Block!! A speech block,precisely.
Why we stammerers fear so much of this word comprises of 5 alphabets?
Out of the numerous reasons, the most prevalent ones are :
1. Facial distortion which can make the listener laugh/irritate
2. Block can be long enough to make the listener abstain from communicating
In my case, it was the 2nd one that was scary.I used to think that once I got entrapped into a forever block, people will ignore me and it will be an embarrasing incident for me.
To check the validity of this belief, I did a small experiment. I took a stop watch and started to note down the time taken by me to get out of a block.I took a few feared words and repeatedly note down the time taken to speak those words with enough block everytime.
The average time taken to get out of a block was 2.5 seconds and minimum and maximum figures were 0.5 seconds and 3.2 seconds respectively.
So, I realized that it is not bad as I perceived. 2.5 seconds is not too much. A wait of 2.5 seconds is not unbearable. The stammerer and the listener, both can wait and let the words comes out. And, if, in some cases, the listener is in too hurry and can't wait, then let him/her go and seek another person to complete your communication.
Now, most of stammerers may come up with a question that in outside world, a deadly block lasts much more longer than this 2.5 sec time limit.But if it is valid in your case, then, it happens only when you HOLD BACK.
Yes, I repeat...HOLDING BACK only makes your block a long one.It never ever help you in communicating in any way.So, if we don't hold back, even the most deadliest block can't persist for more than 3 seconds and 3 seconds out of 86400 available seconds in a day can't be so long. Isn't it?
Why we stammerers fear so much of this word comprises of 5 alphabets?
Out of the numerous reasons, the most prevalent ones are :
1. Facial distortion which can make the listener laugh/irritate
2. Block can be long enough to make the listener abstain from communicating
In my case, it was the 2nd one that was scary.I used to think that once I got entrapped into a forever block, people will ignore me and it will be an embarrasing incident for me.
To check the validity of this belief, I did a small experiment. I took a stop watch and started to note down the time taken by me to get out of a block.I took a few feared words and repeatedly note down the time taken to speak those words with enough block everytime.
The average time taken to get out of a block was 2.5 seconds and minimum and maximum figures were 0.5 seconds and 3.2 seconds respectively.
So, I realized that it is not bad as I perceived. 2.5 seconds is not too much. A wait of 2.5 seconds is not unbearable. The stammerer and the listener, both can wait and let the words comes out. And, if, in some cases, the listener is in too hurry and can't wait, then let him/her go and seek another person to complete your communication.
Now, most of stammerers may come up with a question that in outside world, a deadly block lasts much more longer than this 2.5 sec time limit.But if it is valid in your case, then, it happens only when you HOLD BACK.
Yes, I repeat...HOLDING BACK only makes your block a long one.It never ever help you in communicating in any way.So, if we don't hold back, even the most deadliest block can't persist for more than 3 seconds and 3 seconds out of 86400 available seconds in a day can't be so long. Isn't it?
6 comments:
Tisa Scientific committee nominates this post for EINSTEIN award for best scientific attitude towaRds a deeply emotional issue...
Doc, you are always such a pro when it comes to motivate and support TISA members, but, I do apologize for that unedited post.I've suitable edited the post with needful additions.
Very good observations Ashish.
Each block is like Demon Rakta-Bija! You try to kill one and end-up creating a handful!! :-)
Blocks and block duration are always unpredictable - today one may be fluent or block duration
may be less.. You never know when the demon will be back and how long will he dance!! :-)
Let us make peace with Blocks..Amen!! :-)
Jokes apart, Ashish, I totally agree with your approach: if you keep emotions to one side and get down to scientifically study your stammering behaviour, it starts to melt away.. and all this can be done on your own.. It just needs grit, gut and gumption.. (gumption= common sense)..
Lage raho!
Our beloved Doc is right - as always!! :-)
Ashish, Our TISA articles should be like this - The one which instigates discussion!! :-)
Let me share an alternate approach which suits my temperament and liking!
It may or may not suit others.
Taking stammering headfirst can be energy draining, time consuming and frustrating.
I prefer stalking the prey and taking it down unawares! :-)
Chasing a agile prey or taking an enraged bull headlong is what I want to avoid.
Imagine..
God Appears..
Say Thathasthu..
And all the Blocks disappear!!
Then what do we do? what do we do? What do we do? :-)
The 99% of non-PWS are as vulnerable as anyone else. They aren't any better, they aren't any less.
Block or no block does not make or break anyone.
We can do a lot with what we have and we should start with that..
Blocks may or may not disappear completely - This is beyond our control.
our lives should not be defined by how much we block..
It should be defined by how many hours of quality work that we clock!! :-)
Ashish,
Keeping doing your experiments and explore, they are the headlights for the journey!!
Yes, Dinesh- I agree. I came across a beautiful statement from Eckhart, which supports what you say: Whatever we accept thoroughly, takes us "there"..
"there" is a beautiful place..
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