Word Thought Substitution
I've mentioned before my belief that if I could forget my stutter, I'd talk much more smoothly.
I've since confirmed, though, that it's practically impossible for me to forget my stutter, because every time I open my mouth to talk, before I can do or think anything my brain is already obsessing about it.
But a couple of weeks ago, I started reading The Secret by Rhonda Byrne. And while I question some of the statements she makes, I have found one aspect of the "Secret" potentially helpful.
She suggests we replace every negative thought with a positive one. And I'm wondering whether that could work for my speech. Every time I think of my stutter perhaps I could replace that thought with something else and essentially push my stutter out of my mind. Once it's out of my mind, I would think it's as good as forgotten.
I'm a master at word substitution and can do that in an instant, so hopefully I can become as adept at thought substitution.
I've since confirmed, though, that it's practically impossible for me to forget my stutter, because every time I open my mouth to talk, before I can do or think anything my brain is already obsessing about it.
But a couple of weeks ago, I started reading The Secret by Rhonda Byrne. And while I question some of the statements she makes, I have found one aspect of the "Secret" potentially helpful.
She suggests we replace every negative thought with a positive one. And I'm wondering whether that could work for my speech. Every time I think of my stutter perhaps I could replace that thought with something else and essentially push my stutter out of my mind. Once it's out of my mind, I would think it's as good as forgotten.
I'm a master at word substitution and can do that in an instant, so hopefully I can become as adept at thought substitution.
posted by Closet Stutterer at 6:51 PM
4 Comments:
It seems like a really great idea, in theory. For me to be able to do that I think I'll need a lot of practice. It's not easy to do that in the middle of a stuttering process, when you body and your mind are too busy trying to throat it out you know?
Yes, I think it will take an awful lot of practice for me as well. But I feel I have to start somewhere.
It's a shame that the tricks I use (word substitution, etc.) are so easy to adopt but so incredibly difficult to give up.
Thank you for writing.
Sophie
Hi Sophie,
I've been reading your blog for some time now. I think I have a very similar problem to yours. I only block when I fear blocking. When I'm concentrating on the content of the conversation and not obsessing over the possibility of blocking, I'm fluent. Therefore I can only conclude that the cause of my stuttering is connected with the way I think and cannot be cured by breathing and speech exercises.Forgetting about blocking would indeed be the ultimate cure. But I think forgetting is the last phase of a very long process that starts with not caring so much about the way we speak or block. I believe the only way I can stop caring about it so much is to stop reliving the same episodes of blocking over and over again in my mind. And instead try to put them behind me a.s.a.p.
I hope I make any sense to you.
Best regards,
Carla (the Netherlands)
Ps: I applaud you for starting and continueing this blog. I'm convinced your helping a great deal of fellow coverts.
Hi Carla,
Thank you for your kind words, and you make perfect sense.
I agree 100% with what you say, particularly the part about it being a long process.
Thank you for writing!
Best wishes,
Sophie
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