What are some things you can do to prevent stuttering?

Question

Personally, my stuttering has improved dramatically since childhood. As a child, while trying to talk, I would stutter for maybe 15 seconds on a single word. Now, it's way better and I can almost avoid stuttering all together.

My stutter is weird because, public speaking is easier for me. I'm a rather popular person, I have tons of friends and I play sports. I stutter more when there is NO pressure to talk well. I stutter more talking to my mother or father than anyone. There's a trend-- I seem to stutter more and more, the more comfortable I get with people. It's happening with my coach (I've known him going on four years now), my girlfriend (ex now, but it started happening after 6 months) and of course my parents (my whole life, 20 years). The only exception is when first meeting someone new-- I always seem to stutter when saying my name... and only my name. People are like, "What, you don't know you're own name?!?"

Can anyone explain this?

Answer 1

I would guess when speaking with family/friends you are not as attentive to what you are saying and are probably speaking faster and with less forethought then you would when addressing strangers..

Answer 2

Check out the information on the web site for The Stuttering Foundation of America at www.stutteringhelp.org. Their book "Advice to those who Stutter" and "Self Therapy for the Stutterer" were helpful to our family. Also chat with Eva at http://groups.myspace.com/stutteringfoundation, a new myspace page for people who stutter.

Answer 3

Interesting. I would suggest talking with a psychologist too about this. Have you tried taking a deep breath before you speak? What about singing to people instead of talking to them? I really don't know the best thing to do, but I hope you get what you want from the other answers.