hi ya

[gemm]

HI everyone, Im a fellow stutterer and thought it would be good for me to chat to others who understand where Im coming from. Im 19, took 2 A Levels and 1 AS last year and am currently on a 'gap year', not really sure of what I want to do as a career and find my stutter is holding me back. I only have a mild stutter but can be more severe when under pressure. The thing that really annoys me is that I am a 'in the closet' stutterer, I mean for example, people at work or some family members wouldn't even know I stutter and you may think, hey great- no problem but its far from it. I avoid words and try and get out of anything that gives my game away, as it were.But I cant really hide it when on the telephone and I do actually seize up or block, 'hence why my job does not involve any telephone work' and generally when someone puts me under pressure. ive had enough of living like this and have decided to one, hopefully get to chat to you lot bout experiences and secondly, conquer my stutter. I really feel its phychological and the fear of the stutter and people is greater than the actual problem itself, so anyone who feels that are ready for the challenge, join me??Hope I havent rambled too much but I would be interested to find others who can relate to this, gemma

[Ivor Stutter]

Hi Gemm, im from the UK too and can really closely relate to you. I think my sitution is excatly the same as your except a few years ahead. I too didnt go to uni straight away as i dreaded having to move somewhere new where no-one knew me etc but after a year (a un-offical gap year) of trying and failing to get jobs i decided to give it a go. I def dont regret it one little bit, in fact in my second year i was able to control my stutter so much it almost went, uni was that good!

The phone thing at work is a royal pain in the backside too, i wish people were more understanding, i worked a placement year in a wed design office and i had to be very careful i was never left on my own in there as i would then have no excuse not to answer the phone if someone rang. Of couse it happened once and i ignored the call instead of answering..


..it was my boss ringing from head office!! He wasnt happy that no-one answered! Oooops!


Si