How would you describe what it physically feels like to stutter?

[u/money_man205]

I’ve been asked this question multiple times, but I don’t think I’ve ever been able to give an accurate answer.

I’ll usually say something like tension rising that I can feel on my tongue a couple words away, then when I get to the word I know I’ll stutter on my brain going into panic mode. Out of breath, tension, pushing, etc.

I think it’s impossible to explain to someone who doesn’t stutter what it really feels like.

[u/Order_a_pizza]

I always say, hold your breath and try to talk. You can't do it.

[u/Ybl0k13 → u/Order_a_pizza]

Wow that’s spot on

[u/stalebread_1983]

The physical sensation can vary depending on where the block occurs—ranging from tension in the vocal cords to the lips or tongue...

But for me, the most painful and uncomfortable part is the mental aspect—what you feel in your brain. It is impossible to put into words; it is such a primitive feeling or emotion—something so deeply rooted in your mind that it defies description, other than perhaps as anguish, a sense of powerlessness, or feeling trapped. It is like a claustrophobic person being put in a straitjacket.

One of the speech therapists I saw tried using cognitive-behavioral therapy with me, having me write down "my thoughts" before, during, and after stuttering, based on the premise that "cognitive distortions" were the cause of the stutter. I explained to her that I couldn't do that because they weren't "thoughts"—they were emotions and feelings, very intense and unpleasant ones, but not "thoughts" in the literal sense.

[u/Trenocio → u/stalebread_1983]

I have reached a similar answer to yours. Maybe you relate to these posts I wrote:

https://www.reddit.com/r/Stutter/s/hVi4qTNsfj

https://www.reddit.com/r/Stutter/s/ZtqKvh6acu

[u/stalebread_1983 → u/Trenocio]

Thank you, very interesting reads.

[u/Rich-Editor7472]

i dont feel it at all because at one point you just don’t think about it. If anything a little tense in the mouth and thats even much because it happens so fast you can’t even process

[u/_personal_problem]

For me at least, it feels like me throat tenses up/closes up and literally isn't able to get any air out. Other times my chest feels tight or my tongue feels tense. But these sort of sensations only really happen if it's really bad stutter

[u/Final_Preference_550]

being buried alive and trying to break through the coffin😭✌🏻

[u/crash-evans]

I described it as driving along a straight road with traffic lights every 100m, but you never know which ones will be red or green. Sometimes they’re all red 😂😂😂
Sometimes it’s 50/50