Speech on stuttering, values, and social anxiety

Dude. Thank you so much for posting this. I've been a stutterer since first grade and I'm a sophomore in college in now. I've used the same tricks and felt the same anxiety that you described and i just wanted to let u know that your speech is really inspiring. I think i'm gunna follow your advice and start to be open to people about my problem. thanks man

This was awesome. I have social anxiety disorder and I struggle with it all the time. I'm taking a speech class and I even gave a speech about my S.A but I still get nervous and really anxious. I'm glad to hear that you are stepping out of your comfort zone and making things better.

Yeah hey man I can't tell you how much it helps to be real about it. It's like when I tell people that I have a speech impediment, all the pressure starts to go away, like I can let it out and it's not nearly as embarrassing. It's a lifelong thing though, and this is something I re-learn all the time. I make progress with my mentality (as in this speech video) and then the next year I'm totally self-conscious about it. With all the ups and downs though, there's still an overall upward trend

Awesome thanks. Yeah social anxiety and generalized anxiety are brutal, but they don't have to own you. The more I do things deliberately to face the anxiety, the more confident and positive I feel about life. It's hard through and some days just suck, but again it's a life-long thing and the more I accept it for what it is, the more at ease I am about it also.

I agree :) I was actually having a bad day before watching this video but after that it just reminded me that I can't just give up just because I had a bad day with my S.A. I really appreciate you posting this. Sometimes I just need some encouragement to get through some bad times. Thank you :)

Hey don't we all :). And thank you too for the words!

I am proud of you for doing this speech class for the fourth time. I have the same problem as you. I stutter really bad in public or in front of a class. I'm very knowledgeable with Social Anxiety Disorder and Stuttering. I, myself though am trying to get over my Social Anxiety. Its hard but It can be done and again good job man.

Thank you man I appreciate that. You know all about it sounds like. The best thing I think is to try and keep it all in the grand perspective of life and see it just for what it is. It honestly is possible to get past it mentally, and accept yourself, and then other peoples' reactions or opinions then start to matter less and less

Every time a person with a stutter and SAD decides to defy their stutter and face their fears and speak in public Im impressed. I'm studying to become a speech pathologist and we've had quite a few brave people out to stand and talk about them selves in front of us 40+ class. It's such a good thing to show the world who you are and to remind us prof's that you're more than just your stutter.

I just wanted you to know how much this video meant to me. I'm 15 years old and I've dealt with extreme anxiety due to my stuttering since 6th grade. I understand now that it's not about "fixing" my stutter, but simply about accepting it as a part of who I am. Although this is easier said than done and I still struggle everyday with hating myself for the way I speak. You're speech really resonated with me and it's motivation to keep on going to school and getting through every day. Thank you.

I think it's actually the biggest thing to accept yourself; the more comfortable I get with whatever my speech is, the less anxiety I have and the less I end up stuttering in the first place. I think it's something that a lot of SLPs can learn from for sure.

You're welcome and thank you for that comment. I love hearing about other people who can relate and if I can impact even one person just by being honest about myself, then man that feels good

Once you got started you got through most of the speech very fluently - very well done. Presumably this was because you were not discouraged by the first minor hiccup. Remember what Colin Firth said towards the end of The King's Speech: "I had to throw a few in just so they'd know it was me."

It's definately something we have to take into account. You should check out Brene brown on Tedtalks on vulnerability. Its a focus on empathy and reducing fear by allowing yourself to be open about your fears.

Great quote from that movie. Thanks for the comment

I have to say that your an inspiration, I don't stutter but I do suffer from social anxiety, I have had social anxiety all my life. I guess I really don't have to tell you, because you know what kind of an impact it has on ones life. I just know it steals every part of you. I did one speech about 2mths ago, but it was short.  Your amazing!!

I understand exactly what you're going through.   I have the same problem.  Weird thing is, when im comfortable you'd never know i had an issue with talking.  Good job on the speech!  

Hey man great speech! I've been stuttering since the 5th and I'm in college now. I really haven't had a problem with my stuttering till my senior year, but like you said, I need to "accept" my stuttering and look for help.

Nice work bro. Respect!

thank you so much for this brett!! I don't have a speech impediment, but I do have social anxiety and I have a presentation that i'm terrified of on Wednesday. it's not easy to get up and just speak in front of a class. You're pretty awesome for this!!

I have anxiety just watching this video. I have seriously bad anticipatory anxiety as well.

I've had a speech impediment and social anxiety my whole life. I'm a 23 year old male, and feel like a total loser; been extremely depressing especially the past 3 years, contemplating suicides so often that it's almost becoming a lustful fantasy. I haven't owned a mobile for 2 years because I don't see the point, I don't have any friends and there is nobody I would need to call or receive calls from. It has kept me extremely anti-social, I really started to hate it from about 13 years old onwards. I used to get bullied alot and people would/still do laugh, If i didn't get bullied for my speech impediment then i'd get racially bullied, or a mix of the two is quite common also. I talk fast, stutter, mumble, and always try to keep myself away from social situations, especially interacting with people, I hate being around people I don't belong anywhere people are extremely cruel to me. It affects everything in my life, from leaving employment, to even failing job interviews, to even asking simple things, I've let the fear of being pre-judged or being passively too self conscious thinking people are looking at me or thinking stuff about me etc all the time. It's got in the way and has made me choose to turn down several opportunities because of it, ended up in rehab twice just wasting my life away on substances to avoid reality. My self esteem is extremely low, my confidence is knocked completely, I'm mixed race, Thai and English. Alot of the time I lie and say that I'm thinking in Thai (even though I only speak English) for when they laugh at the way i talk because of how fast it is etc. I've never had a girlfriend and never received a kiss, people always tend to use me for their own self interest than sincerity, The `Crowd Mentality` kicks in all the time in social situations, if someone takes the piss out of the way I talk then instantly everyone else is laughing at me too joining in, Was debating whether to post this or not but that was a short summary of the situation. I'm not sure if anything can be done about this curse realistically, Passive Positive thinking is what is required, yet impossible to obtain.

I dont see you be a sttuter at all my friend you only nervous

I like the sound of his voice, is so clean..

Thanks so much for this video please do more

I'm currently in my 5th year of college right now and still haven't taken a speech class which is required for an associates degree. Still dealing with the fear of giving speeches until now. Any advice on how you overcame it?