Why Do We Step Off Stutterer's Cliff?

We, as People Who Stutter (PWS), want to overcome stuttering, and we know that in order to do that, we must apply everything Lee shares in his book. But sometimes, when we're under pressure, we panic—we forget what to do—and end up stepping off the “Stutterer’s Cliff,” appearing speech-disabled in front of others.

This can happen even after becoming a Success Story (one month without a bad incident), although ideally, it shouldn’t. That’s why we must always remain vigilant.

So, why does this happen?

Don't blame the Crutches—they work! So, if the Crutches do work... why did this still occur? Let's analyze it.

First of all, you didn’t use the Crutches. Instead, you forced a word—and you lost the battle. Satan Stuttering won. He always wins unless you move faster than him. Think of him as a 310 lb (140 kg) professional boxer. But you are Muhammad Ali—ten times faster. You can dodge his punches and strike back directly, winning the fight by KO. But if you stand still, you won’t last a single round.

So how do you win? You must first learn how to dodge. That begins with practice—alone, step by step. As soon as you start to feel comfortable using the Crutches, begin applying them in slightly more difficult situations. You’ll soon notice that using the Crutches requires less mental effort, because with enough practice, they become automatic.

It's like driving: when you drive, you don’t think about when to press the clutch or shift gears—you just do it. You’ve driven long enough for those actions to become second nature. The same goes for Crutches. Once you’ve mastered them, they’ll come automatically—even in high-pressure situations like giving a public speech, delivering a job presentation, or navigating a stressful conversation. You’ll know what to do. You’ll be in control.

But don’t start with the most difficult situations. Why not? Because if you do, you’ll likely panic and have an “accident”—you’re not ready yet. But what if you have to give a presentation?

Here’s the solution: Be a determined Speech Cop and use Crutch 11. Being a Speech Cop means dodging all of Satan Stuttering’s attacks, and Crutch 11 is how you knock him out.

How do you do that?

As soon as you feel fear or tension in your throat or face—stop talking immediately. Pause for two seconds. Once that tension subsides, start again—this time using a Crutch. Try a slightly softer voice, even a whisper, and speak a bit slower (about 5% slower). Keep it short.

By “keeping it short,” I mean: speak in short bursts, pausing for two seconds every 2–5 words. Project confidence when speaking. Articulate each word clearly to avoid being misunderstood. Link your words smoothly between pauses.

Imagine how kings speak in medieval films—slow, measured, articulate, and confident. And they do it flawlessly! Wouldn’t you like to speak like that? Practice it. Make it your habit.

You’ll become a better speaker—clearer, more confident—and most importantly: YOU WON’T STUTTER! Practice until it becomes your default speaking style.

Start right now.

What are you waiting for?