Acceptance

[Sarah11085]

A few weeks ago I came to the realization that I need to accept the fact that I am a PWS.

I am seriously thinking of attending the American Institute for Stuttering in NYC. Anyone been through the program? If I go through the program what are some realistic exceptions?

I have been through the Hollins program twice and both times relapsed. The last time (in December) I was fluent for about two weeks before returning to school for the spring semester. I think because of my short experience with fluency it makes it that much harder to accept the fact that I am a PWS.

If I somehow accept that I am a PWS I don't know if my parents can. I say this because anytime I have a hard block in front of my mom she asks, "why didn't you use what you learned at Hollins?"

[ForeverYoung]

I don't know, if you can accept the fact you are a PWS then you may also need to accept that fact that fluency may also always be just out of reach. You've already relapsed both times. How much money is this thing anyway? Probably too much.

Personally it sounds like your parents are making it hard for you to be comfortable with your stutter. How independent are you? Maybe you should spend more time with friends who accept your stutter, and spend more time growing with it in a more positive environment.

I was lucky because my dad stutters, but I can only imagine how hard it must be to come home everyday to ignorant comments about something that is such a serious thing to live with. I would have long gotten tired of it.

[Sarah11085]

I know the therapy is 4,400 but then you add in airfare, food and hotel and it adds up quickly. But this therapy seems to really focus on the emotional/psychological aspects of stuttering which the Hollins therapy did not address at all.

Yeah I think I am more comfortable around friends than my own parents as sad as that may sound. I feel my parents still expect me to be fluent because I went through the Hollins program. And I think they think I just need to practice and I will be fluent.

Well, I just recently moved back home after being away at school. I moved back home in May because I am student teaching in the fall. It's been a real hard adjustment to say the least.

That's really awesome you have someone in your family that "get's it" :-)

[JoeE]

Sarah,
My mother always told me to breath and slow down. The speech therapists I have encountered say the exact same thing and even provide square sessions on correct breathing patterns. What a load of rubbish! Realize you are just fine the way you are/speak. People, I find, listen more intently to a PWS because they instinctively know our messages are ones that have been well thought-out and fought for in every conversation. Try voluntary stuttering Sarah. Stutter on purpose. Look them in the eyes.

[grantM]

Acceptance is bliss with stuttering. And so is dropping the victim mentality..ahh

[troutbum]

acceptance is very important. it took me 37 years to finally accept my stuttering and that i speak just fine, and i'm 38 yrs old now. it's also the first step in any method of speech therapy. another thing that helps and they teach in all programs is, desensitization, being open and honest with other people, and telling them that you stutter.