Let Me Finish: A Stuttering Documentary

[@roy1701d]

The laughter. The snickers. The teasing. The stares. The comments. The struggle. When I was 13, my father slammed his hands on the table and yelled, "Dammit, boy, if you can't talk right, don't talk at all!" I didn't speak again until I was 16. The stutter was still there. I'm 51 now, and the stutter is still there. It will always be there. But people like my dad don't need to be. Education, awareness, and just a shred of empathy is all that are needed to help stutterers cope better. Excellent film. Thank you!

[@randallscott1643]

As a Clinical Hypnotherapist, I have worked with PWS. I think if you can get to the cause of your stutter, you can get to the cure. I have found the cause of 100% of my clients. Stuttering is caused by a traumatic event between the ages of 2-7. Any thing from a dog barking in a child's face, to a child seeing someone get shot! This is the spectrum that I have worked with. A lot of people can't remember what caused their stutter. But the subconcious remembers everything. So with Hypnotherapy it is easy to get to the traumatic event. Now that you understand what caused the stutter, now you can let it go from your mind and body. I am happy to answer any questions you may have. Thank you for your time.

[@roy1701d]

@@randallscott1643 I've stuttered since I was 4. I'm 54 now, and very comfortable with who I am and how I speak. At this point in my life, I believe it's OTHER PEOPLE who have the problem, not me. 🙂

[@jacosam62]

I can't tell you guys how many times I've had to avoid many conversations, simply because I wasn't able to get that one word out. My stuttering happens unexpectedly, but definitely always happen when I get nervous. Like when I was in school, and we would read out loud in class, that was the worst. Or when we had to present a project we did for the class. I would seriously miss school or just not do the project just to avoid the embarrassment. I hate it, because sometimes people don't know what they're talking about, and they'll think they have to treat me a special way. I'm like, "Seriously?" It's pretty insulting. I'm glad to see there are videos like this out there

[@AlexRMurphy]

Thanks for the comment Sam. I can totally relate. It's a weird balance when explaining stuttering to people, because it is not "caused" by nerves, but nervousness and pressure does seem to play a certain role.

[@micahnewman]

Ugh, reading aloud. I do it fine now (I stutter significantly less now than I did up through college), but it used to be my one greatest dread. In the 8th grade I was in a Literature class that consisted almost entirely of "reading down the rows" and a girl I was in love with was also in the class. I almost attempted suicide over that one thing.

[@osarumenerhunmwunsee]

Tim OHeron when i talk to girls, my stuttering usually reduce big time. but, when i talk to boys i stutter. i think the biggest problem we have is not breathing when talking at the same time. that is what have been trying to do, but i don't do that constantly, which is bad. in art appreciation class, we did presentation group by group, when it got to my turn, i don't know how my stuttering reduced, it felt like a miracle to me. am still a stutterer though. all i need is to practice breathing. and one thing i wanna say is whenever i stutter, my mom doesn't allow me to complete my sentence. she just interrupt. i find it so annoying. same goes to my siblings, they don't allow me finish my statement except my eldest sister, she allows me to complete my statement.i have never spoken on mic before in church. i know one day our stuttering will vanish. just because we stutter doesn't mean we are dumb. non-stutterers need to understand that. we ain't dumb.

[@NyxxyN]

Sometimes I avoid conversation with people who aren't my friends, but I do talk with my friends because they understand. Whenever there was something I had to say in front of everyone, it was terrible. I didn't even talk cause I was so worried. And when I did, I was so embarrassed.

[@osarumenerhunmwunsee]

Sedina Mahious it's not easy to control it, or to stop stuttering. but i think mine as reduce, unlike before i will have to beat myself in order for me to say something. now is not like that anymore. i honestly copied my friend who was a stutterer, when i was just 5 yrs. being a stutterer doesn't stop you from having a girl friend. i have a friend who is a heavy stutterer, she is happily married now. mine is not intense, its little.

[@Gabzilla27]

This video made me cry, i have never really talked about my stuttering to my friends, and i just feel like everything is going downhill for me. Like not being able to order what i want when i go out to eat and stuff like that :(

[@jordanlee8007]

Same. I just try to find something easy to say and get that :(

[@FearzEnemy]

+Gabzilla27 It sucks, going to subway is like a nightmare.

[@CaptainSoftboy501]

exactly :'(

[@peacechildrasta91]

You shouldn't have to settle or anything like thay. If they are not prepared or trained for people's conditions, it's not your fault . No need t9 be rudely you can help it. But put an inconsiderate asshole in his place

[@pringle72]

People don't understand what stuttering feels like...you have no control over how you say words..Its the most frustrating and embarrassing thing that can happen to anybody...Its like your ashamed over something you have no control over...

[@pringle72]

It feels like your mind and mouth is not in tune..out of sync.

[@azdra379]

Yah, I feel how it is,

[@ginny177]

exactly

[@pigeonfood6782]

exactly

[@AllytheGumby]

to be honest its kind of weird because with some issues people could have like, eg, being deaf, i'd feel awkward and try to consciously make sure i don't say anything that might offend them or mention it. but with someone who stutters, i just never thought of it like that. i wouldnt even notice. like, they just stutter, ok. im not differentiating different stuff or isolating it but i guess im just tryna make the point that its so insanely strange, inhuman and pointlessly cruel to make fun of someone with something like stuttering. thats just weird and it doesnt make sense. im just so sorry that you feel ashamed about it. i think if people want a reason to make fun of someone, they will just find anything, no matter what it is.

[@serestinehaitembu2941]

thank you so much for sharing this. My stuttering was really bad when i was in primary school. Some kids and teachers were so mean because i would tap on the table to get my words out.My self-esteem went down the drain, so to avoid the embarrassment of having someone laugh at me, i started writing down everything i wanted to share with someone. Never in my wildest dreams did i ever think that things will get better, i'm in my 4th year of med school and no stammering is ever going to get in between me and my career. Your stammering doesn't define who you are and don't ever let anyone's laughter put you down.

[@bodryn]

Congratulations on your determination to have a good career despite this condition.

[@AllytheGumby]

i think your differences dont only not have a negative impact, but every difference defines you more as an individual which can be a tool to utilise in uniqueness and agility in living and getting around challenges.

[@NicoleSerranoK]

I'm 15 years old, and I stutter. I can't thank you enough for making this. It's amazing!

[@shwetalohar2997]

We are so proud of you love you nicole kudos to u from India

[@Qhristopher]

Do you still stutter? I should be a year younger than you, I'll be 24 in may. I stuttered ever since I could talk, but the last 2 years like after I hit 21 I slowly stopped stuttering in every situation that I used to avoid, now if you ask ANY of my new friends, work buddies, boss, they would bet EVERYTHING they own that I do not stutter. But all I have to do is be around a family member, when I talk to my dad or either of my grandparents it's like I'm in middle school again it's like one word per 10 seconds... I assume you know what I mean? It used go be the opposite I could talk to my family with ease and then any stranger or pweosn at school I wouldn't even be able to say one word for a minute or two.... honestly just like you I'm sure in my head I know what to do and know my little triggers but I CANNOT figure out why I don't stutter AT ALL with strangers/buddies but as soon as I'm talking to a family member it's time for my split personality. I know you made that comment 9 years ago lmao but I thought maybe if you saw the question you might give me some insight or personal expierience on how your stutter progressed through the years and how it is now?

[@rvbgeek]

As a lifelong stutterer, the title alone of this video really speaks to me. We've all had those non-stutterers try and be "helpful" and interpret what we're trying to say; It's embarrassing, it's insulting, and it's demeaning. I'm so grateful that more and more I'm seeing people speaking publicly about stuttering and how the rest of the world can help us without treating us as less than. I'm proud to have found my voice for public speaking in spite of my stutter because it gives me so much strength and confidence to share myself with an audience and enlighten them!

[@agentlolipop001]

rvbgeek While I can see where you're coming from, I personally like when people try to help. It can be frustrating to be so close to wrapping up what I want to say but not being able to spit the last words out; if my conversational partnergets the gist of what I mean to say and finishes for me, that puts an end to the stress and allows us to move on. Besides, if it's done gently and in a friendly/ helpful way, it makes me feel like the person really doesn't mind that I stutter and wants to work with me to make communication as efficient as possible. If they just stare and wait for me to finish without making any attempt to piece together what I've already said, it can sometimes put even more pressure on me to get the rest out quickly.

[@AllytheGumby]

yea i was gonna say, i suppose it would be good if you were having particularly a lot of trouble with a certain word but if you were alright getting it out and just taking your time then it would be quite demeaning. im interested in stuttering but i dont stutter, so i guess i cant really say though. i just find it so weird how some people actually can bully someone who has a stutter.@@agentlolipop001

[@rnaddie]

I'm about two minutes in, and i paused to read the comments. I honestly agree with so much that's being said. When I'm talking to someone, nearly all my focus is on making sure I don't stutter, that I speak clearly, that I don't mumble/mix words when I talk, and to immediately find words that will give me less speaking problems. I find I often talk fast because I'm so nervous and need to get it all out before I mess up, but talking fast makes things a thousand times worse. Idk, what the first guy said in the beginning of the documentary is so true-the entire time you're speaking, all you can think about is not messing up, and the moment you do, you panic so greatly that it becomes harder to recover with each passing second. I'm looking forward to watching the rest and reading more comments...I feel like everyone I know thinks lowly of me because of my speech issues, but the amount of support I'm finding online is incredible :')

[@2010WolfLone]

rnaddie I have stuttered my entire life too. I too could never read aloud in class. Even today I will begin to speak and have trouble saying a particular word so I insert a similar word to get it out. I’ve also found that you stutter you have ZERO credibility and people often disregard what you are saying. Frustrating. I’m also not a fan of those that deliberately stutter, such as comedians, I find it hurtful and disrespectful. I’ve mellowed with age and will laugh at myself as I stumble over a word. Close friends and family don’t mind when it happens and extend me grace and patience.

[@AlexRMurphy]

Thank you for watching! I agree, kids need positive reinforcement when they're young, even if they have a bad stuttering problem, they still need to have the support of their family and others so they don't become afraid of it.

[@versatile1994]

This made me cry. I never knew there are people like me. In the Philippines where I live, I've been laughed at, mocked, and worst of all, taunted when I stuttered in my talk against bullying. Everyone told me I was just nervous so I stutter, but I knew it was something more. Even my family would laugh and imitate me when my mouth quivers and I stutter. I'm 18 and I still have not gone over it. I showed my family this video, and now theyre helping me. Thank you so much for posting this! :)

[@coolbrett]

I also order things I don't really want. Just cos it's easier to say. I hate ordering steaks because you have to say if you want chips or salad, and what type of sauce, and how I want it cooked. I LOVE steak, but I just order whatever I find easiest to say.

[@cryptidian3530]

I've stopped ordering Coca-Cola, because I struggle with the letter K at the start of the word. It sucks.

[@BigRickster]

I am 18 Years old and iv'e stuttered since i was just a little kid. That title "LET ME FINISH" Is so perfect in every way. All the times i couldn't answer the phone, made my interviewer at my first job laugh. Or even answer the phone and have the person on the other line hang up on me. My close friends who thankfully have known me since i was a kid, don't really think anything of it. But new people i meet its always a long explanation. I'm not saying i expect anything from anyone. I'm no better. But this short documentary is Awesome and will definitely help with the large majority of people who don't fully understand it. #LETMEFINISH

[@anneroper1481]

i have never been able to put what goes through my head when i can feel a stutter coming on into words. the beginning of the video does it perfectly.

[@AlexRMurphy]

I'm 23 and I haven't grown out of my either, although it's gotten much better. I still tend to "think ahead" and swap out words that I know I'll have issues with, but after I took some therapy during college (also when I made the documentary) I learned that the biggest thing you can do is get over the FEAR of your stutter. Self-disclosure is big - try telling people you stutter when you first meet them, it takes a lot of pressure off you to "not stutter" because know they are expecting it :-)

[@hooahguy14]

as a stutterer myself, I must say that this video is amazing. thank you for making it!

[@cacah123ful]

only who is stutterer can understand, it is very difficult to live with so much prejudice, with people laughing at you, you feel like crap!

[@AlexRMurphy]

You're going to do great in your interview! Don't be scared, "self disclose" and let the interviewer know immediately that you stutter. That's the single best thing I learned through therapy. Just saying "by the way, I stutter some, so if I catch up on some words that's why..." really helps take the weight off your shoulders.

[@beowolf19751]

People, try READING out loud as that method has helped me tremendously!!!!!!! GOD bless you all!!

[@VasCrime]

I did that but honestly one of the comment explained my answer, " I've had a stutter since I was very young, its severity changes all the time. I might be close to fluent on day, incapable of fluent conversation the next"

[@VasCrime]

like, Yesterday i felt i was talking fine and improved but today I'm back at it.

[@miamee13]

I started crying when the doctor said, " I love the way you talk!" it meant so much to me, being a stutter and 15 years old. NO ONE has ever told me that! Thank you for this video, everyone needs to watch it!

[@KARENOAKESBRANCH]

I LOVE THE WAY YOU TALK !!!!!!

[@KARENOAKESBRANCH]

I LOVE THE WAY YOU TALK !!!!

[@richstyler]

Thanks for sharing this video. I started stuttering when I was 5 years old when a family friend used to fake stutter with me as a joke and apparently I started. I really appreciate this documentary and the attempt to try and help those who don't stutter how much stutter affects those who do it. I've been stuttering for 34 years now and it is something that impacts my life every moment of every day, even if I am not talking. When I am talking, my mind is racing at 100 miles an hour to find and replace words that I know I will have trouble with [start with certain letters], with words that I won't [hopefully] have trouble with. All the people who are struggling, hang in there. Stuttering is something you do but doesn't define you. I'm married, two fantastic kids who don't stutter, have a great job and making the most of life. I know its tough, but you can do it. Hopefully videos like this will help people be more patient & accepting of the challenge we have.

[@Fragil1ty]

Stay strong everyone, stay strong. I know it's hard, but with perseverance we can overcome the boundaries that have held us back so much, good luck everyone. - 24 year old who has been stuttering since he was 11.

[@anasmohamud4284]

Any progress in you stuttering in the last 5 yrs

[@Fragil1ty]

@@anasmohamud4284 I think it is always a day by day thing, but I wouldn't class myself as a severe stutterer. I work in a call centre where I'm on the phone 8 hours a day, so I'm able to live life just like anyone else would really. We will always have those days where your stutter is a little worse than other days, but for the most part my days are coherent and I don't really have any issues.

[@davidphysdav]

31 yo here

[@CoreyView]

I had a mallet teacher in the marching band who had a mild stutter but I never once thought of him as unintelligent or timid. He is one of the smartest people I know. I always look forward to seeing him because of the stories he tells and he is a legendary story teller. I feel that I was lucky to have known him at a young age because I was shown that it doesn't really matter that he has a stutter. It's not something I should focus on.

[@MyselfandTom]

I'm 36 years old and when I heard her say "I like the way you talk", I lost it. Never in my life has anyone told me that they like the way I talk. I also didn't realize how much I needed to hear it until I heard her say it.

[@MS-ub2jh]

My stutter is getting worse as i'm growing older. And the weird thing is, I stutter the most when i'm around people whom i'm most comfortable with (which is totally weird because usually someone stutters when they are anxious and/or talking to someone they are not entirely at ease with) specially my mum and my closest friends. Like, with my mum i can't even finish one sentence. She's used to it by now, but it's so embarrassing and i don't understand why i stutter the most around her. I stutter A LOT around other people, but with her it's absolutely crazy. Sometimes i just want to write down what i want to say or i end up just not saying anything at all. And while most people say they stutter when they are feel anxious or nervous, i stutter just as much when i'm completely normal. And i hate stuttering so much because i'm such a bubbly and cheerful person; i love to talk and express my opinion and though when i was younger i didn't care if i stuttered and expressed myself anyways, now that i'm 17, i don't even try to talk because i can automatically feel on my tongue that i'm about to stutter. I feel humiliated every single time i stutter, and it's 72829291919 times worse when people actually confront me about it and say "are you a stutterer or something?" I know they aren't trying to be mean but are simply curious, but they have no idea how embarrassing it is.

[@tj4256]

same here. it's kind of annoying sometimes. stuttering a lot around my parents is hard. I know they still love me but it's embarrassing.

[@MS-ub2jh]

+TJ Chamberlin exactly!

[@argenizcisneroz3071]

yuppp same here !

[@Sara16sep]

It's like you're reading my mind! it's always crazy and I get all kinds of weird thoughts when I'm talking to my mum that i stop thinking about what I'm saying and just focus on how i'm saying it instead, and It's sucks because she's my mum and I wanna tell her things without worrying and stressing too much, and I hate to see that she's feeling sorry or sad about it. You're not alone, don't give up.

[@Sara16sep]

+Sara Wadda it*

[@Paseosinperro]

Today, after long time without stuttering (may be more than one year), I stuttered at the supermarket asking a question to one member of the staff. I felt very bad, like it suddenly reminds me to old bad times. But, at the same time, and specially watching now this video, it connects to some part of me that in a way I feel important. Seeing these people in the documentary is like seeing a part of myself that I had forgotten. Even I rarely stutter now, I have this psychological need to remember that there is nothing to be ashamed, as if the fact of accepting that there is nothing wrong with that I was accepting myself.

[@LimeGreenWolf]

People who stutter are more likely to stutter when they are nervous. But that is not the sole reason why we stutter. But being nervous to get ready to talk to someone or in front of people is a big factor for sure.

[@NooraAlMeer]

This is really touching, showing the personal side of stuttering and how it affects their lives. We have a general problem in not being patient enough to actually listen to others when they speak, and people have less patience towards people with disfluencies, let alone towards those who stutter. My cousin stutters. Although I don't know how a person begins to stutter, he began when his father passed away, he was around 5 years old. He is a great guy who trusted enough to put effort into having long conversations with me even though he went through panic attacks as described in the documentary. I think at the end, we just need to find the right people who want to get to know us and listen to us, to whom our stuttering or disfluencies simple don't affect anything.

[@Mr007jamster]

I can't even say my own fucking last name.

[@RunningOverRooftops]

i can relate man

[@71Tman]

I dread having to introduce myself to people over and over again. I just wanna wear a hugeass nametag all the time so I won't have to do it. Sounds like I'm forgetting my own name ;_;

[@JuanVLopez]

Stay strong man, I'm 25 years old & have stuttered every single day of my life ... I definitely relate. Can't say my name on the first try either, most of the time. But I've embraced my stuttering and have accepted it. Makes it much easier to smile through my stuttering problems rather than hate on myself because of them. Good luck to you man.

[@ofjdaz]

***** So sad to hear these stories :(.

[@ofjdaz]

what is your last name? I stutter with the word atlanta.

[@thunderdrummerdude]

I can relate so much to this. I am not ashamed to say that I stutter. I’ve had this disorder since I was little. I am 38 now. I was about 10 or 11 when my stuttering started. I have had many difficult times. Which I am sure the rest of you have. I have had speech therapy and for a while, my stuttering was less frequent. What really hurts me on the inside is when I can’t get a single word out. And someone says to me “you had to think about that one huh?” I wanted to just lash out at that person and say “No. I don’t ever have to think about it. Don’t you know about stuttering?” There has been more then one time in my life where I got up enough courage to stand up for myself. When I was in college, I gave a presentation in a class. I remember stopping and I told the whole class about my speech disorder. I remember being so nervous that I almost walked out of the classroom. I stood my ground and finished my presentation. Looking back to that day, I still can’t believe I did that. That took incredible courage. I’m proud of myself for doing that.

[@VoVikMakaR]

One of the things about how people perceive stuttering that pisses me off the most, is that people do not consider it as a disability, like it cannot affect ones life, when in fact its the opposite. Like how it can drive your every decision. How everytime you open your mouth to produce sound you experience massive stress, even when talking to your family. Sure when people see a legless person, they will be like "damn...that guy got it tough, i will never understand what it feels like". When people hear me stutter, they be like "aaaah, dont be nervous, its okay, i know so and so who stutters and bla bla, i know what it feels like", you not gonna come up to a handicapped or a blind person and say such things right. People assume that i stutter because i am not confident, or i am nervous. I never had a problem coming out to blackboard in school, participating in presentations, or coming on stage in front of hundreds of people, so how is that not confident am i right? Anyways, thats my little rant, just wish there was some massive thing that will inform all the people how does it feel to stutter and help people who dont stutter understand it.

[@ashbhawa]

totally agree with you. I get the same reaction when I stutter while conversing with my colleagues get really pissed off when people say such things

[@JoeyLegendd]

Right, or they say something like "Stop and think, slow down" Like man i'm talking regularly and I know what I want to say, it's speech block! I want to be able to speak more, to talk to random people, etc, i'm not shy or nervous at all, it's just my speech block, I don't want to go through that.

[@thealicemoon]

Is it just me, or when you stutter, does it bug you when people try to guess what your trying to say? It really bugs me because I can finish my sentence myself, just give me a second! Plus, a lot of the times, their guesses are way off. Dad: where do you wanna go to dinner? Me: can we go to t-t-t Dad: Taco Bell? Me: T-tarentinos...

[@SSJoe13]

TS777 most of my friends helps me to complete the sentence that im trying to say and most of them know which words im about to say

[@CaptainSoftboy501]

yes it bugs me because I'm trying to get the word out on my own to get the word right and then they just say it for me. and I'm just there like LET ME FINISH!! ಠ_ಠ

[@tj4256]

yes it does. and it's really frustrating sometimes.

[@magyarleany3793]

It bugs me too, but sometimes when I really struggle for like half a minute to get that one word out and it's really obvious what I want to say, I'm so thankful that they finish my sentence, because sometimes it's just sooo exhausting trying to get that one word out!!

[@tj4256]

That is very true Magyar! Good point

[@theactuallydoes]

Really well done. Thank you for creating it and sharing it. Great editing. A lot of wisdom. I learned a lot.

[@AlexRMurphy]

Thank you Zac!

[@Mega911Gamer]

I dont know why but there are moments when im talking to someone and the word I wont to say just wont come out of my mouth, and as soon as the other person says the word I was trying to say, then my mouth becomes free and I can say the word.

[@coolmagictricks3050]

The 9 people who have disliked the video... I feel sorry for you

[@niggafrmthe6624]

i feel sorry for your mouth it gets used a lot. FUKKIN BARREL!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@coolmagictricks3050]

?

[@ashford786]

This is really great to see. I've never met anyone who stutters besides myself and my mother. When i read on celebs who stutter or watch a video about people who stutter it makes me feel better about myself. It makes me realize that i'm not alone... and neither are they.

[@keepingyouincheck8533]

i had a stutter from a young age and trust me when i tell you its horrible! i was once asked by this girl in my class on how well i did on my speaking test on the SAT exam i told her my score. she then proceeded to ask me, how did you not fail the speaking test? and that hit home for me :( i then overcame the stutter through my love of music, now i am a rapper :) anything is possible!!!

[@guitarman4344]

I've had a stutter since I was very young, its severity changes all the time. I might be close to fluent on day, incapable of fluent conversation the next. Eventually, I started blocking and word substituting to avoid my stutter, but it's always there, and those learned behaviors are just as bad a problem. However, I'm lucky in that it is mild compared to some other people I know. I'd be lying if I said it hasn't affected me though when I answer the phone, have to say my name, or relay very specific information. There's also the occasional random speech block without explanation. The best thing to do is, try to control what you can, but don't let it get you down!

[@AlexRMurphy]

Couldn't agree more. The best lesson I learned from therapy was that it's not about overcoming stuttering, it's about overcoming the FEAR of the stuttering blocks. That's what can be truly crippling and stressful.

[@osarumenerhunmwunsee]

Alex R Murphy breathing while talking is the most important. i am a stutterer also. i stuttered when i was in primary school at age 4 or 5 i think. i imitated a friend of mine that time. i was just a kid back then. when i got home, my sister was surprise the way i was talking. she felt bad. some time i speak fluent too, some times i stutter. when i speak to girls my stuttering usually reduce seriously. there was even a time when i was in the secondary school i said to my self that i will not stutter, it actually worked for. but it came back again. my stuttering doesn't keep me from not having friends though. i have lots of friends. i communicate with people. when i talk on phone, i stutter big time. few times, i speak almost fluent on phone. the things that we all need to work on is self confidence by saying yes i can do this, and also breathing practice almost every day. i believe the stuttering will reduce drastically. sometimes i pray to GOD about it. lol. i know one day, this stuttering will vanish.

[@CaptainSoftboy501]

its in words :')

[@ryand730]

Hi, I have a stutter as well but I'm currently receiving speech therapy for it at The University of Maryland Speech Pathology Department. It's called open stuttering. OPEN STUTTERING WORKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Open stuttering is where you stutter on the first sounds of words that you have blocked on. So if you block on the word To, you would open stutter on the T in To by going TTTTTTo. By going TTTTTo, you will be able to voice the next sound in To which is the o sound. Have you ever noticed that you always have problems vocalizing the first sound of the word? When you have trouble vocalizing the first sound of a troublesome word, you will resort to escape behaviors. These behaviors can include loss of eye contact, saying filler words (um, well, like, I mean, uh), restarting your sentence or word, word substitutions, experiencing tension, tapping your foot or touching another body part, wincing, gaping with your mouth strangely, any weird body movements). You developed these escape behaviors because by using these escape behaviors, you were able to push the words out that you were blocking on. However, you discovered that you needed to restart several times or use several filler words or not make eye contact at all, in order to push out words. The more stressed out you get over your stutter or the more tension you feel, the more you have relied on your escape behaviors. When you open stutter, the goal is to gradually eliminate your escape behaviors. Do not go um um um um to, instead if you block on the word to, stutter on the t sound of to and eventually the o sound will come out, take your time. Open stuttering will sound really ugly and unnatural at first but eventually if you use less of your escape behaviors, you will be able to speak more quickly and efficiently. The goal of open stuttering is not to achieve fluency. Do not take this harshly but you will not be completely, naturally fluent. IfBack to open stuttering. The goal of open stuttering is to reveal your true stutter. Your true stutter is not full of escape behaviors, it is full of blocks and repetitions on the first sounds of words. I have been using open stuttering to a great effect since this past January. I have gone to not being able to introduce myself half the time to giving four minutes information filled monologues.

[@Andronache1000]

I am exactly like you

[@blurredarms]

Thank you for this. I've recently become much more honest with myself about my lifelong battle with stuttering (hence, I'm an extremely proficient covert stutterer). Seeing others discuss their experiences is making it much easier for me to reflect and has motivated me towards advocacy. Well done, Alex.

[@johnnyharrison123]

Absolutely terrific video. Everything in it cuts to the quick. And I'm really blown away by the sophisticated level of production. I'll be interested to see what you do next.

[@kwstnfrd1]

I stutter, and I found this so moving. I really felt as if I was alone, and it's amazing to find a community in my city that shares my same sentiments. Thank you so much for this.

[@imrangul6407]

Who ever dislikes this video they don't have a heart.

[@dekngpasig]

watching this video. made me cry... i cant find a job because of this stuttering issue...

[@wiehannphilander7829]

Be strong :(

[@carleylester9691]

Hey! Where do you live!! I completely understand and have been there. I did a program called the Mcquire Institute Program. It was amazing for me and for many others. You can see the program on KZbin and follow them on Facebook. It has worked for so many people. Let me say this, its not a cure, but its a technique that you can utilize for the rest of your life. And you're a life long member, and can attend meet up groups via Skype or in person in a city close to you. I hope you see this message.. love you without knowing you.xoxo Carley

[@dekngpasig]

Carley Lester I live here in Philippines, still cant get a job, i will search that program thank u for the info,

[@WarrenCampbell86]

I am in the same position as you. I do interviews and the interviewer tone of voice always change with "Oh, you have a bad stutter" then the interview ends shortly after. I even had one interview where the interviewer said " You're resume looks good but your speech is going to be a problem." It breaks me everytime

[@MyStutteringLife]

inlovekay kimjiwon I've been there, you are not alone

[@Zach-cb2fm]

I'm 40 and have stuttered since grade school. Growing up, I coped with it by avoiding talking. That got me through the days but it did not serve me well. It stunted my growth in all areas of life. I have very few good memories of high school and college. You have to talk to have a life. Stuttering will torpedo social and work opportunities that come your way. You will be humiliated by your stuttering. This is guaranteed. Don't wallow in it. Accept it and resolve to keep talking. There is no other way.

[@eddiew2325]

Hi Zach I love u

[@eddiew2325]

Hey Zach

[@plutoandpolaris]

The most annoying thing to me is the fact that the most important information I need to say is often the hardest. Things like thank you and my name, for instance.

[@CaptainSoftboy501]

Sophia Lind OH MY GOSH RIGHT??? ;3;

[@alizah8194]

One time i was at the store, and i went there to get ice cream. I really wanted the lime one but i couldn't say it so i had to say strawberry :(

[@wildbutterly25]

This is a great video on stuttering. I used to stutter when I was young and kind of lucky to have outgrown it. I do stutter sometimes when very upset. I had a lovely speech teacher who took time to teach me to slow down and bring words that I couldn't pronounce correctly. So Whenever I meet someone who stutters I just give my undivided attention and wait till they finish. It's hard to tell someone who stutters that I used to be a stutter as well but it's really something you either outgrow or live with the rest of your life.

[@AlexRMurphy]

Yeah, it really seems to be one or the other. I've been fortunate enough to get A LOT better, but it still creeps up from time to time. People not letting me finish (trying to fill in my words for me) used to really upset me, not as much now though.

[@splintercell275]

I'm a stutterer too and I live in Austin! Its so nice to know that there's a professor at UT who stutters

[@GoDawgs1991]

I had a really bad stutter when I was a child. Looking back on it now I think it was because of my intense social anxiety and fear of being judged or mocked when I spoke. I talked to myself a lot because that was the only time I could speak fluently without getting my words stuck. It was comforting for me to be able to speak out loud without that fear of being made fun of. I went to speech therapy twice a week for quite a while and an immediate practice tool they gave me to help speak fluently was they gave me a squishy ball that I carried around in my pocket and I would grasp on to the ball and squeeze it every syllable, and I would speak one syllable at a time, so I would be like, "Hell-O how are you to-day?" Now, at age 21, my stutter is almost completely gone, I'm able to speak directly to people fluently, the only times it really pops back up is when I'm talking on the phone or ordering a meal at a restaurant. I was recently diagnosed with Avoidant Personality Disorder and my psychiatrist said that shyness and speech problems, such as stuttering, are common with children who get diagnosed with APD later in life. So it all makes sense now!

[@VasCrime]

I can't order my favourite Food in a restaurant :(

[@sunilnagila5883]

Same with me

[@eddiew2325]

Sunil Nagila hi sunni it’s me I love u

[@adeladockalova7736]

Same. You're not alone.😉

[@PatricioContrerasCea]

To all the people that is undergoing stuttering, let me advise you to experience with traditional Chinese medicine. This is a syndrome related to heart and kidney disharmony accompanied to wind (spasms). When this disharmony happens heat in the heart blocks its orifices with phlegm creating the difficulty for the spirit in expressing the voice. This syndrome becomes worse when emotional aspects start to appear along the way of life.

[@AlexRMurphy]

Do you have any resources or helpful advice linking to this diagnosis? I highly doubt this is actually true in relation to stuttering (the voice/language is a construct of the mind, not the spirit) but I'd still be interested in seeing what the process is in Chinese medicine for restoring heart/kindey harmony.

[@cyberboxx]

The video resonated with me; good job; well done. I am a 67 year old persistent adult stutter. I enjoyed a successful career as a communication satellite engineer, despite and because of stuttering. Stutter effects my life everyday.

[@shayomfg]

I Used to stutter, and at a certain point i decided to stop stutter.. and it worked.. the key is to tell yourself "no one is better then me! no one!" and have self confidence as well as working on a right way of breathing while you speak.. breathing properly is VERY important when trying to "cure" stutter..

[@atelierxnaru1005]

Yeah that will work....NEVER

[@SiddharthSinghFiery69]

I am a stutterer too.. i get really frustrated most of the times...these guys in the video are great and brave for having shared their opinions and experiences with us...God bless them

[@IAMDJTAKEOFF]

I really enjoyed this video. I first became aware of my stutter as a Kindergarten but it didn't actually become a social issue for me until Jr. High since then it has progressed into major avoidance behaviors and stressful speaking situations. I am aware that the ADA has classified stuttering as a legal disability but personally I refuse to accept that I am disabled in any way, shape, or fashion..... I accept the fact that I am a stutterer but do not classify myself as disabled...

[@TivaForeva]

I remember when I first learned I had a stutter. I was playing around in the hallways with my friends and teachers in first grade. One older kid walked up to me and he asked, "why do you stutter?" And I asked "What's a stutter?" And he told me and I had never realized before that I was different. I'm a 17 year old girl and I still haven't grown out of it. I hate hearing "Are you cold?" or "Take your time" (right in the middle of my sentence) and "Think about what you're going to say first."

[@ArtByStephenB]

To say that stuttering is "a fear of moving from one social situation to the next" is to assume that stuttering is anxiety-based. Stuttering is a complex disorder that can be caused by anxiety; or not. We don't know the true causes. I used to grow up with a bad stutter. So did my twin brother. I grew out of mine; he didn't. We have horrible anxiety; but the stutter isn't the root of it. He stutters while drunk or while on anxiety medicine; so it can't be anxiety.

[@WiWillemijn]

yeah but stuttering causes the fear not the other way around for me

[@watchmakingman9342]

Stephen just because someone is on anxiety medication does not mean they are not anxious. It simply means they do not suffer from crippling anxiety. Some people can out grow stuttering but that is incredibly rare. Most only learn to cope with and control the effects .

[@onee]

Normally I don't stutter, but when I'm nervous for example if I have to give a speech in public, I sometimes stutter. But my hands and face also tend to shake. I guess many people in Hollywood who had similair situations think that that is stuttering. And don't realise that it isn't what they think it is.

[@AlexRMurphy]

Yeah I felt that was a great line to put at the end, because nobody who stutters is expecting everyone to immediately forget that they stutter, just to recognize it and be polite and patient.

[@olejohnny56]

Thank you for this documentary. I am 55 years old, and I stutter not all the times, but I feel lost even today when the word stops.

[@NorwegianKnifeDude]

Very nice! Having had a stutter myself I understand what it's like. I'm very thankful that my environment and family have been very loving and understanding of it when I had it. In my case it would get worse if I was nervous, so unlike this documentary I think nervousity has something to do with it. The other's I've talked to that stutter agrees. Not that stutterers always are nervous, but that it's easier not to stutter if you're secure and relaxed.

[@davesolemnmon6020]

Damn I cried at the ending of this as a stutterer. Very sobering yet liberating to watch this.

[@Surfergirl3578]

This is great. Thank you for making this documentary and posting it :)

[@michaelleftwich8186]

Some people can be so cruel. I went through this in School. Its not a very pleasant experience. I wouldnt talk at all for long periods of time. Being picked on or being made fun of got so bad, that i dropped out of School. I was 15 at the time ( late 60's , early 70's). No one to turn to for help. Had to work through it on my own. No father, a mother that wasnt very sympathetic, so it was up to me to try to overcome my stuttering.

[@chinedulozy4023]

As someone that stutters , people just never take anything that comes out of your mouth serious

[@Ali-gi4vj]

would you like to talk about your stutter on twitter or something? Cos I feel you everyday.

[@orangeisdead]

"He thrusts his fists against the posts and still insists he sees the ghosts."

[@TheCaliLindy]

Not gonna lie, Stephen King taught me that one.

[@supmyd00d]

This was a really good watch. As a stutterer I can really relate with the people in this video.

[@jessegrn]

i've never known another person who stutters who also likes julian lynch. great documentary, and nice taste in music!

[@randallscott1643]

As a Clinical Hypnotherapist, I have worked with PWS. I think if you can get to the cause of your stutter, you can get to the cure. I have found the cause of 100% of my clients. Stuttering is caused by a traumatic event between the ages of 2-7. Any thing from a dog barking in a child's face, to a child seeing someone get shot! This is the spectrum that I have worked with. A lot of people can't remember what caused their stutter. But the subconcious remembers everything. So with Hypnotherapy it is easy to get to the traumatic event. Now that you understand what caused the stutter, now you can let it go from your mind and body. I am happy to answer any questions you may have. Thank you for your time.

[@1Sorrelly]

I'm 54 and have been a stutterer my whole life. My dad also stutters, even worse than I do, but none of my other 5 siblings stutters. I would love to find some help for me here in Houston. Wonderful video. Thanks.

[@radioloop2311]

Every stutterer is special you have to become your own therapist and overcome your stuttering,I am a stutterer and I am starting to over come it by gaining self confidence and push out all the negative feelings about it.

[@radioloop2311]

+kungfu boi exactly! wise man 👊

[@TheTruthAboutSolipsism]

for me - i just don't even talk anymore. to a point. but seriously, i hardly ever drink and yet people are forever asking me or making jokes that im drunk. its insulting. causes a lot of trouble too especially if you get pulled over. but most of all, it just sucks to want to talk to know what you want to say and dont, because you know it takes the words or word sounds that you struggle most with. in my private life - im required to be a very present, visible person and that often translates to speaking publicly. in the circles i live among, the people i know are very patient and very kind but theres always more than fewer who make that face or yeh, the one's who just out and out finish your sentences or say things about "coming out with it" or whatever. it helps seeing these sort of documentaries or mini-documentaries.

[@coke28hi1]

Thank you for sharing this because I sometimes feel like I'm the only one who stutters since there are none I know. I have been stuttering since I was 6 and now I'm 16 and it recently become really bad. I can't even say my age without getting stuck on the S in sixteen for like a good 10 seconds. I always avoid the words that I can't say and never really interact in group conversations because I feel like I'll get stuck. I feel like its getting worse and worse as I age and get older. For example, in the past I never had trouble with words that start with W and now I do. I have trouble with a simple explanation. In my theology class my teacher has a pile of cards with all of our names and she will pick out each one one by one to read outloud, share answers, and etc... I never feel comfortable in that class knowing I will get called on and I will get stuck while the whole class listens. I go through that class having a panic attack with my heart rate climbing and sweating. Everybody I know doesn't realize what I would do just to talk without getting stuck. I almost feel trapped.

[@agentlolipop001]

coke28hi1 Did you think about getting help (like speech therapy)? If your stuttering affects you that much, maybe it's worth it. I hope it'll get easier for you! I know stuttering varies greatly from person to person so these tips might not work at all for you, but some things I try to do when I'm feeling a block are 1) focus on speaking slowly 2) think about how to get my point across while avoiding troublesome sounds, even if I have to use different words than the ones I wanted to and 3) stop trying to pronounce words perfectly (for example, if I'm blocking on the "s" in "sixteen", instead of struggling through to try to pronounce "sixteen" in one go, I might just say "sss, ixteen". Even if the word is cut up a bit, people can usually understand).

[@sandypanda1]

Love the video guys! It's my first time seeing it and I live near Austin and have a chance to meet a couple of the people at an improve class. Wonderful people who I hope to meet again but with less anxiety about it. Stay resilient my friends!

[@MyStutteringLife]

I used to be pre-law before I watched the courtroom scene in My Cousin Vinny. I changed to Psychology which was very beneficial in my understanding of my stutter

[@eddiew2325]

how are you doing now?

[@francescafcc5879]

I am having a job interview tomorrow and I am so scared of stuttering. I tell myself to stop being anxious but I can't help it. I have spent so many nights crying about it since I have started to stutter at the age of 5. I felt alone for the past 20 years as nobody was able to understand the pain. thanks for the video. I know I am not aline anymore.

[@thaxtonlockley576]

Stuttering is a big part of my life , I've had a stutter my whole life since I could first talk. Stuttering is stressful but more exhausting, I find myself just not talking to people because it just takes too much effort to try and push all those words out especially when they don't wanna come out . I've had teachers, kids, people in restraunts even officer's making fun of my speech without even noticing it. When you meet new people your too shy to talk but don't because your shy just because you don't want anyone to say anything or you do talk and they just look at you like a science experiment gone wrong . People never wanna hold a conversation or if they do they always trying to cut in to try and help me finish what I'm saying which in all honesty makes it worse.

[@AlexRMurphy]

I know the feeling :-( Some people do eventually stop stuttering, but even if you don't, there's tons of ways you can make it better and make yourself less afraid when you hit those blocks. Talk to your parents about therapy - not "quick fix" therapy, but something that will help you learn to breathe and relax yourself when you're in a stuttering moment. One thing that helped me was self-disclosure - starting to tell people I stutter when I first meet them, it takes A LOT of the pressure off :-)

[@umairjsyed]

So true. Good short documentary. I also hate being scared and worried when will I stutter next

[@Massivecarcrash]

Watching this brought back alot of memories. I used to stutter between the age of 5 - 15. It was not a problem among my friends because they knew and understood it, but I had a crippling anxiety about talking to strangers in public and that lasted well into my teenage years and often had my friend order stuff for me or "do my bidding" as I called it. The very notion of talking to strangers threw me into a downard spiral of anxiety, stuttering, increased anxiety, more stuttering. I was one of the lucky who outgrew it. Dont know why, dont know how. The only way I can point to is that at some point there was a mental switch. It wasnt my fault anymore, if you chuckled at my stammer, it was your fault, not mine. You're the idiot, not me. That's as well as I can pin point any major change. It's not entirely gone, it comes at times of stress and fatigue, but I can go days or weeks without stuttering once and there are occational bad days where I trip over every 10th word, but they are rare. These days, I love talking to people and my friends often tell me I talk to much. I guess I am compensating for those lost years.

[@MartenVilijn]

Know it when they see it is a very good way of putting it. Thank you for that.

[@RunningOverRooftops]

When I stutter I just pretend i've forgotten the word i'm stuck on and hope someone else says it, or I use the word 'Like' a lot in sentences that makes me sound like a complete idiot. Has anybody else tried singing lessons? That's what really helped me. Also, serious question, does anyone else here who stutters find having a little bit of alcohol helps?

[@jonathanjm1942]

Thanks for making this! Great job!

[@ozziekun]

Great video! I remember having to give group presentations in school and trying my best not to stutter. Even when I'm talking to people they think I'm getting aggressive and I have to let them know that I stutter and that's i sometimes get the words out. Its not perfect but it helps. Always felt that this was a curse to me and I keep silent a lot even in school. Didn't have the courage to speak out till I grew up and realized that there was nothing to be ashamed about!

[@allanmoss5336]

I used to stutter back when I was younger. Right now Im 17 but the reason I stuttered was because I was extremely concerned about how perfect my words would come out. I wanted the person to hear me PERFECTLY so when I started a sentence and felt like the person didnt hear me correctly, I started the entire sentence over again. In the end, if the person didnt hear me good enough I would get sooooo angry at myself. I grew out of it because I started not to care how perfect my sentences came out.

[@SwordAgainstChaos]

Great video. Thanks so much. I will share this.

[@carltonwashington2779]

Ive learned to really think about what i say. Avoid certain roadblocks, (F's , Ts, etc.....) Be more expressive when I speak. And pick a tone thats comfortable for me to relax while im talking for long periods

[@Kaiyzkayzi]

I spoke with a client a few days ago who had a substantial stutter; I was curious about it so that's why I find myself here. Sounds like frustration, self-consciousness and hurt-feelings is a common theme for stutterers. As much as it's worth, I'm very sorry people would make stutterers feel terribly over something they can't help. Some of these stories of people cruelly making fun of stutterers bother me, and I can't imagine being the person on the recieving end of such ignorance. Everyone has insecurities, difficulties and vulnerabilities, but some of us are blessed with the ability to hide them to some extent.

[@elizabethlatorre5360]

I stuttered as a child and less as an adult. I had to work on my speech myself. School didn't have any therapy. Now it happens during stressful situations

[@agentlolipop001]

My stuttering history is a bit odd - throughout my childhood, I can only remember about 3 instances of stuttering, it happened unexpectedly and very rarely. But when I was about 15 years old, I had an oral presentation for which I wasn't very well prepared - that's when it really hit. During the presentation, I stuttered a *lot*, and I was really surprised and confused by the end of it. It stayed with me since that day, and in the few years that came after, it kept fluctuating, with some better and worse periods. Today I'm mostly fine (possibly because of better self-confidence, though it's hard to tell for sure) and can even work as a cashier, though my stutter still strikes occasionally - sometimes randomly, but it's generally linked to some source of stress or having to initiate dialogue when there's a silence.

[@ndalaalex4664]

Watching all thse vids makes me feel more comfortable about my stutter...

[@sigerson94]

Hello im 19 and after hearing "I love the way you talk" i could not stop crying. no one has ever said that to me and im always to scared to even say anything to anyone because im terrified that someone is going to hear me stutter and theyre going to judge me for something i cant stop no matter how hard i try

[@ianj24341]

i totally get it!!! mine happens when im over stressed, nervous, or over welmed. if im comfortable im ok.

[@mcrfreako1011]

I have never had a stuttering problem, but i have been finding my self lost in my words for a while now. Not all the time, it just depends on the day. I know to not be self conscious now because theres nothing wrong with being different :)

[@kuahikan]

Such a great video. Really thanks. i just wonder why can you dislike this.

[@en5317]

For me, my sleep pattern usually affects my stuttering. For example, when I sleep past 12am, my stutter will get significantly worse the next day. Although this is not the only reason I stutter, I do find it really weird and would like to know if someone else do feel the same way.

[@jweb-p4q]

Stuttering is like living in your own prison. You can't say easily what you want to say. Making friends is much harder due to a lower self-confidence. So many ackwards situations where you can't pronounce words correctly. Very frustrating. I still remember being in a group of people asking me what I am doing in life, then I totally lost control on my voice, stuttering like 10 times every 3 words... which make me feel like the dumbest of the group. I would have run and escape. I felt that 5 min discussion last like 1 hour. This condition is horrible to live with. Let's hope there is a pill or something that can boost the blood flow in the brain. Non stutters have no idea how stutterers have difficulties every day. Without stuttering we could have a much better life, full of social interactions and stronger relations with people. Let's hope the society understand better this condition.

[@rightguardsuperstar]

I'm 26 years old and I haven't grew out of my stutter. Some days I love my stutter and some days I hate it. Especially when I have presentations for class. I can practice all day long at home and around friends and speak perfectly fine but when I get up in front of everyone almost every word is a stutter. I wish we knew why we stutter. In high school my stutter went away and when I went off to college it came back and has been back every since. I still try to hide my stutter from some people. :(

[@sarahdagostino]

awesome!awesome. so well done and well said. Sarah D'Agostino

[@AlexRMurphy]

From my experience making the documentary there's really no set rules on what physically happens with you hit a bad block. I used to tighten up my throat and chest tremendously, trying to "force it out." Search for some breathing and speech techniques (I found some through therapy) that will help you recognize those behavior patterns you've developed and let you pass through the block more smoothly. It won't cure your stutter (at least it didn't mine) but it makes it easier.

[@ladyashephd727]

As a Mother of an Adult Off spring with a speech impediment, you feel totally helpless to help them feel confident in the world. You find that this affects so many avenues in the child to adult development that a guardian does not know where to begin. He is academically brilliant and a wonderfully kind and decent young adult but will shy away from consummating friendships, dating and participating in group sports. He is in his fourth year of university with a double major five-year curriculum. As much as a parent who loves her child, it's so frustrating because of the domino effect that it carries in every avenue of the life. The stammer is not a mental illness nor a disease, yet it causes long standing psychological and social insecurities.