"How Beliefs and Self-Image Can Influence Stuttering"

Recently I read the article, "How Beliefs and Self-Image can Influence Stuttering" by Alan Badmington, in which Alan discusses how he recognized the ways in which his behaviors were directly linked to his poor self-image. I also contacted Alan and asked him to expand a bit of his reprogramming and the techniques he used to create positive change. Alan explained that he began to actively change his self-concept in 2000; he asked himself "to identify the roles that [he] wished [he] could fulfill had [he] not stuttered" (A. Badmington, personal communication, October 17, 2009). His admiration for those who can be successful in speaking publicly initially sparked his quest for change-- he began by joining public speaking clubs. He was able to acknowledge how his feelings of fear and guilt regarding his stuttering had limited the way he lived his life and, thus, narrowed his self-image. His increased awareness of why he desired to "hide" his stuttering (and himself) from the world, and that he didn't want to continue this behavior, allowed him to take charge of his life and create positive change. Specifically, he wrote about his ability to change through visualizing positive events; this allowed him to trick his subconscious into believing that he already lived through positive experiences in various situations he faced (or desired to face one day). He explained in both his article and in his response to my question, that he convinced himself that he already encompassed the qualities that he desired to attain and successfully used such attributes- according to Alan, "These positive images [obtained through creative visualization] eliminated anticipatory fear, allowing [him] to enter speaking situations with immense confidence" (personal communication, October 17, 2009). Alan also stated that he also used positive affirmations to re-build his self-image. Statements such as "I am a confident speaker in any situation" and "I am able to deal with whatever challenge life presents" was a positive technique Alan used to reprogram his self-image and existing belief system. Due to such strategies, Alan built his confidence and is now able to face opportunities, such as speaking in front of an audience, among many other situations that were at one point "impossible." This article was immensely inspiring, though I recognize that these strategies, though they were extremely successful for Alan, may require to be accompanied by other forms of therapeutic techniques for others. I recommend this article to everyone!