Leanne's Experience: Using Mindfulness to Manage Stammering

One of our trustees, Leanne, has found that incorporating mindfulness into her daily routine has been instrumental in promoting calmness and reducing stress. This approach has played a significant role in helping her manage and control her stammer. Leanne shares her personal story below, offering insight into how mindfulness practices can positively impact the experience of living with a stammer.

Stammering reaches far beyond the words we speak; many people are unaware of the physical and emotional hurdles it brings. The way we think shapes not just our speech, but every part of our lives.

Physically, it shows up as tension, pressure when trying to speak, feeling worn out after a day of talking, and sometimes tics or facial movements. Emotionally, it brings lasting anxiety and other mental health struggles. I find myself overthinking and preparing for every conversation, feeling guilty when others speak for me, and worrying that I am not good enough. Even simple things like ordering food, getting on the bus, or making a phone call can feel overwhelming.

The image below highlights that controlling a stammer is not just about changing the physical nature of speech; there is always so much more to it.

In the last two years, I have discovered the quiet magic of mindfulness. If you have not explored it yet, you are truly missing something special! Mindfulness looks different for everyone, but it always leads to a calmer mind, less stress, and a deeper appreciation for the world and sensations around you. For some, it is a walk beneath the trees, a burst of energy during exercise, a moment of self-care, or the gentle rhythm of meditation and breathing. It can be any hobby that brings you joy and helps you tune in to the present. 

Mindfulness, for me, often takes the shape of a daily art or craft project - something hands-on that gently pulls my attention away from the noise. Meditation and mindful breathing exercises are also powerful tools in my routine, helping to hush the constant chatter in my mind and bring clarity. Journaling is another anchor; it lets me pour my worries onto the page, freeing up space in my thoughts.

So how could this help stammering? The costal breathing technique that we use at Empowering Voices is a different way of breathing that differs from our normal approach, enabling smoother and more controlled speech. With mindful breathing, we are essentially changing our way of breathing, allowing us to have a more relaxed and less tense experience in everything we do, which makes things easier.

I would like to explore this further and understand how it can help people's mindset and make them more relaxed when speaking, which would not only improve control but also reduce fear.