Question Over Thought Process When Using Crutches

[daniel0107]

Had a quick question for the PWSS Coaches. I’m a very mild stutterer (using Crutch 13 90+% of the time), but sometimes when I decide to use Crutch 1, I automatically visualize the word without the syllable (e.g. when I think C1, “remember” becomes “member”), but then I end up still thinking about blocking on the next syllable of that word (the “m” in the case of “remember”). Therefore, do you only visualize “Crutch 1” in your head and do it, or does your mind visualize the partitioned, modified word before speaking? I’m guessing the former approach, as you don’t want to focus on any specific wording.

Thanks

[Leah Areff]

Hi Daniel,

You answered your own question 🙂 You do NOT want to visualize any words. You are not visualizing crutches or words, you are focusing your attention on them. There is a big difference between visualizing something and concentrating on something.

If you are going to think words, be it part of a word, a full word, or even a letter, you WILL stutter. You need to stop thinking words and ONLY think crutches. The next time you catch yourself wanting to use crutch 1 but end up visualizing the word, or part of the word, force your mind to focus on the crutch and not on the word. You need to speak immediately. As soon as your mind forms the word you would like to say, speak. Do not hesitate, this way you can not think of the word. It would also be helpful to focus on crutch 11 at the same time – speaking like a King, as it seems that you think you are focusing on crutch 1, you are in fact focusing on words. Focusing on 2 crutches at once may help this in the beginning, because it is going to be extremely difficult to think of dropping a first letter/syllable as well as speaking slowly and with pauses and STILL think words.

I hope that answers your question, but if you want me to explain this in more detail, email me at tareff@worldstopstuttering.org and we can have a quick Zoom session.

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