The "Daily Reminders" can keep you on track

I wrote these Daily Reminders, based on Alan Gordon's excellent book The Way Out (2021) and his Reprocessing Therapy for mindbody health issues. I applied his thinking to stuttering, and these Daily Reminders are handy as a summary of how I believe stuttering can be dealt with. For more information and interactive content, do join the "Stuttering as a mindbody disorder" Facebook group HERE.

 

Highly recommended! "The Way Out", by Alan Gordon

Sure, this is a book about psychosomatic pain, not stuttering ... but if stuttering too is a psychosomatic ("mindbody") issue, which I believe it is, then it is extremely relevant! Just replace the word "pain" in the book with "stuttering" and you'll see what I mean. 

The book is based on the latest neurological research and has been applauded both by ordinary readers and experts in the field, as you will see on Amazon. And it's not even expensive; and relatively short and an easy read! 

 I've read it and it is uncanny to what extent the book aligns not only with stuttering, but all other mindbody issues. In fact it confirmed once again to me that stuttering is NOT a standalone speech disorder, but part of a much larger family of tension/stress-related issues, including many digestive complaints such as irritable bowel syndrome, tension headaches and migraines, the list goes on and on.

Do yourself a favour and read this book carefully, preferably twice; and above all, begin to apply the author's suggestions in your own life! I think this is a major book not only for people who stutter, but speech therapists and others in the field. Whether they will listen is another matter. 

The core point which Gordon makes is the relatively simple notion that mindbody ailments can arise when the primitive part of the brain perceives (note the word PERCEIVES) that it is unsafe. That's really it - it's not brain surgery! To that I would add that, in our case, our brain probably decided, when we were young and immature, that, for some reason, speaking - including expressing ourselves through speech - is unsafe.

So what can be done about it? Once again, the answer is simple, but not so easy to do: Teach the brain that it is in fact safe, that its original perception was incorrect. But how do we teach it? By feeding it messages of safety, and avoiding messages that it is not safe.

Examples of safety messages could be: not obsessing about the symptoms; not panicking about or overreacting to the symptoms, but lightly (even smilingly) accepting them mindfully as not dangerous. This signals to the brain that the symptoms are harmless and that there is no reason for the brain to be disturbed. (This doesn't mean accepting symptoms permanently as so many misguided people who stutter have been recommending for ages; no, the long-term goal is to gradually eliminate them, but accept them in the short term so that the primitive brain won't regard them as a threat); having a generally positive outlook - negative thinking alerts the brain that there is danger; making a point of relaxing and seeking out entertainment, and generally enjoying life (a tense body and stressed lifestyle signals danger to the brain); slow, relaxed breathing and gradually exhaling; and so on.

Gordon makes a fascinating point about avoidances in general. Now, in the stuttering area, avoiding difficult situations usually is said to be a big no-no as such avoidances tend to increase stuttering in the long term. But more recent research indicates that avoiding high-stress situations can benefit us if it preserves the brain's "safety status". The primary objective, according to Gordon, must always be to make the brain feel safe. E.g. if we do take on a highly stressful situation which would bring about severe stuttering, the brain is going to feel very unsafe, which would delay our recovery. Far better to do "baby steps", gradually moving from easy to more difficult situations, but always working from a position of strength. In other words, using gradual desensitisation to reduce stress, always working to further strengthening the brain's feeling of safety in speech and expression. 

As you can see, this really implies a particular lifestyle, all aimed at bringing about a mindset which should ultimately teach the brain that it is safe when speaking, even if we should stutter, even when stressed. Yes, stress doesn't have to trigger symptoms IF the brain has been taught that it is safe even when stressed.

A summary such as this doesn't do justice to an important book, so do check out the first free sections of the book on Amazon and the readers' reviews to see what it's all about. You won't be sorry! Click on this link to go to Amazon.

Stuttering is a neuroplastic (mindbody) disorder

My new book: "Stuttering as a Mindbody Disorder"

Dear All

My new e-book, Stuttering as a Mindbody Disorder: How and Why Expressiveness and Assertiveness Promote Fluency, is now available on Amazon! It can be ordered as a paperback or as a digital download for mobile phones, tablets, Kindle and PCs.

The book is based on the work of Dr John Sarno MD, the mindbody pioneer, and those who followed in his footsteps: Drs Howard Schubiner, David Schechter, Dave Clark, Ian Harris and many others. The research of these physicians indicates the existence of TMS - The Mindbody Syndrome.

TMS results from some kind of stress or anxiety, which is then expressed physically. Tension headaches, many digestive and skin issues, most back and neck pain and many other health problems can be the result of TMS. In my book I argue that stuttering, too, is caused by TMS which affects the vocal cords.

A major factor in TMS is the unconscious repression of negative emotions such as anger, uncertainty, fear or sadness. This repression, together with other stressors, produces tension which then impacts the speech muscles.

If psychological repression is mainly behind stuttering, it follows that its opposites, namely expressiveness, assertiveness and not "holding back", are major tools for people who stutter. The book covers these and many other related topics, such as the nature of repression, the role of trauma in stuttering, the personality trait of High Sensitivity, fluency techniques, and stuttering children.

To buy the book, click here:

 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B083KQ1JWB/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=Stuttering+as+a+mindbody+disorder&qid=1578478078&s=books&sr=1-1

Time For Change

Dear All

It's time for a change. As you will have seen, I haven't been posting for some months here - mainly because I have switched over to the Facebook group "Stuttering as a mindbody disorder". Though the Blogger medium is great for so many purposes and has served me so well in the past, it is not as flexible and interactive as a Facebook group.

You may also have noted that I have adjusted my view of stuttering. The Passive Airflow Technique is probably the best fluency technique available. It has changed my life positively and I will always be grateful to Dr Martin Schwartz who developed the technique. It continues to play a major part in my life and my view of stuttering; but I have supplemented this with the insights of Dr John Sarno, MD, the "mindbody" pioneer, whose work is, in my opinion, crucial for people who stutter.

To make a long story short - I still believe that "stuttering" (the speech repetitions and prolongations) results from a tension-related "freezing" / "locking" of the vocal-cord muscles. But where does this tension come from? From the day-to-day tensions and stress of life? That's what I believed in the past, and stress remains a source of tension; but a much bigger source of tension, I now believe, is the subconscious mind. People who stutter suffer from TMS - The Mindbody Syndrome. It is this syndrome which generates most of the tension affecting the speaking system.

For more information on TMS and how it impacts fluency, and how to deal with it, feel free to join the "Stuttering as a mindbody disorder" Facebook group which has replaced this blog. I hope to see you there!

My mindbody treatment principles for stuttering

Below please find my mindbody treatment principles for stuttering that seem to help people in the "Stuttering as a mindbody disorder" Facebook group:

A healing programme to deal with TMS stuttering - Version 1.5   August 2017 - (For the latest version of this document, visit the Facebook group "Stuttering as a mindbody disorder" )                                                                           © Peter Louw

  

Introduction

For general TMS pain, various healing programmes have already been developed – some are contained in books, such as Zero Pain Now, by Adam Heller, or Unlearn Your Pain, by Dr Howard Schubiner MD, and some are found for free on the internet, such as the TMS Wiki Recovery Program. These programmes are, of course, aimed at TMS pain rather than stuttering, so naturally if you wish to follow these programmes you should, in your mind, replace the word "pain" with "stutter" wherever you find it. Even so it seems logical to also develop a dedicated TMS programme for people who stutter (PWS), so here goes – and I will try to make this as short as possible.

Mindbody healing for stuttering is aimed at changing our mindset about stuttering. We have to start thinking differently about stuttering, on a conscious as well as subconscious level. This we do by receiving new information about stuttering. Ultimately the information received consciously should sink in to reach the subconscious, where true healing occurs.

But … a mindbody (aka psycho-physical) disorder has a mental as well as physical side. The mind may cause the symptoms, but the symptoms are real and physical.  Feedback I've received indicates that the mindbody approach to stuttering works best when combined with a good fluency technique – such as the Passive Airflow Technique (PAT) – to deal with the physical side of stuttering. So if you're not making progress with mindbody tools only, try combining them with the PAT or other fluency technique. In section "E" below you will find more details on PAT.

A.   Preparatory phase ("knowledge therapy")

Get basic information about TMS (tension myositis syndrome) and understand why and how it causes stuttering. For a quick summary, read the basic info document in the Files menu of this Facebook group. Note that you need to have an open mind about stuttering, because at first sight the theory may seem far-fetched!

The TMS explanation needs to sink in deeply so that it reaches the subconscious. YOU need to be convinced that the TMS explanation makes sense and that many people have been helped by it. Without this belief, the subconscious will continue to send symptoms. Much of the healing happens on a subconscious level; and how will the subconscious be convinced if you CONSCIOUSLY are not convinced?

Videos: Check out a few of the many Youtube videos by or featuring Dr John Sarno MD, Dr Howard Schubiner MD, Dr David Schechter MD or any other TMS practitioner.

Books: Try to read at least TWO books on TMS, so that these ideas can begin to sink in. Check out THIS LIST OF TMS BOOKS.

Note that TMS is an open-ended concept – many disorders not specifically mentioned in these books may also be generated psychologically, just like TMS pain. So read these books as if they are all about stuttering, not just pain.

Many people say that Dr John Sarno's bestseller, Healing Back Pain: The Mind-Body Connection, is their favourite; but it is not strong on practical exercises. A nice one which is an easy read, yet contains useful exercises but is not on the above list: Zero Pain Now, by Adam Heller.

But don't get stuck in this reading phase forever – at some stage you will have to start applying your newly acquired knowledge to your actual symptoms. If the books have convinced you that TMS is indeed causing your stutter, it may be time to start doing the work. And that means beginning to apply mindbody principles in real life to stuttering. Here are a few:

B.   Principles to focus on

"Do not focus on the physical – focus on the psychological." 

TRY TO IGNORE THE ACTUAL STUTTER AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. Stuttering is only a SYMPTOM; the CAUSE is mostly repressed negative emotions such as anger / rage, fear, sadness or else daily stress/tension (in any of its many forms). The more you focus on the actual stutter, the longer it will take to overcome it. The reason for this is that stuttering is a psychological defense mechanism, and its purpose is to distract your conscious mind away from repressed negative emotion(s) and / or thoughts that threaten to rise to the conscious surface. If you obsess over stuttering, the subconscious receives the message that its defence is successful, so that there is no reason to remove it. But when you ignore the stutter, the subconscious gets the message that the stutter is ineffective. This seems to "discourage" the subconscious defense system from sending symptoms. Believe me, this strategy works! I know, it sounds weird … but then the human mind is a strange and mysterious thing.

So do avoid over-thinking or talking about stuttering itself, or its mechanics; rather analyse the feelings behind the stutter. It is such a pity that so many stuttering groups / organisations obsessively focus on the symptoms, thereby actually aggravating the problem.

"Continuously identify, acknowledge and accept the subconscious, repressed negative emotion(s) that cause symptoms".

It is not always easy to pinpoint these emotions, but very often they are bottled-up and unaware RAGE / ANGER. FEAR, sadness, loneliness, shame / embarrassment, guilt and regret are some other feelings often behind the stutter. Some feelings, such as irritation and frustration, simpy "hide" behind the "real" feeling which is anger / rage. Often these emotions have been carried over subconsciously from childhood. In the "Files" menu of this Facebook group you will find a list of emotions that usually play a role in TMS.

Sometimes, however, the stutter is caused or made worse simply by day-to-day stresses due to work, kids, relationships, family, health, bad news etc. Keep in mind the bottom line, which is the fact that mind and body are interrelated, and that the one affects the other.

"Perfectionism enrages the inner child".

Stuttering can be seen from two angles: (1) As a defensive mechanism, with the purpose of distracting us from repressed, unacceptable emotions (2) As the "voice" of the "inner child". What is the inner child, you may ask. Well, the inner child can be seen as that part of the subconscious which stores our experiences, attitudes and feelings of the time when we were young.

This inner child is not unlike a real child, but it's more than a child. It's also our animal nature, our primitive side (in Freudian psychology it's called the "id"). It seeks pleasure; it is dependent and intellectually lazy; it is extremely selfish, emotionally immature and quick to anger. And it HATES two things: perfectionism, and goodism (the tendency to be extremely "good", unselfish and self-sacrificing. Actually, goodism is a form of perfectionism). Very often, mindbody symptoms are caused by the inner child who is enraged because of the perfectionist and goodist demands made on it by our mature self. Perfectionism and goodism may feed a huge pool of repressed rage, thereby creating psychological tension which maintains mindbody symptoms such as stuttering. So do avoid perfectionism and goodism!  

  

"Develop an attitude of disdain toward the stutter" 

"I encourage patients to develop an attitude of disdain toward the (stutter) to replace their strong feelings of intimidation. This sends a message to the subconscious that the strategy of keeping attention focused on the body is about to fail - which means the cessation of (stuttering)." --- Dr John Sarno MD, in his book Healing Back Pain - The Mind-Body Connection. (Quotation slightly changed to make it relevant to stuttering.)

Note, however, that some of the TMS people disagree with Dr. Sarno on this point. They say that symptoms (pain, stuttering etc.) are the "cries" or "weeping" of the inner child, and that this child should not be treated with disdain, but rather comforted and loved. So do experiment with both of these approaches to see which works best for you.

"Journalling":

 Many people find it helpful to WRITE about their stuttering; the problems it caused in the past as well as the present; what makes your fluency worse or better etc. Try to focus on the social / psychological reasons for the stutter, not the physical stuttering itself – because, remember, stuttering is just a symptom. You can write in a diary, on a blog etc. Consider actually writing a book; this could go a long way toward fluency as the psychological benefits of discharging, expressing and sharing of emotions could be immense.

This is not recommended for everybody, as journalling makes some people re-live traumatic or otherwise upsetting experiences.

"Do not repress – express!" 

Expressing yourself is the opposite of repressing emotions. Use body language (gestures, facial expressions etc.) and emotions to support your communication. Speak louder, vary your pitch. Don't sound like a robot! Watch how movie or TV actors express themselves in the roles they play, and learn from them. 

Various well-known movie stars who used to stutter have found that acting makes them fluent – because acting is highly creative and expresses their deepest feelings. If you are by nature introverted / inhibited, try to develop your extroverted side. And keep in mind that shyness is NOT an inherited trait; shyness is learned and can be unlearned. In the words of John Harrison, the well-known American self-help expert on stuttering who conquered his stutter: "Do not hold back!"

MUSIC can be a great help in getting in touch with and expressing emotions. Learning to play a musical instrument would obviously be highly useful; but even just LISTENING to music may stimulate your emotional side.

"Talk often to your subconscious." 

Tell your subconscious that you are "on to it" and its deception, that you refuse to be controlled by it and that you will no longer be intimidated by the stutter. This sends a powerful message to the subconscious that the tide has turned and that you are in control.

Also, "talk" to your inner child daily. Children tend to feel vulnerable, dependent and weak. Such feelings are often repressed and subconsciously carried into adulthood, resulting in physical symptoms. Tell your inner child that you are no longer the weak, vulnerable child you may have been decades ago and that therefore there is no more reason for anxiety. As an adult you know so much more – you are streetwise and much stronger. This message has to sink in deeply into the subconscious. 

"Be assertive."

"Keep your anger close to you, like a dog on a leash." This could be useful if repressed rage / anger is causing your problems. It really means having an assertive yet non-confrontational speaking style. Assertiveness, being a civilised, mild and socially acceptable form of aggression, will reduce the huge pool of repressed rage within the subconscious which may be feeding the stutter. Assertiveness, however, is not equivalent to confidence – because confidence so often implies that you are always right. Assertiveness means not being apologetic; it means being aware of your rights as a human being – having the right to speak and voice your opinion appropriately without disrespecting the rights of others. It is a win-win approach whereas aggression is win-lose. For more information on assertiveness, check out this short article in my book.

And for an excellent TED talk on how a few assertive body positions will actually change your body chemistry to make you more relaxed and assertive, check out the following: http://stuttersense.blogspot.co.za/2014/11/fake-it-till-you-make-it_20.html

"Visualise your success." 

Visualisation should be very useful in changing the subconscious. Visualisation is such a powerful tool in modern self-help and it always surprises me how little this is used by people who stutter. Have a look at this short chapter on visualisation in my free online book: http://copingwithstuttering.blogspot.co.za/2010/02/power-of-visualisation.html

"Do not go it alone." 

This is a well-tested principle in stuttering treatment and also holds true for the psychotherapeutic approach to stuttering. If you are serious to get the upper hand in stuttering, don't try to walk this road alone. Stuttering is in many ways a social disorder – most stuttering people don't stutter when alone – so it makes sense to enlist others in your efforts. Discussing stuttering with others who stutter is extremely therapeutic as it discharges tons of negative emotions which have accumulated over the years and that have maintained high speech-linked stress / anxiety levels. There are so many ways to do so:

 Find a "speech buddy" by means of one of the Facebook stuttering groups, and share ideas, audioclips and videos with him / her regularly via Facebook, Messenger, Google Hangouts, Skype etc.

 Join one of the Google Hangouts for people who stutter.

Join a support / self-help group in your area for people who stutter. If such a group does not exist in your area, consider creating one yourself.

Enlist as many people as possible in your efforts – family members, friends, colleagues. Discuss stuttering with them, explain it and let them know what you are doing and how they can assist.

Stuttering children 

Parents should ensure that a home atmosphere is created which encourages the stuttering child to express himself / herself freely, instead of bottling up emotions such as rage or fear. If it is true that repressed negative emotions lead to stuttering, it makes sense to try and "unrepress" those emotions. Keep in mind that Highly Sensitive Children (HSCs) may be prone to stuttering because of their sensitive nature, and that research has found that most stuttering children ARE in fact HSCs. 

Example: An older twin sister, who is her younger brother's best friend, tends to always get the first word in, thereby frustrating the brother. But being sensitive he doesn't want to upset their friendship and doesn't express his irritation, instead repressing it. Eventually, however, his irritation turns to anger / rage, which is also repressed. In due course this repressed anger / rage accumulates and may cause mindbody symptoms such as stuttering.  

C. Speaking technique

Develop the correct mindset before starting a conversation. Before speaking, ask yourself the "golden question": "Right now, what emotion am I feeling?" If it is fear, rage, embarrassment etc., fully accept and acknowledge that feeling, instead of fighting it. Fighting it means repressing it, which is the wrong way to handle it. Yes, it's not easy, and fear may make you tremble, sweat etc. But the emotion will go away, while you will still be there. Try to "ride out" the emotion and, if necessary, use a fluency technique like "passive airflow", "slow / prolonged speech", "slowed first syllable / slow start / easy onset" etc. to get you speaking.

This procedure, namely getting in touch with your emotions before and during speaking, should eventually become easier as it becomes a habit. Identifying and acknowledging the feeling before and during speaking sends an extremely powerful signal to the subconscious defense mechanism that it no longer needs to send symptoms, because you have acknowledged the repressed emotion.

When you do stutter, shift your attention to a possible psychological cause, like something you are worried about, a chronic family or financial problem, a recurrent source of irritation etc., for that sends a message to the brain that you're no longer deceived by the stutter, says Dr Sarno. When that message reaches the depths of the mind, the subconscious, the stutter is weakened.

D. The Daily Reminders

Take ten minutes off every day and read the following Daily Reminders slowly, taking time to consider them so that they sink deeply into your subconscious. Even better, MEMORIZE them:

E. If you're not making progress, or are having relapses or new mindbody symptoms

·        Have a look at this diagram:

It may be that mindbody tools such as assertiveness, feeling the emotions etc. are not sufficient to totally prevent the vocal-cord lockdown (the "blocks") which lies at the core of all stuttering behaviour. Though mindbody principles should reduce the amount of tension flowing from your subconscious, some tension may still get through. If that is the case, supplement these mindbody tools with symptomatic aids such as 1) Stress Management 2) Fluency techniques such as the Passive Airflow Technique (note that I made a number of Youtube videos on this technique, and so has Dr Martin F Schwartz. I also wrote a book on this technique. Visit my Stuttersense website for more information.) In this way you will be addressing the stutter at all levels.

Some people experience immediate fluency improvement after starting this programme. For others it may be some weeks or months before there is a change. Keep in mind that adults who stutter have been doing so for years or decades, so DO NOT expect a quick miracle cure! Don't be impatient - psychological healing can take time and effort.

A great deal of stuttering – the actual word / sound repetitions, struggle behaviours etc., but not the vocal-cord locking –  has been conditioned (learned). In other words, it has become a habit. All kinds of things may trigger stuttering, such as a particular situation, person or type of person, particular sounds or words etc. But … this can be unlearned. Check out the book Unlearn Your Pain, by Dr Howard Schubiner MD, for more information (it's about chronic pain, but is also applicable to stuttering).·   

Re-read one of the TMS books. It may be that subconsciously you do not entirely believe the TMS explanation. The subconscious will only stop sending symptoms if it is convinced that its deception has been discovered. So allow these books, and the ideas in them, to sink in deeply into your subconscious.

For many people this is a "two steps forward, one step backward" process. Again, note that adults who have stuttered for decades can't expect a quick miracle cure. The muscles of the vocal cords are fine structures that are easily overwhelmed by the tensions engendered by the central nervous system. And … subconscious change takes time. Also, relapses may occur as the mind tries to return to the old state of affairs. There probably will be setbacks, and the devious subconscious may try to convince you that your case is hopeless … don't be deceived! The subconscious mind is full of tricks. Just continue with your focus on exposing those repressed emotions. Don't let these relapses discourage you – actually they are a sign of progress! They demonstrate that the subconscious mind has taken note of your fluency improvement, and is trying desperately to regain the territory it has lost.

The subconscious defense mechanism, in its efforts to maintain its power, may create NEW mindbody symptoms to replace the stutter. Dr Sarno calls them "symptoms imperative". Examples are skin rashes (that's what I'm getting lol), unexplained muscle pains, stomach upsets etc. Their purpose is to again distract your attention away from your current focus on your repressed emotions, toward your body – in the same way that stuttering distracts you away from the mind. "Symptoms imperative", too, are actually signs that you are making progress! You've got the TMS on the run, and it is desperately trying to find a new seat from which it can cause mischief. Continue to "think psychologically" about your stuttering – but if your replacement symptoms are severe, rather take a step back and halt your fluency efforts until your subconscious mind has adjusted to the progress made.

Do LOTS of relaxation exercises and stress management. The TMS self-therapy, which you are busy with, is aimed at changing the subconscious, and subconscious change can be really stressful. Read this chapter of my book on how to deal with change.

If you feel that it is all overwhelming and getting too much, or if you are getting panic attacks and feel anxious, simply stop it all and take a step backward – watch a movie, do something relaxing, forget about TMS and healing. The periods of anxiety should be temporary. When you feel more at ease, you can return to journalling or whatever you do to reduce TMS symptoms.

If you are making no progress at all even after months of working on this, you may want some external support from a TMS practitioner. About one out of five TMS patients may need this extra attention. Many of these TMS practitioners work via Skype or Google Hangouts, so not having one of them in your area is not an obstacle. Look out for them on the internet.

On Youtube and elsewhere on the web you will find lots of great videos and treatment programmes for TMS. Check out all the videos by or featuring Dr John Sarno MD and / or Dr Howard Schubiner MD and / or Dr David Schechter MD or any other TMS practitioner. They are usually about chronic pain, but simply treat them as if they address chronic stuttering. Eg. have a look at the excellent FREE videos on this site.

WISHING YOU WELL!

The Daily Reminders in mindbody therapy for stuttering

I based these Daily Reminders on Dr John Sarno's reminders for chronic TMS pain (TMS = tension myositis syndrome, which is a mindbody disorder). In order to make them applicable to stuttering I slightly adjusted the reminders.

I find these reminders extremely powerful - in fact I memorized and repeated them intensively for days and found my fluency dramatically improved as a result. But there was a price to pay ... shortly afterwards I experienced a severe outbreak of a skin problem called hives - the medical term, according to my doctor, is idiopathic ("cause unknown") urticaria. A coincidence? I don't think so, because some weeks ago I got a similar skin outbreak after successfully making a previous big effort to apply mindbody healing principles to stuttering.

I am convinced that this is what Dr Sarno called a "symptom imperative" - a replacement symptom. When the subconscious mind notes that its control over a mindbody symptom is weakened, it tries to regain its power - via the autonomous nervous system - by creating something in its place. The purpose of such a replacement symptom is exactly the same as for the original symptom, namely to act as a psychological defense mechanism - to distract our attention toward the body and away from negative emotions which are unacceptable to the subconscious self-image. 

Sabotage

In the same way the subconscious may, if we are having success with any particular therapy, also attempt to sabotage that success by creating a relapse. This the subconscious does by increasing tension, thereby increasing stuttering and discouraging the individual from making further attempts to improve his speech. I am convinced that these reactions from the subconscious are a major reason why stuttering therapy often fails, after having made some progress.

The good news, however, is that, from a mindbody viewpoint, such "relapses" and replacement symptoms are actually a good sign! It shows that the subconscious has taken note of the improvement and is desperately trying to hang on to its dominant position. People with TMS pain who apply TMS healing principles often find that their pain moves to a different part of their body; e.g. a pain in the right leg will disappear, only to reappear in the left leg. This shows that the TMS is literally on the run. It has lost its centre of power and is desperately trying to find a new basis from which to cause mischief.

More than ever I am convinced that stuttering is a mindbody disorder - what Dr Sarno called a "TMS equivalent". Strictly speaking, stuttering is not TMS, because no pain is involved and the symptoms differ from those of TMS; but both these disorders arise from the same source: tension. Much of this tension stems from repressed (subconscious) negative emotions, but day-to-day stresses arising from work pressures, family etc. also play a role.

Backlash

But ... we have to balance our progress with maintaining our psychological equilibrium. In other words, be gentle with yourself when you do mindbody therapy! If you get relapses or sudden, strange new symptoms - replacement symptoms - such as skin issues, headaches, unexplained pains and aches etc, rather stop your therapy for a while, but without losing hope or becoming discouraged. Relax for a few days, do something else, take your mind off this therapy for some time. The mind needs time to adjust to improved fluency, and it may cause a backlash if you move too quickly, as I did when I intensively memorised and obsessively repeated the Daily Reminders! Real progress seems to be a two-steps-forward-one-step-backward movement. But always keep in mind that such backlashes are always a sign that you are actually making progress, and that the symptoms are on the run.

And on this journey, do not forget other tools such as stress management and fluency techniques such as Slowed First Syllable / Easy Onset and Passive Airflow! Mindbody therapy should reduce the tension reaching the vocal cords, but some tension may still trickle through and cause some vocal-cord blocking - manage those blocks by lowering the tension on your cords by means of the physical techniques. All the best!

For more information on mindbody therapy for stuttering, join the Facebook group "Stuttering as a mindbody disorder".    

    

My current view of stuttering - and its treatment

This diagram shows my current tentative thinking about stuttering ... the icon for the "mindbody" (psycho-physical) component is larger because it seems to play a more prominent part than the other "day-to-day" non-mindbody stresses that also impact on fluency.

Stuttering can be tackled at any of these three levels: at the top, the mindbody issues such as repressed emotions (fear, rage etc.); in the middle, the tensions generated by either the mindbody or by other, non-mindbody stresses; and at the bottom, the tension-related vocal-cord "freezing" or "locking" that results in conditioned repetitions, prolongations, secondary behaviours such as stamping a foot etc.

Of course, if mindbody issues are regarded as the actual cause of stuttering, and treated by way of mindbody healing, it would theoretically not be necessary to reduce tension (at the middle level) or work on preventing the vocal-cord blocks (at the bottom level). In real life, however, stress management and some way of dealing with the vocal-cord blocks would support mindbody healing. For instance, relapses at the upper level of the mindbody would be counteracted by stress management at the middle level. And fluency techniques such as Passive Airflow, Slow / Easy Onset, breathing techniques etc. would still have a purpose to reduce vocal-cord tension at the bottom level.

Feel free to join my "Stuttering as a mindbody disorder" Facebook group ! 

Results of thiamine opinion polls

These polls ended in April 2017:

Opinion poll result: Do you always stutter when speaking, or just in certain situations?

This poll closed in April 2017:

Stuttering and the highly sensitive child (HSC)

Is hypersensitivity a factor in the onset of stuttering? More than 80% of people who stutter are HSPs (Highly Sensitive Persons), yet this fact is seldom discussed in stuttering groups - probably because it's not politically correct to talk about psychological issues in stuttering. So, a few words on HSPs, particularly highly sensitive children (HSC), as this personality trait is probably a major factor in a child beginning to stutter due to subconscious repressed emotions.

I would guess that a hypersensitive, introverted child is more likely to repress his unacceptable emotions, thereby risking the onset of psycho-physical ("mindbody") issues such as stuttering. Also, research by Jerome Kagan, a psychologist at Harvard University, on what he called "inhibited" children found that they were more stressed and that their vocal cords were more tense compared to other children. This last point is crucial, as it gives substance to the hypothesis that stuttering, i.e. word / sound repetitions, results from vocal-cord muscles that "freeze" / "lock" due to tension. 

About 1/5 of the human population is hypersensitive, meaning that their sensory system (touch, sounds, etc.) is more finely attuned than others. On the upside, they tend to experience life more intensely and deeply - and many great artists, thinkers and other achievers are or were HSPs. On the downside it is easier for them to be overwhelmed by sensory stimuli, stress and life in general. Their fight / flight / freeze response is stronger, and anxiety, particularly social anxiety, is common. They are usually, but not always, introverts and shy - though they can overcome shyness - and they take longer to make decisions.

"Orchid children"

HSCs have been described as "orchid children". Like orchids, they can develop into extraordinary individuals if their sensitivity is taken into account. Hypersensitivity is an inherent trait and society should not try to change them, as they are not "abnormal". They tend to prefer quiet, slow, solitary and structured environments and value privacy, using "me-time" to reload their batteries, and they avoid noise and crowds, often wanting to stay at home rather than going out. Too many extramural activities should be avoided, and they prefer smaller parties rather than large gatherings. They like to be prepared for any change in routines, and prefer predictable outcomes rather than unpleasant surprises.

Stressful sports do not work for these children - they perform best in more solitary sports such as bicycle riding, long-distance running, rock climbing etc. Oral exams, asking questions in class etc. can be a nightmare for them.

The above facts are based on the advice of a leading occupational therapist here in South Africa, and I hope that it will assist caregivers in helping their highly sensitive children reach their full potential and perhaps reducing or even eliminating stuttering. Being an HSP myself I can attest to the value of these tips!

For more information on HSC, check out the following bestseller by the famous psychologist Dr Elaine Aron: The Highly Sensitive Child: Helping Our Children Thrive When The World Overwhelms Them (2002).

Stuttering as a mindbody disorder

Stuttering as a mindbody disorder – basic information

By Peter Louw

(This is the basic info document from my "Stuttering as a mindbody disorder" Facebook group, which can be joined HERE. )

What is a mindbody disorder?

Modern views of mindbody disorders are based on the pioneering work of Dr John Sarno, MD (1923-). According to him, many ailments that are usually regarded as physical have their origin in the subconscious mind. This is actually a very old idea with a long tradition; but with the phenomenal rise and great successes of scientific medicine in the 20^th century the concept of psychosomatic disorders, which in the 1940s was still an accepted part of medical studies, generally fell in disfavour within the medical establishment.

Today, Dr Sarno is generally regarded as the "father" of TMS (tension myositis syndrome, aka The Mindbody Syndrome). This is not (yet) an officially recognised medical condition, though various prominent doctors do acknowledge that it exists. In reality so many people have been healed by TMS treatment that there cannot be any doubt that TMS exists. The proof of the pudding lies in the eating. Need proof? Just read the hundreds of Amazon readers' reviews of Dr Sarno's best known book, Healing Back Pain:  https://www.amazon.com/Healing-Back-Pain-Mind-Body-Connection/dp/0446557684

It would seem that some people have a tendency to channel or direct their stress to a particular part of the body, which then experiences pain or some other disorder. The body part could be the neck (neck pain), lower or upper back (back pain), stomach (ulcers, heartburn), colon (spastic colon), the head (certain headaches / migraines), the nose (sinus issues), eyes (dry eyes), hands (carpal tunnel syndrome), legs (e.g. night muscle cramps), skin (certain skin disorders), "growing pains", eating disorders, chronic fatigue syndrome etc. Even some psychological disorders such as anxiety and depression may have their primary cause in the subconscious.

From a TMS point of view, more and more health issues that used to be regarded as purely physiological / neurological are being suspected of having an underlying subconscious cause. Have a look at this list of suspect ailments in the TMS Wiki:

http://www.tmswiki.org/ppd/Success_Stories_by_Symptoms_%26_Diagnoses

Within the TMS community, stuttering is also frequently regarded as a type of TMS. In 2011, Dr Howard Schubiner MD, a TMS practitioner, wrote a short article in which he analysed the movie The King's Speech from a TMS viewpoint (read his article further below).

Two factors apparently shared by both stuttering and TMS make me think that stuttering could indeed be related to TMS:

1) Some kind of stress or tension.

2)  A spasm or cramp in the affected area, resulting in pain (e.g. back pain) or other disturbance. Dr Sarno believes that these spasms (often muscle spasms) are caused by slight hypoxia (reduction of oxygen) within the affected area and that the subconscious creates this hypoxia via the central nervous system. Is it far-fetched to think that this also happens to the muscles of the vocal cords of people who stutter? In this connection I refer to the work of Dr Martin F. Schwartz, who has devoted a great deal of his life to the hypothesis that stuttering is preceded by a tension-related "locking" or "freeze" of the vocal-cord muscles.

Incidentally, this hypoxia hypothesis is supported by recent research which found reduced blood flow to the speech centres of the brain during moments of stuttering. Perhaps the central nervous system reduces blood flow and creates mild hypoxia within the speech centres, thereby messing them up and resulting in the dyscoordination of the vocal-cord muscles, resulting in stuttering? Here is the link to the blood flow research:  https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/01/170103162356.htm?platform=hootsuite

What is the cause of a mindbody disorder?

It is believed that some people more than others are genetically predisposed toward developing TMS.

Dr Sarno believes that TMS is caused by a conflict, or mis-alignment, between the conscious and the subconscious. Strongly influenced by Dr Sigmund Freud, the father of psychoanalysis, Dr Sarno regards repressed feelings as a crucial factor in TMS. Anger / rage in particular is the usual suspect, but sadness, loneliness, fear, shame and guilt are also often identified as causing or increasing TMS. As I understand Sarno, the primitive part of the central nervous system regards these feelings as threatening, tries to make them go away and represses them, and can even, in predisposed individuals, create physical symptoms in an effort to distract the conscious mind away from the inner turmoil. For the primitive inner child-animal (the "id" in Freudian terms), happiness and survival are priorities, and these priorities are threatened by strong emotions that could upset the status quo. 

Other TMS experts regard the external symptoms as the voice of the subconscious, primitive inner child-animal part of the brain. We all have an inner child / animal, whose primitive needs are often ignored in our busy daily mature lives. If severely ignored, the inner child-animal may become enraged – not unlike a real child or animal! – and lash out in the form of TMS. Note that this inner rage can be quite substantial … like a slumbering volcano or a sleeping but ferocious wolf. Don't underestimate it!

How is TMS treated?

Healing, not surprisingly, entails becoming aware of such repressed feelings, continuously discharging them and bringing them out into consciousness. This should reduce the large "pool" of rage and other emotional energy accumulated within the subconscious through the years.

In many cases, merely READING a TMS book has cured some TMS sufferers. This is what is called "knowledge therapy" – when the individual becomes aware of the subconscious emotional origins of their symptoms, the symptoms often disappear as the subconscious realises that its trickery has been "found out". So it stops trying to distract the person via the symptoms.

In most cases, however, the subconscious mind needs more convincing before it will stop its mischief. Usually there are two phases: Firstly the CONSCIOUS mind needs to be totally convinced that the symptoms, though absolutely real and not a figment of the imagination, are being produced through the central nervous system with the purpose of distracting you from the actual inner conflict (which the primitive subconscious regards as more threatening to the individual's wellbeing than the TMS symptoms). Secondly – and most importantly – the SUBCONSCIOUS mind, too, needs to be convinced.

All this convincing can be done through reading TMS books, Facebook discussions (join the TMS Facebook group! – address below), introspection / self-talk, and journalling (writing about your issues in a diary / blog / Facebook etc.). Journalling especially is a major tool in TMS treatment. The more you do this, the deeper these concepts will sink into your subconscious, where true healing occurs. If the subconscious at last realises that its distractions have been discovered, it tends to stop its distractive efforts. For those who wish to do TMS exercises – the TMS Wiki has a free online procedure (see below for the address), while several books also provide similar procedures (see below). Severe cases may also find outside support and counselling helpful, such as from a trained mindbody doctor / practitioner (if you can find them in your area!).

Can all this help people who stutter?  

If stuttering is a type of TMS, as many TMS sufferers believe, there should be no reason why TMS treatment cannot help people who stutter. Read the TMS literature (and do any exercises) as if it applies to stuttering.

Dr Howard Schubiner MD believes that stuttering is indeed a type of TMS. Read his short article here: http://www.unlearnyourpain.com/blog/mbs-blog-31-the-king%E2%80%99s-speech-as-mind-body-syndrome-finding-your-voice-and-reclaiming-your-life/

Applied to stuttering, I would think that the following ten TMS healing principles would be useful:

1) Start reading! It's what Dr Sarno calls "knowledge therapy". Read at least ONE of the books on TMS mentioned below, as if it also applies to stuttering. Even better: read it TWICE! Or else read two books. The more the better! Allow these ideas to SINK IN DEEPLY into the subconscious, where the healing process begins.

2) As far as possible, don't let any stuttering worry you. In terms of TMS theory, the "purpose" of the stuttering blocks is to keep your mind occupied with physical symptoms, such as stuttering, distracting you from repressed emotions that threaten to come to the surface. Don't over-worry about the blocks / stuttering,  because that's exactly what TMS wants – it wants you to think about stuttering as a physical, neurological issue; it DOESN'T want you to begin thinking about any inner emotional issues. So try to identify any hidden emotions that might actually be behind the stutter.

3)  Beware of perfectionism! Many people who stutter are also perfectionists, and so are TMS sufferers. Perfectionism is highly enraging to the inner child-animal (which can be compared to a lazy couch potato who loves pleasure and beer and hates discipline – great excuse to let your hair down … J ). You must do everything in your power to avoid perfectionism which just feeds subconscious rage. Goodism, the tendency to be as ethical and moral as possible, is also a form of perfectionism.

4) Work on being (or becoming) assertive. Assertiveness can be seen as a mild and socially acceptable form of aggression. By being assertive you will discharge some of the inner rage which may be feeding your stutter. For a short summary of assertiveness as a tool in improving fluency, check out the following chapter of my free online book, Coping with Stuttering: . http://copingwithstuttering.blogspot.co.za/2010/02/asserting-your-personal-rights.html  And for an excellent TED talk on how a few assertive body positions will actually change your body chemistry to make you more relaxed and assertive, check out the following: http://stuttersense.blogspot.co.za/2014/11/fake-it-till-you-make-it_20.html

5) Begin working on those hidden emotions; identify them and allow them to come out into the open. Get in touch with your feelings. Journalling and similar involvement (mentioned above) should greatly help you in this. If necessary, try the TMS Recovery Program (see below) or other support mentioned below.

6) Don't regard the TMS – the stutter – as the enemy which should be fought at all costs. Stuttering is your inner child's primitive voice. Listen to its message and learn from it. Soothe and pamper the inner child. Once you have understood the message, the voice should fade.

7) The TMS explanation is not for everybody, and many if not most people will reject it. Partly this is because, for many people, it is easier to deal with physical, socially acceptable symptoms than with the underlying psychological pain.

8) Should we continue using fluency techniques, such as Slow Speech and Passive Airflow? Dr Sarno would say that such techniques address the overt symptoms, but not the psychological cause. Earlier in his practice he did make use of physiotherapists to deal with the TMS-related pains of his patients; but later he let the therapists go, instead focusing exclusively on the psychological pain which causes symptoms. 

Having said that, he does approve the limited use of painkillers when necessary in the case of e.g. severe back pain. I would say it's up to the stuttering individual whether to use fluency techniques or not if this makes life easier; but always keeping in mind that such techniques merely provide symptomatic relief and do not address the true cause. The same probably goes for other adjuncts such as stress management and stress-reducing supplements. These are helpful where the stress is from other sources not related to TMS; but where stress results from TMS it is the TMS which should in the first place be tackled.
  

9)   The major role that CONDITIONING / LEARNING plays should not be forgotten. It plays a huge role in general TMS, so one can expect it to have the same impact in stuttering – where people have been stuttering for decades, the behaviour is probably deeply entrenched. Even so, it might just be that, when the original psychological cause is exposed through TMS treatment, the central nervous system stops feeding the stutter. So I don't think we can expect sudden miracles, because the conditioned responses of many years are still in place. What we can expect is that the intensity of stuttering may begin to drop and hopefully start withering away, because it is no longer being fed.

10) VISUALISATION should be very useful in working on the subconscious. Visualisation is such a powerful tool in modern self-help and it always surprises me how little this is used. At the time when I had TMS-related lower-back pain, I visualised the blood vessels in my back as huge pipes, carrying enormous amounts of blood rushing in waves through the area – to counteract the mild hypoxia (lack of oxygen) which, according to TMS theory, causes painful cramping. In the same way one could visualise oxygen-rich blood rushing toward the vocal-cord muscles, and / or to the speech centres of the brain, so as to prevent a stutter. Have a look at this short chapter on visualisation in my free online book: http://copingwithstuttering.blogspot.co.za/2010/02/power-of-visualisation.html

As far as I know, this is the first time that TMS principles are applied to stuttering. But will it in fact be of use in real life? Maybe you would like to try it, perhaps adjusting the theory to your own experiences? You would be a true pioneer, charting unsailed waters and perhaps creating history.       

Thanks for reading this article! Below please find some relevant links:

A few sources of practical TMS support:

The TMS Facebook group. (A smart, active and helpful group.) Join them here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/drsarno/

The free online TMS Wiki. (Very comprehensive.) Check it out here:   http://www.tmswiki.org/ppd/The_Tension_Myositis_Syndrome_Wiki

The free TMS Recovery Program: http://www.tmswiki.org/ppd/TMS_Recovery_Program

The MindBody Workbook: a 30-day program, by Dr David Schechter MD, 1999 (Very helpful, but spelling errors irritate; should have been proofread): https://www.amazon.com/MindBody-Workbook-Program-Awareness-Disorders/dp/1929997051/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1486747046&sr=1-1&keywords=the+mindbody+workbook

Dr Howard Schubiner MD's workbook Unlearn Your Pain, 2016: https://www.amazon.com/Unlearn-Your-Pain-third-Keller/dp/0984336745/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1486747207&sr=1-1&keywords=unlearn+your+pain+by+dr.+howard+schubiner

Recommended reading ("knowledge therapy"):

The Great Pain Deception: Faulty Medical Advice Is Making Us Worse, by Steven Ozanich, 2011 (Very dramatic, very comprehensive but rather lengthy; intentionally repeats himself often so that the ideas can sink in deep): https://www.amazon.com/Great-Pain-Deception-Faulty-Medical/dp/0615462219/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1486748418&sr=1-1&keywords=the+great+pain+deception+faulty+medical+advice+is+making+us+worse

Any of Dr John Sarno's books, such as:

The Divided Mind: the Epidemic of MindBody Disorders, 2007 (Articles by Dr Sarno and like-minded doctors, also covers topics not covered in other TMS books.): https://www.amazon.com/Divided-Mind-Epidemic-Mindbody-Disorders/dp/0061174300/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1486748668&sr=1-1&keywords=the+divided+mind+the+epidemic+of+mindbody+disorders

Healing Back Pain: The Mind-Body Connection, 2010 (Dr Sarno's bestseller; a great introduction to TMS): https://www.amazon.com/Healing-Back-Pain-Mind-Body-Connection/dp/0446557684/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1486749448&sr=1-1&keywords=healing+back+pain+by+dr.+john+sarno