Monday, December 01, 2008

Therapy is an implementation issue

How do you win the 100 meters? Run faster. How do you become slim? Eat less. How do you pass an exam next time? Study more. How do you stutter less? Speak slower, avoid secondary symptoms and make more pauses. The issue is not in that we do not know what to do, but in us not being able to implement what we should do.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

So why we can't implement what we know we need to do? I know we are not dumb. Is there something(fear of speaking?) which stops us from doing that or have we developed a habit which is hard to be undone or have we resigned to the fact that we just can't speak? On a similar note,if any of these is true, why does medication help on some people?

Anonymous said...

Tom -

I couldn't disagree with you more.

The more I try to speak slower, avoid secondary symptoms and take more pauses, the worse my suttering becomes, and I would rather be silent than to try talking using all the techniques that you indicate would work for you.

Not to offend, but I guess I don't feel you speak for all of us who stutter - at least not me.

It is good you speak for you.

Are those of "us" failures for "not being able to implement what" - you say - "we should do"?

I'd rather just stutter.

Why don't you implement it if you know those are the things you should do?

Good luck at what you are trying to do.

Take care!

Anonymous said...

Because paying attention to any motor movement, especially when coordinating with breathing etc... leaves little room for talking in a natural way. Try chewing each bite of food exactly 25 times, or even better doing core strengthening exercises while writing a letter. The process of talking, walking, writing etc... have to be "background"/ automatic processes to allow the freedom to process other info/ thoughts.
Lynne

Tom Weidig said...

You have to re-read between the lines. What I am saying is that the issue is not not knowing what could help (and this might be different for different people) but to implement them.

Like just relax when speaking. It is easier said than done.

Lynne, I agree with you on the background processes.

Anonymous said...

Why can't we implement what we know we need to do? It's because the brain has a mind of its own. For example, the amygdala reacts independently of the conscious mind.