Do you ever in a moment of nervousness or just for no reason at all stumble over your words and the person you're talking to is like, "huh"? Happened to me today with a customer. It's the most embarrassing thing ever! Any suggestions on how to always speak clearly and confidently?
Stumbling over words
- Thread starter Etbow23
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Phoenixx
Well-known member
This happens to me quite often actually. Well, more stuttering than actually stumbling, but still. I tend to have a quiet voice when talking to other people too. It is pretty embarrassing, especially when the person you're speaking to says, "What?" a thousand times. -.-
dancingintherain
Well-known member
ugh many times. I try and avoid it by using my full attention on the situation, not myself. Because when I notice how anxious i'm getting, I start to stumble over my words.
this_portrait
Well-known member
I've had a problem with this ever since I got to college. I'm slowly getting better at not stumbling over my words, but I still have a hard time with it. Having a softer voice doesn't help, either.
What helps for me is to carefully think about what I'm going to say, then speak slower than I normally would (I tend to talk fast). Sometimes that can be difficult, depending on the situation, but I try to do this whenever I can.
What helps for me is to carefully think about what I'm going to say, then speak slower than I normally would (I tend to talk fast). Sometimes that can be difficult, depending on the situation, but I try to do this whenever I can.
1BlackSheep
Well-known member
I tend to stumble on my words sometimes too. It's especially embarrassing when I get tongue-tied on an overhead page at work where everyone can hear it! 
AsTimeBurns
Well-known member
Do that quite a lot. I'm alright if it's a presentation and I've memorised it, but when I just try to wing it I struggle.
polishgirl
Well-known member
I don't actually stutter but I do understand what all of you guys mean. What I would suggest, and what always helps me if I am stressed (because that's where the unclarity comes from) is relaxing my muscles and just taking a deep breath. Sounds silly, I know, but I feel I'm less tense and some of the stress fades away and I can focus more.
MikeyC
Well-known member
Yeah, I'm with you. I tend to lose the correct word in a sentence and it'll all go downhill from there. Sometimes I'll literally have nothing to say and that will be bad news.
I don't really have any suggestions beyond relaxing more and speaking a touch slower so you can think about what to say before you say it. Over time it'll become second-nature.
EDIT: What's interesting to note is that my friend with Aspergers has the best way with words I've ever met. He'll sometimes stop to think about what he's going to say but more often than not he'll have the most articulate vocabulary and I'm always in awe of his speech. It goes to show that personal demons don't matter.
I don't really have any suggestions beyond relaxing more and speaking a touch slower so you can think about what to say before you say it. Over time it'll become second-nature.
EDIT: What's interesting to note is that my friend with Aspergers has the best way with words I've ever met. He'll sometimes stop to think about what he's going to say but more often than not he'll have the most articulate vocabulary and I'm always in awe of his speech. It goes to show that personal demons don't matter.
Azael
Well-known member
I don't so much stumble over my words as completely lose my ability to speak. Something I do that has attained the most success of all methods used is to rehearse in your head different scenarios. I do this all the time, imagining social contexts and thinking about what I will say, you can easily correct yourself and it does help to retrain yourself. As I say it's something unorthodox, so it won't be for everyone. Just putting it out there.
Aletheia
Well-known member
I do this when I'm nervous. All my words tumble out on top of one another.
In contrast to some of the people above, it happens most when I've planned ahead of time what I'm going to say (and I do obsessively rehearse conversations).
If I can relax into the moment, become spontaneous, it goes away.
In contrast to some of the people above, it happens most when I've planned ahead of time what I'm going to say (and I do obsessively rehearse conversations).
If I can relax into the moment, become spontaneous, it goes away.
Falkor
1
Yep. A lot of people can't follow me.. Like, ehh what are you talking about?
Can you repeat please?
I do know a girl who has this deep silent voice and you can't barely hear a thing she says at my group therapy. She just quit because she can't enter groups anymore, she's terrified and she doesn't want to be taking any therapy treatments anymore, she just wants to stay home. ::
It's sad.
Can you repeat please?
I do know a girl who has this deep silent voice and you can't barely hear a thing she says at my group therapy. She just quit because she can't enter groups anymore, she's terrified and she doesn't want to be taking any therapy treatments anymore, she just wants to stay home. :
:It's sad.
PhantomPod
Well-known member
Yeah, practically every time I start speaking I stumble over my words.
Invisibleman
Well-known member
Yes this happens to me all of the time. Its not so bad when im just one on one with people but when I get into a group and I go to say something I start tripping up on my words. Or it happens especially when im talking to an authority figure like a teacher or something like that,I imagine myself talking loudly and clearly and ive said it before my mind goes so much faster than my mouth can move and I start messing up and looking like an idiot.
