Conquering Fear After You Stop Stuttering

The reason for writing this is that since the World Stop Stuttering Association was founded, the number of success stories has skyrocketed. More and more people are overcoming stuttering. However, as most of us who have successfully managed stuttering (PWSS) know, this does not mean we have completely eliminated stutter-related fears and threats. That is the next challenge. Posting a success story shows that we have avoided appearing speech-disabled for at least four weeks. In other words, we have proven to ourselves that we know how to manage stutters and blocks. We have won the battle against stuttering, but not yet the war against fear.

This battle against fear is easier in many ways but takes longer to achieve full victory. Fears cannot be ignored—they are like an infection and can spread rapidly if left unchecked. To prevent this, we must confront our fears immediately and counter them with positive anti-fear affirmations, claiming our victories over stuttering as often as possible. The late Dr. Frank S. Caprio once said:

"We have free choice:

to accept or reject thoughts.

Nothing compels us to think anything

except our own desires.

Use your mental switch

to dictate your thoughts...

Believe that you can improve

and you will."

So how can a PWSS who has feared certain words for a long time learn to enjoy speaking? Since the most repeated thought becomes the predominant one, auto-suggestions and self-hypnosis play a vital role. Another important strategy is to gradually expand our comfort zones and celebrate every speech success. Each time we succeed in speaking fluently in an uncomfortable situation, such as on the phone or in a meeting, we should celebrate it. This reinforces confidence and relaxation, making future situations easier and allowing us to perform even better. By consistently practicing this, there will be few, if any, situations in which we fear speaking.

This is one of the main reasons why we created the SpeechMasters Club. It is a space where people can overcome the fear of speaking to groups, learn to love speaking in any situation, and become more confident and effective speakers.

By following these approaches, we realize that stuttering can be a blessing. We improve not only our speech but many aspects of our lives, and we learn to take control of our minds. Without the challenge of stuttering, many of these tools and lessons might never have been discovered. Those who truly master auto-suggestions and self-hypnosis understand their potential—not only in overcoming speech anxiety but also in addressing many other challenges. This is why so many of us can say that stuttering has ultimately become a blessing.