Hello from Italy

[Anonymous]

Hi everybody,

my name is Mirko, 29, and I am from Italy. I am a pilot and I currently study engineering for a possible career change in the future.

I have been stuttering (mildly/sometimes moderately) since I was probably 6 years old and in my teens it has never been a huge problem as I was probably too focused on finishing school. My speech however has been getting worse in the last months and this made my “perfect life idea” much more fragile (as I am realising the perfection is not part of our world).

I do not know exacly what the cause of my stuttering is/are or what triggered its worsening (I do have some ideas though) but I am now focused on fixing the problem. I have read the 2nd and 3rd editions of Lee’s book and watched all the online videos of the stuttering course.

I love what WSSA has to offer and I can’t wait to start to be coached as well. I am doing my best to participate to SAM meetings and would love to meet you all in the future. Life is good.

Mirko

[Javier]

Hi Mirko! I’ve heard you speak in the SAM meetings, and, honestly, I’ve never detected any bad incidents, as we define them: clearly appearing speech disabled. So that’s definitely something good.
As you said, we will never be perfect, nobody will ever be, but we can give our best to continue improving.
Mirko, since I’ve never seen you stutter, I can’t give you any specific advice, but as you’ll surely know by now, speaking like a King will always elevate our speech. Using other Crutches, like Crutches 8, 9 or 10 will also help. Speaking more slowly will always make the use of the Crutches a lot easier.
Self hypnosis, in my case, has also helped me a lot, especially dealing with pressured situations and anxiety.
Reading aloud is also a great help. If you feel more nervous than usual, try reading passionately, using the Crutches, for 30-60 minutes and do an AST/SHT. This helps a lot.
And of course, we must always be a Speech Cop and make sure we won’t allow ourselves to force words.

As you might know, Mirko, if you’re a Stuttering member of WSSA, you can ask for your 3 free coaching sessions with any of us, the Coaches.

Feel free to ask us anything! Have a great day

[Anonymous]

Hi Mirko,

Welcome! Remember that it does not matter how you started stuttering. Curing is the same for everybody, no matter how it started. I have seen you at some of the SAM meetings! Keep joining us!

[Anonymous]

Thank you very much for the advice!

[Prathusha Ravi]

Hi Mirko,

I agree with Javier and Leah!! What more could I add!! I just wanna say that you are at the right place wherein we are creating a revolution to stop stuttering!! I’ve seen you speak at SAM meetings and your stutter is very mild so like Javier mentioned, keep using C-8,9,10 and 11 as these focus on the changing the way one speaks. When you use these crutches it is impossible to even anticipate a threat or a stutter because the focus is on the mechanics of using the crutch and NOT on planning words which using is the cause for stuttering. Stick with WSSA and the good is coming in abundance 🙂

[Anonymous]

Thanks for your tips Prathusha!

I am working on ASTs and reading aloud daily, I have done that for more than a month now but I still have the feeling that I do not have my speech under control as it virtually goes better and worse every other day and that a bad accident is always around the corner. I probably need to work harder on the mind training.

I haven’t had the chance to start getting coached yet (I plan to do it asap) and I know I definitely have to practice all crutches more. For me C10 and C4 were extremely useful but I need to work on the others too as you said.

I am sure that as soon as I start being coached I will get more specific guidance. In the meantime I have to keep doing my homework.

[Javier]

Hi Mirko,
as you said, using the Crutches as much as you can will surely help you. Use them even when you don’t need them. This is how you acquire the habit of speaking using the Crutches. As you know, the Crutches help us stop thinking words (and planning stutters) when we speak, because we’re focused on using the Crutches. Once we get used to using them when we speak, we will have gotten used to speak without thinking words. This is how will stop feeling like that.
The Auto-Suggestions (or self hypnosis) and reading aloud will make this process easier.

[Anonymous]

Hi Mirko,

Yes, please. Whenever you are ready, we will start your coaching sessions! Looking forward to it!

You already sound so confident during the SAM meetings. You speak really well already!

[Author]

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