Yesterday I explained the consequences of negative watershed moments that lead to anxiety and fear.  A watershed moment is a turning point, the exact moment that changes the direction of an activity or situation.  A pws can have victories that are positive watershed moments.  Examples are:  rewarding moments of public speaking, beginning to disclose that you stutter, learning to advocate and have a "come back" to bullies, or joining the stuttering community.  Positive watershed moments ultimately change the meaning of stuttering. 

  "Don't try to figure out what other people want to hear from you; figure out what you have to say."   Barbara Kingsolver

A watershed moment is a turning point, the exact moment that changes the direction of an activity or situation. A watershed moment in stuttering is a dividing point where the stuttering and the impact it has on the pws takes a turn for the worse.  Notice the title is "how?" and not "why?"   The question "how?" is more productive and solution oriented, isn't it.  When a pws attaches personalization and projecting thoughts to stuttering he will develop anxiety related to stuttering.  I take calls every week that start with something similar to this: "I don't understand why my child is stuttering more/worse and she is now changing words, looking away, and grimacing."  That child is at the inflection point/turning point/watershed and she needs help now. Watersheds remind us why holistic treatment is ESSENTIAL to offer lasting solutions for pws.  Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) explains my own emancipation from speech anxiety and it is a skillset needed in speech therapy for stuttering. 

The mind can operate like a cinema or a movie and create wild images that portray the fear of stuttering. People who stutter (pws) can create very vivid and specific "movies" about their stuttering.  Pws also remember past moments of stuttering with negative thoughts linked to them. This podcast explains the Cinema of the Mind, how it manifests anxiety, and it offers ideas that can help a pws or a clinician dedicated to helping them.  

Is my child really stuttering?  Preschool presents a special time window that offers the greatest opportunity to resolve stuttering. Many parents hear conflicting advice from physicians, clinicians, and teachers regarding stuttering.  Generalizations (i.e., "all kids do that") can be innacurate and can deter parents from seeking a consultation from a certifed stuttering specialist.   Listen to this podcast for vital information specific to preschool children at risk for stuttering.  It is estimated that 5 million Americans and 70 million world wide stutter.   Parents do have choices.  An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. 

Many recent news interviews and articles have made a matter of fact declaration that "stuttering is not caused by trauma."  It's true that young preschool children do not begin to stutter because of trauma.  Stuttering is best classified as a neurological disorder.  Now let's look at the role that traumatic experiences play in the complex communication disorder called stuttering- or stammering in the UK.   Teasing, bullying, mimicking, stupid and harmful comments are traumatic for the person who stutters (pws).  The pws develops anxiety, avoidance, and shame as a result of the traumatic experiences of said hurtful moments of stuttering.  The pws who stutters can also feel ashamed and remember avoiding talking (i.e., declining a reading at a wedding).  The CDC researched and discovered that 61% of adults remember Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE).  To honor,understand, and to effectively help pws the life experience of stuttering must become clear.  The personal experience of trauma within the pws is responsible for "the iceberg of stuttering" and the "giant in chains complex."  Listen to this and other podcasts of mine that examine fear and the psychological parts of stuttering.    

Yes, I said that you can be a CHAMPION in stuttering.  Listen for my 10 point plan to help unleash your speech and your confidence.

What is L2?  Look and let it out!  People who stutter tend to look away and to compensate for stuttering from a place of fear or embarrassment.  A snap shot of a moment of stuttering may be a pws introducing himself and following these steps: 1) look away, 2) inhale, 3) begin to stutter, 4) back up and insert several "uhs and ums," 5) retry the word and stutter through it.  To stutter more easily and freely listen to this podcast and implement ideas that you agree with.  My first podcast was called Purpose Intention and Stuttering.  L2 is congruent with that key concept. 

  "Don't try to figure out what other people want to hear from you; figure out what you have to say."   Barbara Kingsolver

Jason and Tim catch up 20 years and one month after our last session.  At age 25 he was an engineer doing desk work.   His old anxiety was holding him back.  Now he has 20 years of constant talking, phone calling, internet chats, seminar talks, managing, and team building under his belt. He travels internationally and get to speak to people of all cultures.  That could be quite intimidating.   Listen to how he has been so successful.  Fitness is one of his key ingredients.  I am a big fan of cardio work for mental acuity and stress management. Jason also tells us to speak up and that we are more than stuttering!  As you listen to several of my other podcasts you are reminded that adults who stutter can still transform and liberate themselves in their 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, and beyond. 

Many of you know John's name from his book Redefining Stuttering: What the Struggle to Speak is Really About.  He also authored the famous Stuttering Hexagon diagram and article. John explains why he prefers the concept of "Holding Back" over stuttering.  He was one of the original 15 people who participated in the National Stuttering Project- now known as the National Stuttering Association.  John participated in Toastmasters for several years before leading public speaking workshops in the Bay Area of California. I have learned a lot from John since first meeting him in 1997.  I think he helps SLPs think outside the box of mainstream treatment methods for stuttering.(Search his book title on on the internet and the 600+ page book is available for free on PDF). 

Ian Trimble is a cyber security expert.  He speaks all day long.  He is a trainer and a consultant.  Ian's childhood included teasing, bullying, and avoidance.  He had a life time of speech therapy before we met when he was in his early 20's.  Ian explains how cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) via NLP and Neurosemantics provided him the life-changing breakthrough he sought after.  Listen to his story of resolve and courage.