studentdoc
09-22-2006, 07:49 PM
There is a similar forum to this one called studentdoctor.net where pre-medical (and other health fields) talk about their field. One of the threads was about stuttering and this guy has his under control. I thought I'd share his strategy with you guys:
Basically, when I find myself in a situation where I am at a "loss for words" or unable to form the precise words that I want, the first thing that I do is to create a state of ease and flow in myself. This usually comes from taking a few deep connected breaths (more or less depending on the timeliness of the situation), which also has the effect of slowing me down to a comfortable pace, and getting some gentle and loose non-repetitive motion going on in my body (a stiff/frozen body generally reinforces a feeling of "fight-or-flight") starting with whatever body area seems "frozen" in me. It doesn't have to be huge movement or even noticeable. I'm a very kinesthetically-oriented person, meaning I learn best through moving/doing, so this gets my creativity going, too. Next, I stop trying to grab the word(s) from my mind; the more I grope mentally, the more I lock my body up, panic and get embarrassed by what comes out or doesn't come out. This works quite well just by itself. Really, you will appear pretty reflective and wise. Nobody has ever questioned that I stopped to pause for what I wanted to say. It's always, "Oh, I see."
A little on movement and development stages. Before any of us could talk, or even make meaningful sounds, we moved. You know, actions such as reaching out for something are very universally understood. So in essence, movement is really our first language.; movement came before words. In this sense, it really pays and makes sense to engage your body to aid your speaking. Some can do this by simply getting themselves into creative motion, while others might need to emote with their movements first, before translating it into meaningful words. I think this might be why some people tend to gesture while they are speaking. Either way, it works.
If I relax the part that is trying to desparately grope for the right answer from my brain (the gropping places a vice grip on my creativity), engage my body in creative, easeful motion and let myself move in the way that elaborates the quality of what I am looking to express, I can then translate that into the words that I need by observing what that my movement is saying. It's like listening to another voice that is not your brain's voice and letting that movement-voice guide your words. Of course this takes some getting used to, because most of us have become accustomed to using our brain only.
But all things considered, getting into a state of ease and flow, engaging mind and body, maintaining your natural pace (deliberately slowing down when you begin to speed up), and breathing often, is the way to go in all cases. Perhaps this alone will be enough.
Basically, when I find myself in a situation where I am at a "loss for words" or unable to form the precise words that I want, the first thing that I do is to create a state of ease and flow in myself. This usually comes from taking a few deep connected breaths (more or less depending on the timeliness of the situation), which also has the effect of slowing me down to a comfortable pace, and getting some gentle and loose non-repetitive motion going on in my body (a stiff/frozen body generally reinforces a feeling of "fight-or-flight") starting with whatever body area seems "frozen" in me. It doesn't have to be huge movement or even noticeable. I'm a very kinesthetically-oriented person, meaning I learn best through moving/doing, so this gets my creativity going, too. Next, I stop trying to grab the word(s) from my mind; the more I grope mentally, the more I lock my body up, panic and get embarrassed by what comes out or doesn't come out. This works quite well just by itself. Really, you will appear pretty reflective and wise. Nobody has ever questioned that I stopped to pause for what I wanted to say. It's always, "Oh, I see."
A little on movement and development stages. Before any of us could talk, or even make meaningful sounds, we moved. You know, actions such as reaching out for something are very universally understood. So in essence, movement is really our first language.; movement came before words. In this sense, it really pays and makes sense to engage your body to aid your speaking. Some can do this by simply getting themselves into creative motion, while others might need to emote with their movements first, before translating it into meaningful words. I think this might be why some people tend to gesture while they are speaking. Either way, it works.
If I relax the part that is trying to desparately grope for the right answer from my brain (the gropping places a vice grip on my creativity), engage my body in creative, easeful motion and let myself move in the way that elaborates the quality of what I am looking to express, I can then translate that into the words that I need by observing what that my movement is saying. It's like listening to another voice that is not your brain's voice and letting that movement-voice guide your words. Of course this takes some getting used to, because most of us have become accustomed to using our brain only.
But all things considered, getting into a state of ease and flow, engaging mind and body, maintaining your natural pace (deliberately slowing down when you begin to speed up), and breathing often, is the way to go in all cases. Perhaps this alone will be enough.