Hello! My name is Maria, I am 17 years old. My story with this disease began at the age of 3.
I went to my grandmother's party, where my numerous relatives had gathered, but despite this, they couldn't keep an eye on me, namely: I got to a big dog that was gnawing on its bone and tried to take it away, the animal in turn defended its food by hitting me on the head with its paw. As a result, I was left with a small scar in my hair, a wild fear of dogs and a stutter. After that, I didn't speak for some time, later only the first syllables, and in kindergarten I stuttered, but a specialist worked with me and it helped me a lot.
At school, up to the 8th grade, I was one of the most active children in school, an excellent student. And, of course, I had already completely forgotten that I had this problem at all, "outgrown it", but then a transition to a lyceum happened in my life, where there was much more academic, physical and especially moral workload.
Thus, an event happened to me that rarely happens in the world, without any specific reason I began to stutter more and more often, especially during public speaking, and by the 10th grade I could not say a single word in public, I stopped raising my hand and answering the whole class, and, in addition, since my major subject is German, it is incredibly difficult for me to speak it because of the specifics of the language, every time it was literally torture.
Now I am in the 11th grade, my condition has improved many times. How? First - self-acceptance. No matter how trite it may sound, but this needs to be done first. I realized that I really only have myself, and I definitely should not be ashamed of myself. Second - a specific goal and subsequently motivation. Third - breathing exercises. The result is a clear conversation with people, BUT, if this is not a performance in front of people.
Now I am working on it, and I will master the art of public speaking. Although sometimes I give up, and the thought appears that I can’t, I won’t cope, but it’s not so. I will manage to do it, and then I will write the second part here about how everything really is so. That is why I am sharing my story with others now, so that you know that you are not alone in this world and that your happiness depends only on you. Remember this and go towards your goal to the victorious end, I believe in you!