfect way to leverage how passionate and devoted you can be. I usually do mention my stutter during an interview, which is a great way to ease your mind, but I've never tried going more in depth with it and leveraging it as a reason to hire me. It would certainly support my other stories of how discovering 3D animation compelled me to devote my life to it.

[ClinPsy]

Excellent advice. I'm in the midst of a job hunt myself, and I think this is a perfect way to leverage how passionate and devoted you can be. I usually do mention my stutter during an interview, which is a great way to ease your mind, but I've never tried going more in depth with it and leveraging it as a reason to hire me. It would certainly support my other stories of how discovering 3D animation compelled me to devote my life to it.

It might be beneficial to go more in depth. Personally, I want to work with children with neurodevelopmental disabilities. So, I stated that I did not receive proper early intervention during my childhood - thus, my stuttering got worse and affected my quality of life. Only in my adult years did I receive successful therapy. I stated that I wanted to offer the same quality of care that was afforded to me as an adult, to children with neurodevelopmental disabilities.

[BayAreaBrad]

I think it's helping me learn to accept all parts of myself. For most of my life I more or less pretended that my stuttering didn't exist - and usually I was able to pull it off. But inside I had a ton of hidden shame that I was afraid to acknowledge. Now I'm 41 and am just starting to face that shame and bring it out into the open.

Now when I stutter (or avoid speaking because of fear of stuttering), I'm much more aware of the SHAME that arises within me.

[TheMan56]

Blessing? No way ( at least not for me ). The only thing it has brought me is Anxiety, embarrassment, low confidence, and depression.

[Larni]

Yes, I have used it to my advantage. When I went on interviews for my doctorate in clinical psychology, I told the interviewer before we started that I was a stutterer. They were very fascinated by this. I explained to them my journey of denial, acceptance and overcoming my stutter. They all seemed to be really impressed. I think that's a big reason why I was accepted to some programs. :D

Hi ClinPsy, I will be applying for clinical psych soon.

I've had some feed back from my current supervisior that my stammer could negatively prejudice my chances.

Can you elaborate on your experiences?

Either way, it's really good to hear that a stammer does not automatically make clinical out of bounds.

[ClinPsy]

Hi ClinPsy, I will be applying for clinical psych soon.

I've had some feed back from my current supervisior that my stammer could negatively prejudice my chances.

Can you elaborate on your experiences?

Either way, it's really good to hear that a stammer does not automatically make clinical out of bounds.

What programs are you looking at? PhD or Psy.D. I will most likely be doing the PsyD.

Your supervisor is 100% wrong. Each person that interviewed me, I told about my stutter. They thought it was great that I was open and honest. I even mentioned it in my personal statements and I received a number of interviews. Yeah, don't let your supervisor discourage you.

[yonex]

I think of it more of a curse. I can't express myself to my full extent. I met my dream girl one time and EPIC FAILED

[Larni]

What programs are you looking at? PhD or Psy.D. I will most likely be doing the PsyD.

Your supervisor is 100% wrong. Each person that interviewed me, I told about my stutter. They thought it was great that I was open and honest. I even mentioned it in my personal statements and I received a number of interviews. Yeah, don't let your supervisor discourage you.

I'm in the UK so I have a choice between Clinical or Counselling Psychology PhD. I guess I'm better trained to be a counselling psychologist but I would prefer clinical.

You've really made my day; I was very worried that my stammer would be a stumbling block in this.

Thanks!

[ClinPsy]

I'm in the UK so I have a choice between Clinical or Counselling Psychology PhD. I guess I'm better trained to be a counselling psychologist but I would prefer clinical.

You've really made my day; I was very worried that my stammer would be a stumbling block in this.

Thanks!

Ahhhh, we have the counseling in the US as well. But counseling psychologists usually deal with less severe problems, as opposed to clinical psychologists who can work with the more severely disturbed. Well, that's how it is in the US, anyway.