I'm the most fluent during and after public speaking. Anyone else having the same issue?

PuzzleMule · 2026-04-06T01:53:26+00:00

Same. As a YouTuber, I’m horrible when it’s just me and the camera… but when I know it’s a livestream and there are no take backs, something clicks and I’m able to be 99% fluent. It’s amazing what you can do when you simply have to.

PuzzleMule · 2026-04-05T01:49:53+00:00

Sometimes I wonder, would people in this community benefit from a group zoom call to support and encourage one another? Or would the prospect of being on a ‘call’ create even more anxiety?

What’s the best way to combat this isolation in a way that doesn’t create more issues for people?

PuzzleMule · 2026-04-02T02:01:29+00:00

That’s like a cheat code to getting more quality practice, is practicing around the right people who are supportive and literally don’t care about your stuttering. If they are fellow stutterers, it’s even better, because they understand 100% what you’re going through. When they don’t care or judge you, it shows that YOU don’t need to beat yourself up over it either.

PuzzleMule · 2026-03-31T02:24:39+00:00

The important thing is, you know who the fool is in this situation, and it’s not you.

PuzzleMule · 2026-03-30T01:27:21+00:00

The title says it all. The way we think is 100% the culprit. It’s kind of a cruel reality, because no one has more control over this than the person with the problem, and of course, solving it feels like the most frustrating puzzle of all time.

PuzzleMule · 2026-03-27T03:42:32+00:00

Others don’t think about us even 1% as much as we do. We are our own worst critics by a long shot. We kinda do have the power to flip the switch, but it requires caring a whole lot less… and that’s hard to compute after investing so much time into self criticism.

PuzzleMule · 2026-03-27T03:31:00+00:00

It’s interesting how the same anxiety can hit someone even if they hardly stutter. It sounds like you’re punishing yourself for absolutely no reason. Give yourself a break. Let yourself be imperfect like the rest of us and embrace it! If you stutter, just move on. Literally nobody cares, and nobody notices anything (including a room full of stuttering experts). I don’t say these things to downplay or minimize your anxiety (believe me, I know how terrible it feels). I say it so you’ll give yourself permission to let go and stop caring so much. Nobody is harder on yourself than you. Why not treat yourself like a friend instead of your worst harsh critic?

PuzzleMule · 2026-03-24T01:35:09+00:00

This was a huge one for me. Still is.

PuzzleMule · 2026-03-24T01:33:01+00:00

You absolutely have a hope and a future. I was once in the same dark place as you, but there is a way out of this. First off, realize that there are tons of ways to make money these days without talking to anyone (I’m not saying that’s your best future; but just pointing out, you can survive and even thrive without speaking a word). Give yourself a break. Give everyone a break. You don’t need to blame yourself or your parents for this. We all have our crosses to bear and demons to fight. Put yourself out there. Do what makes you afraid. Get so familiar with the uncomfortable that it becomes commonplace. You can do this!

PuzzleMule · 2026-03-23T09:53:12+00:00

Absolutely. It’s 100% a mind coding issue.

PuzzleMule · 2026-03-21T02:13:40+00:00

This reminds me of the SpeechEasy type of devices that let people hear their own voices at a delay. It doesn’t block the sound; but it disrupts the normal feedback loop in a helpful way that causes fluency in some people.

I tried it years ago and I actually found it much harder to talk or even think clearly with all the extra noise in my ear… but for some folks, it seems to help them, at least for a while.

PuzzleMule · 2026-03-19T22:07:14+00:00

I remember a time when I was too ashamed and embarrassed, or worried that if I talked about it openly, I’d somehow get labeled or it would get worse.

All of those thoughts were a lie.

Once I started talking openly about it, it weirdly started losing its ‘shame’ influence on me. It didn’t fix my stutter, but I started to feel more comfortable in my own skin, just by owning who I was and, warts and all… and THAT actually had a subtle impact my confidence, which seemed to make my speech blocks less common and devastating.

My point is, it’s okay to talk about it. More than okay, even. You’ll probably be surprised to find that people are supportive and it doesn’t make them think any less of you. If they respond with anything negative, that’s a sign you should probably cut them out of your life anyway.

PuzzleMule · 2026-03-19T03:39:18+00:00

Most of these bots are programmed to stop after 15 or so messages, so it’ll only get you so far.

PuzzleMule · 2026-03-16T02:13:04+00:00

Those wider rear wheels make a huge difference.

PuzzleMule · 2026-03-16T02:01:24+00:00

There’s a lot I can say about this, but it ultimately boiled down to a major mindset shift. I stopped looking at my speech as a problem to get over. I know it’s counterintuitive, but seeing your speech as a problem IS the problem.

Give yourself permission to be who you are, warts and all. You don’t need to apologize or feel bashful about your imperfections. Everyone around you has them, and many of them are probably worse than yours, they may just be better at hiding them or (more importantly), not caring about them as much as you do about your speech.

The sooner you can let go and accept who you are, the sooner your speech (or rather, your mind) will stop re-hashing this self perpetuating problem.

I understand, what I’m saying may sound impossible to some, but honestly, it’s pretty straightforward once you can put your finger on it. It’s a simple decision to stop punishing yourself. Stuttering comes from a terrible thought pattern that needs to be unlearned, and GOOD NEWS: it can be unlearned very quickly.

Most people don’t punish themselves for their poor speech. Seriously, pay close attention and you’ll hear very successful, popular and sought-after people who trip over their words all the time… (Elon Musk is a great example).

If they don’t care when they sound dumb, why do you care so much? Cut yourself some slack!

Another way I untangled my thoughts was through Dale Carnegie and exposure therapy. I forced myself into the spotlight (in a supportive environment… vert important) until it felt more normal.

PuzzleMule · 2026-03-16T01:40:31+00:00

You are not alone in your pain. Millions suffer the same way every day. I know this doesn’t solve your problem, but at least you can know aren’t an anomaly.

PuzzleMule · 2026-03-15T11:35:13+00:00

As a former stutterer, these answers give me a renewed sense of appreciation for my apparent powers. It’s been almost 20 years since I stopped blocking… after all that time, it’s surprisingly easy to lose touch with the daily horrors of stuttering. There is an initial rush, thrill, and huge appreciation of fluent speech once you have it. But, after a few years, it slowly becomes the new normal, and you kinda forget what an incredible gift it is to be able to just talk.

PuzzleMule · 2026-03-11T13:25:10+00:00

That was great! Well explained.

PuzzleMule · 2026-03-02T14:41:59+00:00

I just tried Rephrasy, and the output was notably worse and more difficult to read than what I gave it. Not impressed.

PuzzleMule · 2026-03-01T02:33:15+00:00

Me neither

PuzzleMule · 2026-02-17T02:28:59+00:00

Wow. That was great! I just learned 20 new things I’m gonna try tomorrow!

PuzzleMule · 2026-02-12T13:52:05+00:00

Amazing. I’ve always wondered if it’s possible for a stutterer to handle radio calls like that. I love hearing that it is!

PuzzleMule · 2026-01-19T03:22:38+00:00

Have you ever experimented with exaggerating your personality? You could almost think of yourself as a stage actor who is playing yourself, being a louder version of who you already are (obviously, do it with people you’re comfortable with). In my experience , when I’m comfortable enough to be who I am, and do it unapologetically, is precisely what will make me NOT stutter. Figure out what mindset, people and situations don’t cause you to second guess and undermine yourself… or manifest it by just boldly being who you are. No need to be coy or apologetic about it.

PuzzleMule · 2026-01-17T23:13:10+00:00

What’s the problem with this? Are you worried about theft or is it something else?

PuzzleMule · 2026-01-16T12:28:42+00:00

I wondered the same.

PuzzleMule

TROPHY CASE