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The original was posted on /r/lifeprotips by /u/MicroscopicGrenade on 2025-06-29 06:13:40+00:00.
I have an anxiety disorder, take medication, don't feel any anxiety anymore, but sometimes stutter uncontrollably on the phone, in person, etc., and that might be related.
I also struggle with slurred speech at times and word substitution where I'll unconsciously substitute one word for another while speaking.
e.g., I might substitute "up" for "down", and for no apparent reason.
It's bizarre, and I don't like it.
Anyway.
I've found that people sometimes give me weird or vaguely sympathetic looks when I stutter so I just flatly and blankly say:
- "Sorry, I stutter sometimes."
Or:
- "Sorry, I'm stuttering more than usual today."
Or even just:
- "So, anyway"
- "Oops, sorry'
- "Sorry about that"
And move on without pausing at all, explaining myself, looking for sympathy, etc.
It always seems to work, and usually resets the situation as people will then recognize that I can't control it.
It's never once backfired in any noticeable way.
It's also worth noting that I'm a man in his early 30s who works in a highly complex area of software engineering and data analysis, and often stutter uncontrollably while talking about dense, complex topics as a subject matter expert.
I'll often be explaining something that comes across as complete wizardry, and will start stuttering - likely making me come across as neurotic - but, I'm not - and generally experience a significantly reduced spectrum of emotions.
But, just moving on and not really caring how someone else views what's likely a medical condition has been tremendously helpful for me in both my personal, and professional life.
If you stutter, you have the option of not being bothered by it for simply, not being bothered by it anymore.
If someone ever gives you a hard time for stuttering - which is rare now - you could make a sadface and move on without skipping a beat - and, you know, not caring.
Stuttering happens, don't make it weird.