Pakistan Stammering Association

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Let's share our experiences! Let's share our good or bad experiences with each other - Lets gain inspiration from each other, support each other, and move forward! :) Together, we can make anything happen! By : Julia Email : j.irani@pakistanstammering.org Date/time : 06/05/08 05:37:30

ID : 1 Name : Julia Email : j.irani@pakistanstammering.org Answer : Hi all, I was so inspired by Zahra's story under Introductions, that I felt we should have a separate topic for this! I'm poasting her story below: "Hi, I'm Zhara and I live in karachi and I stutter (severly). Yesterday I realized that there is hope for me. I had this oral exam and the examiner called me in and he asked me of my name and I said 'my name is zzzzahra jassani' then he asked me to repeat and i repeated and again he asekd me to repeat and i repeated again. Before he started the question answersing session I made it clear to him that I stutter and that i'd be having problem speaking so then he was like 'yeah its ok, just be comfortable and relax' and then he started asking me questions and I stuttered on almost every word but I didn't feel guily and I was confident and it didn't felt like my heart is gonna explode. I got one answer wrong but who cares. lol! I was confident and I stuttered confidently and I felt so much better. Thats when I realized that there is hope for me. Just wanted to share that with u guys. :)". Let's share our ups and downs and know that we aren't alone. :) Julia Date/Time : 06/05/08 05:43:24

ID : 2 Name : Hamza Email : hazmack@gmail.com Answer : Good move Julia. I would not like to talk about my bad experiences because u know it gets depressing and we do not want to go into that state do we?:) Let me rather share a positive moment. I had a presentation few months back. Before that I was in the "avoidance" stage. But I thought, with all the dreams that I have, I cannot avoid every situation. I have to work my way through this hesitation and in my heart I knew I could do it. So I mustered up my courage and decided to go for it. I thought about the strategy I would use and thought about Winston Churchill. He actually used to practice a lot before his speeches so I decided to follow him. And I practiced for about 2 weeks and yea with all this practice, on the given day, I didn’t stutter for once. Yes, in front of about 90 odd students, I didn’t stutter. I cannot forget that day; just imagine, all the years of avoidance and hesitation you finally can speak fluently and that too in your worst nightmare (in front of the audience). Success will not be easy. It will require hard work, real hard work but believe me its worth doing. Date/Time : 06/05/08 06:28:20

ID : 3 Name : Julia Email : j.irani@pakistanstammering.org Answer : That's a great story Hamza, Thanks for sharing! I'll share a story that I know was one of the turning points for me - when I was working in the US, I heard about toastmasters.org an joined a local chapter. This is a club that focuses on practicing/improving public speaking. This isn't a club for stutterers alone, but for all people. Public speaking statistically is the greatest fear of most people - let alone those who stutter. I had spent my life running away from public speaking, I made excuses in school, and just took a back seat a sfar as that went - those that I did attempt were misrbale attempts - a few of which ended with me not being able to complete it and running out of class crying - feeling SOOO embarrassed and ashamed. Gosh, looking back, I'm so grateful I joined Toastmasters. I remember my first toastmaster meeting - they asked me to introduce myself and tell them why I was here - easy task, right? not for me - i couldn't say my name, and ended up feeling embarrassed and very emotional. I had tears running down my face while I struggled to express that I stuttered and I was there to improve my speech. They were all very supportive and encouraging. So i came back for the next meeting, and made my icebreaker speech. I was surprisingly fluent in that one and it was a great confidence booster. The 2nd prepared speech I decided to make was titled "feel the fear and do it anyway" and I wanted to talk about Susan Jeffers book with the same title. I decided to add to teh challenge, I would start my speech with the line "Lemons, limes, life, love, lincoln center - the dreaded 'L' words I have feared all my life..." Now I'm standing at the podium, and I've said the title, and I'm about to start my speech. I say LLL-ah - I cannot say lemons, so I stop, I smile, I try again, LLLL ah - stop again. This went on for at least 30 seconds - then I saw people getting uncomfortable, and looking down, not knowing how to react, I felt the pressure rise, I felt the embarrassment increse, and I thought to myself, this is REALLY uncomfortable. I wanted to run. But my whole speech was about "feeling the fear and doing it anyway" so how could I? It was so ironic, it was actually funny. So I stood there and thought - well I joined toastmasters to overcome this fear, and this is such an awkward uncomfortable feeling, that I'm going to stand here and enjoy feeling awkward. I thought - this is my worst nightmare coming true, and if I can get comfortable with it, then I'll having nothing to fear about it. So, I spent 2 minutes, breathing, smiling and attempting to say "lemons" Finally it came out - and my speech flowed from there - I had a few hitches - but generally it flowed well. Of course these speeches are timed at 5-7 mins, and Im sure I exceeded my time limit - but nobody stopped me. It was one of the most exhilerating feelings to feel the fear, and DO IT ANYWAY! I realized that the power was within me to feel a certain way. People can react to me in any way - but it is up to be to choose to get embarrassed or to choose to use that as an opportunity to grow, to desensitize myself and build self-confidence. If I'm doing something to improve myself, then I have absolutely nothing to be ashamed of! :) Date/Time : 10/05/08 04:30:57

ID : 4 Name : Tabinda Arzoo Email : tabendah@yahoo.com Answer : Sharing experiences is a tough one. I can't forget this incident which took place exactly a year back. I was standing at the super store and I needed cat food for my cat. I couldn't find Meow yea thats the brand that my cat loves having. He's one spoiled little thing. I asked for help no one was around. I remember stumbling at yahan. I was standing at the counter and the guy before me turned back. He gave me a smile and said your cat only eats meow biscuits with a slight stutter on his part. I was blushing all over and I said, "Mine is a little more pampered one at home". ;) Gosh this looks like something out of a movie. What a consequence! Can't get it out of my head. Date/Time : 02/06/08 01:04:49

ID : 5 Name : Ahmed Ali Email : aas294u@hotmail.com Answer : At the age whn : I started speaking--NOt a big deal Got in school --- getting worse Secondry --- More worse College --- Less UNI(NOW) --- Not a big deal Hopes: Professional(Future) --- Wow,Im normal Late 20's --- Great,Im a brilliant toastmaster ;) Date/Time : 05/08/08 14:44:22

ID : 6 Name : Ahmed Ali Email : aas294u@hotmail.com Answer : sorry for the punctuations:( . AT THE AGE WHEN : I started speaking--"NOt a big deal" . Got in school --- "getting worse" . Secondry --- "More worse" . College --- "Less" . UNI(NOW) --- "Not a big deal" . HOPES: Professional(Future) --- "Wow,Im normal" . Late 20's --- "Great,Im a brilliant toastmaster " ;) Date/Time : 05/08/08 14:47:33

ID : 7 Name : Zahra Jessani Email : Answer : I wanna share something which is not an experience but its something which i feel. Who would wanna have a friend who can't even order her meal or go to bank and ask a person to deposit my cheque. do u guys feel that way too? I had a bad experience last week in my urdu class when my teacher asked me to read. i was soo scared that i went upto her and i told her that i stutter and she was like 'there is nothing to be ashamed about. I want u to read b/c its gonna give u confidence.' reluctantly, i started reading and i stuttered on almost every word and finally when i wasn't audible enough my teacher said 'its ok u can sit'. gosh that was soo bad. but no one laughed. nobody said a thing. they were all calm and it proved me wrong. every day in my english class, i'm afraid of getting bad experience. what if the teacher picks on me to read or to explain or what if.. and i just get all scared and nervous. so i'm afraid of having bad experiences everyday except saturdays and sundays. lol oh and another, i started consulting a speech therapist. finally. i'm so happy. Date/Time : 24/08/08 02:46:59

ID : 8 Name : Ahmed Ali Email : aas294u@hotmail.com Answer : That happens to me too , when my cost accounting teacher select me specially to tell everyone what he teaches.after when he invites me He told the class that i stummers so he invites me to give some confidence And dude,believe me , those words gave me such confidence that i didnt stammer evn on a single word.Than i realized that I should not have to miss a single chance to speak among people. Im very much motivated due to him. and now i have improved alot this way Date/Time : 28/08/08 05:25:46

ID : 9 Name : Assam Email : assamahmedb@hotmail.com Answer : Salam to all & sorry to say that my English is not too good so please forgive me for that. My name is Assam Ahmed & I live in Saudia Arabia. I also have a Stammering problem cause of my less confidence guys when ever I talk to my family members or my conzs so that time I never stuttered but when ever I talk to some stranger person so that time I always stutter. In my school if my class teacher have to choose that who will read the chapter so that time she never ever choose me because she know that i have a stammering problem & when ever she give me chance to read the chapter in front of the whole class so when i start reading, only the first line i read with stuttering & what a great response I have!!! Finally my all class mates are laughing on me and my teacher also. So guys you all are so lucky to have a chance to gain a confidence for speech in front of peoples & ur teacher and class mates are also so coprative with you. Please if any one have a solution, tips, treatment or any suggestion for stop the stammering problem so please please please tell me. I am awaiting for ur response guys. Take Care & Allah Hafiz. Date/Time : 19/09/08 22:07:03

ID : 10 Name : wajid Email : wajidd@yahoo.com Answer : julia i saw your interview on dawn tv was good. Dont take a back seat now, u can do a lot for pakistan and may God provide u with more strength Date/Time : 27/02/09 13:37:04

ID : 11 Name : ali Email : alei_fs@live.com Answer : hi julia! when r u opening stammering cure centre in pakistan? Date/Time : 09/09/09 22:53:41

ID : 12 Name : Taha Ali Email : tahaali86@yahoo.com Answer : Salam,I used to stammer for many years please recommend me any medicine or any best hospital in town in this regard... Date/Time : 07/11/09 09:51:58

ID : 13 Name : Marc Email : iamnotpakistani@pakistan.com Answer : Hey im actually from the Philippines and I am already 24. For the past two decades I have thought I would outgrow this stammering problem but unfortunately I still bear it. It had denied me many times of shining academically and in showing everyone what I know. There had been lots of times I wanted to help other schoolmates by giving tutorials but I cannot convey my message good orally. One time when I had to deliver my thesis in a convention I didnt know what to do exactly to get over it. It was not something I could run away from, like what most of us have been doing in the past. So I got drunk the previous night and made sure everyone noticed it. I hid my stammering under the influence of alcohol. It is not something I am proud of but I did not know what to do. I delivered the speech with lots of aaaahh-- and other mannerisms ie gestures, neverminding the need that the audience understand the topic, I just wanted to get it over with. I am currently taking steps to improve my speech because I want to be able to be more in life. I am glad to see sites such as this and am envious that we dont have one here in the Philippines. Thanks for your sharing and efforts to help other stammerers/stutterers around the globe. More power. PS. I am actually wondering if this site is still active. I would want to be an active member here. Thanks Date/Time : 11/01/10 16:46:21

ID : 14 Name : tayyab islam Email : Answer : Date/Time : 03/02/10 22:39:35

ID : 15 Name : tayyab islam Email : Answer : i am inspire Date/Time : 03/02/10 22:41:02

ID : 16 Name : pandey Email : jyotipandey87@yahoo.co.in Answer : well ,.....i m from india....i am an engg student.......i also stammer.i remember my whole school life when i always used to hide myself frm speaking in front of class....... when i came to engineering college...i came to know that if u want to become a good engg. or successful proffesional...u have to be good in spoken....finally i joined a correspondence course for stammering cure.... now i have cured myself 90%.....and i have given seminar in front of my class............guys pls watch a video on you tube....."tere mere beech mein with hrithik roashan part 1" this video will teach u how to get rid of stammering.....it helps a lot ...and if u want to know how to cure stammering mail me....i will teach u some exercise by which u can cure your stammering within one year....ok guys....bbyeeee see ya:) Date/Time : 12/02/10 01:44:50

ID : 17 Name : tayyab islam Email : tayyabislam@rocketmail.com Answer : stemmring is my problum any one in jelum help me my number is 03005061020 Date/Time : 22/02/10 01:34:53

ID : 18 Name : Umair Email : umairbhatti22@gmail.com Answer : HI ALL ..WELL I AM 21 YEARS NOW AT THE AGE 15 I FEEL THERE IS SOME PROB WHEN I WANT TO SPEAK WITH STRANGER AND I FEEL LITTLE NERVOUS, BUT YOU ANYTHNG CAN HAPPEN I WANT TO JOIN ME ALL STAMMERS OUT THERE ..AND COMBINE WE WILL GET RID OF THS BAD HABBIT.. JOIN ME EMAIL ME THAN I WILL SEND YOU THE WAYS TO OVERCOME THIS PROBLEM.. NOW I AM DEALING MY BUSINESS IN A VERY SMOOTH WAY AND ENJOYING MY LIFE .. Date/Time : 20/04/10 04:05:20

ID : 19 Name : Syed Ahmed Ali Email : s_ahmed2k@yahoo.com Answer : Its really a great platform where WE all can share our experiences...n hatsoff to Julia, u really r an inspiration for all of us...U really are a great help for us... My bad experience is my school and college life, where i was unable to express my feelings and knowledge just coz of this stammering and the "sweet" feelings that arise after stammering, but having said that, 2 years back i visited a Speech Therapist and she really motivated me, gave me confidence and i practiced those exercises and the way she taught me to speak, i followed every step she taught and now MashAllah i have overcome this problem to a great extent. What i feel is that if u really are willing to overcome stammering, then only u will, and please dont care about others comments/expressions/ when u stutter, just b confident and composed. Nobody will punish u on stammering. JUST DO IT and keep on DOING IT...Best of Luck to ya all...:) Date/Time : 22/04/10 06:20:28

ID : 20 Name : zeeshan munsif Email : zeeshanmunsif@live.com Answer : i am a stemror.it was the age 5 when i start stemmring.i was hasitating to talk with people even i was intelegent student in my class but i cannot ask questions from my teachers.now i overcome my stemmring a littlebit but my issb call is comming soon what can i do to overcome Date/Time : 23/05/10 23:52:41

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