Overcome Stuttering - When You're Motivated, You Will Do It!

Most people who overcome stuttering want to maintain their speech fluency. They ensure that they use their technique each time they open their mouths to speak.

It's not a difficult concept. Using skills to overcome stuttering can be compared to using other life skills. People choose to be trained in all sorts of activities during their lives. Sometimes it's your boss who tells you that you must undertake a course in this or that. The motivation for these situations tends to come from a desire to please, to be promoted, to be seen as conforming or to simply improve your understanding of a subject or area your boss felt you needed improvement in. This type of thing happens regularly in most people's lives. Whether or not the individual retains the newly-learnt information or techniques depends to a large extent on relevance or the importance of the new knowledge in the day-to-day activities of the individual.

As human beings, we really only retain information, ideas and techniques that are important to ourselves, our lives. If something is useful or we have an interest in a certain area or activity then we are more inclined to adopt the ideas or activity. Sometimes certain activities that we choose to be active in require plenty of concentration and practice for us to be proficient. I would like to use the example of 'golf'. Playing golf is an activity that many people enjoy socially and for many, at a competitive level. Some social players frustrated with their game feel that they would benefit from undertaking professional lessons in the art of striking the ball and getting the thinking right - because as we all know, there is so much more to being an excellent golfer than just being able to swing correctly. During the golf lessons players would be taught correct techniques for striking the ball, club selection, the effect of weather and putting surface, etc. As well as the practical how-to information, the instructor will discuss the mental attitude toward the game of golf and how to be positive, calm and assertive and to employ correct relaxed breathing technique before striking the ball.

The results of all this information vary with each recipient. Some individuals will think about what they have learnt during the course and forget most of it by the time they play another round. Some will think of the money they have spent on the course, that alone will motivate them to use many of the techniques initially, but many, after a time, fall by the wayside. Some people with high levels of motivation and eagerness to play golf at the highest level understand that they have been given all the tools to play golf well, they have been given ideas of what has to go on within the mind to consistently be successful. They realise that success in this perplexing sport will only occur with strict perseverance and practice. They take every opportunity to practise because they can see improvement in their game and their confidence is lifting. They address their technique and thoughts before they approach the ball. They might not always think the right way when they strike their ball, so they go out of their way to seek more knowledge. "How can I get my thinking right?" "How can I be more controlled and calm before I hit the ball?" "I still feel tense before I hit the ball, my breathing isn't right." In order to improve in these areas many may choose to seek out further help, for example by doing a yoga or meditation course.

Undertaking good home-based stuttering therapy is only the first step to overcome a stutter. For people who are highly motivated in their quest for fluency, giving up is not an option. Gaining control over your stutter for the first time is wonderful and liberating and if you want that to be ongoing then it has to come from within. Once you have the initial tools for recovery, the rest is, YES, UP TO YOU! Address your technique every time you go to speak, use your daily booster, use your support network, and enjoy the feeling that fluency can offer. You be the boss of your mind and overcome the stuttering. Join me on that road to speech fluency.

Dave E is one of the directors of Ezy-Speech, a complete in-home stuttering therapy and support program for adolescents and adults. Ezy-Speech has been developed via a successful collaboration between both specialist clinicians and recovering stutterers. For more information, visit the website: www.ezyspeech.com.au. Information about Ezy-Speech can also be found on the Australian Speak Easy Association website.