One of the most dangerous jungles out there is society. Its reality is harsh and not one is ever spared from criticisms and social stigmas. Nobody is exempted from the ruthless rules mandated, ironically, by man themselves. The pressure is always on and it is on everybody. And the greatest paradox lies in the fact that there is only one true enemy: OURSELVES.

Blocks, prolongations, and repetitions – these are typical behaviors of stuttering. No one can point out a single cause of stuttered speech. Some theories say that it can be handed down through the genes, or that there are those whose speech and language areas of the brain just happened to be less active than supposed to be. Other theories blame a physically traumatic birth or other medical conditions. There are also those who say that it all starts with not breathing the right way while speaking.

The list could go on in finding out the true reason why stuttering has found its way into the lives of many people. The most important issue right now is not about the cause itself. For those who have to deal with stuttering problems every single second of their life, the impact of stuttered speech on their emotions, their confidence, and their social life constitutes the bigger picture. It’s no longer just about the blocks, the prolongations, and the repetitions; it’s more of the embarrassment, the anxiety, and the feeling of not being normal.

Because stuttering has no one true cause, a lot of approaches have been developed to deal with this problem. Some would recommend visiting a speech therapist, others would suggest medications, and there are those who come with some tips on how to deal with it on your own. In case you are still on the process of figuring out if you really want to seek professional help, or perhaps want some advice on how to reinforce your speech therapy sessions, here are a few points that may come in handy: relax, breath, sing, read, think, and smile.

RELAX

The worst thing about a stuttering problem is being anxious about it. It may be easier said than done but no amount of therapy, medications, and other ways to help you stop stuttering can be effective if you can’t keep your nerves down. Relax. This should be a good start.

BREATHE

When stutterers need to speak, they have a tendency to speak as fast as they can with hopes that they can get it over and done with in no time. This causes them to hold their breath which only makes matters worse. Learn to pace your breathing. Try speaking only while you exhale because throat muscles are more relaxed that way.

SING

Speaking about exhalation, singing is a good way to practice your words while you exhale. Notice that you don’t stutter when you sing. That’s because you exactly know what to say and you tend to pace your breathing in such a way that your voice comes out good.

READ

Another way to practice and build confidence in your speech is by reading out loud. Grab your favorite book and read aloud. Get used to the feeling of words in your mouth. It would even be better if you did this in front of the mirror.

THINK

When it’s finally time to face someone to speak, think, think, and think. Always think before you speak. Anyone who doesn’t know what to say will surely stutter his or her way out.

SMILE

Lastly, but definitely not the least, don’t forget to smile. Aside from easing your nerves, smiling is good for your facial muscles. Flash a smile that will make others look into your eyes like you were perfect. Because you are perfect just exactly the way you are.