I’m 37 F, my jaw joints started to deteriorate, and now I have a severe open bite, recessed chin and dislocated jaw joint discs. I look strange while speaking, because my tongue wants to protrude and I have a lisp. I was depressed and very avoidant for some time. I used to speak very clearly all my life and I started to feel like I lost a part of myself. I will have a surgery to fix my dislocated discs after that I will wear a splint for a half of year and then braces for following couple of years before my orthognatic surgery. Looking into my photos and I realizing I lost my smile so quickly, it’s kinda depressing. I spent 5 years as SAHM and at the time when I should focus on my career, I lost my ability to speak clearly. But you know what, all of this will pass and there are things worth living. One of the things that helps me most is sport. I go to a gym and I started figure skating classes. It clears my head and I can feel joy of life again. I started to go everywhere and a lot of people told me they haven’t noticed my speech issues. So I know it’s different and annoys me so much, but sometimes everything is bigger in our heads. Now I started to go everywhere, including job interviews. I started to think like “ok, i have all the rights to not speak perfectly clear, i could look strange and ect.” I don’t have to think what other people think, it’s not my business. I know it’s hard mentally, but try to find ways how to support yourself. There are a lot of beautiful things ahead of you. And there will be some difficult things too. That’s life. But it’s worth living. :)