ACT & Stuttering

[Guest guest]

I am thinking about this a lot lately. I have a stutter as long is I

remember. But one thing that always disturbed me is the fact that when

I am alone I don't stutter at all! For me, this means that there is'nt

realy something wrong with my speaking. Then why do I just freeze or

block in certain situations and always on certains words or letters.

This has to be a mind-thing. I am interested in addapting ACT in my

life for some time now (also got GAD ) and was looking at how ACT

could apply at stuttering. I know some people just can't speak fluently

but like I said, I can when I'm alone!

Somethings that I came up with:

1. Because of stuttering I am constantly aware of my own speaking. This

seems learned behavior created because of the fear of stuttering.

2. If I wouldn't concentrate on my speech that much, (like 'normal

people' do, I think). I maybe wouldn't stutter at all

3. My experiences in my childhood are mainly linked to a low self

esteem, wich in later life transformed to panic and GAD.

4. My focus on curing stuttering has made it worse.

5. My Mind and body do a great job at avoiding stuttering/fear.

6. There are treatments for stuttering that involve mindfulness I think.

All these things together with an anxious personality that thinks way

faster than it speaks , are in my oppinion enough to create this

stuttering behaviour. Offcourse this is not the whole package but just

a start. I am wondering what you people and ACT specialists think about

this. CAN ACT make a differince in stuttering especially when it's

severity depends on the context and the sufferer is trying all kind of

control methods that don't work? I am looking forward to you oppinions!

Thanks, Mark

[Guest guest]

Hi Mark

I dont know that I can answer your questions as I am not a

professional, but certainly if you are getting caught up in a control

cycle it sounds like that isnt working for you, and ACT could well help.

I wonder if you could try a defusion exercise that someone on this

board devised, which I have tried and found helpful.

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/ACT_for_the_Public/message/1013

just try slowly walking on your own with any one of your particular

anxious thoughts chanting syllable by syllable in the way pittamind

describes. I found it really useful, and wondered if you would find

yourself stuttering over it or not.

good luck

j

>

> I am thinking about this a lot lately. I have a stutter as long is I

> remember. But one thing that always disturbed me is the fact that when

> I am alone I don't stutter at all! For me, this means that there is'nt

> realy something wrong with my speaking. Then why do I just freeze or

> block in certain situations and always on certains words or letters.

> This has to be a mind-thing. I am interested in addapting ACT in my

> life for some time now (also got GAD ) and was looking at how ACT

> could apply at stuttering. I know some people just can't speak fluently

> but like I said, I can when I'm alone!

> Somethings that I came up with:

> 1. Because of stuttering I am constantly aware of my own speaking. This

> seems learned behavior created because of the fear of stuttering.

> 2. If I wouldn't concentrate on my speech that much, (like 'normal

> people' do, I think). I maybe wouldn't stutter at all

> 3. My experiences in my childhood are mainly linked to a low self

> esteem, wich in later life transformed to panic and GAD.

> 4. My focus on curing stuttering has made it worse.

> 5. My Mind and body do a great job at avoiding stuttering/fear.

> 6. There are treatments for stuttering that involve mindfulness I think.

>

> All these things together with an anxious personality that thinks way

> faster than it speaks , are in my oppinion enough to create this

> stuttering behaviour. Offcourse this is not the whole package but just

> a start. I am wondering what you people and ACT specialists think about

> this. CAN ACT make a differince in stuttering especially when it's

> severity depends on the context and the sufferer is trying all kind of

> control methods that don't work? I am looking forward to you oppinions!

> Thanks, Mark

>