Do you stutter when you are drunk?

[warrick]

When I have been drinking I become totally fluent around the same time that I begin to feel 10ft tall and bulletproof. From what I have heard, this is not uncommon and have always put it down to the loss of inhibitions about speaking and often my intense passion about what I am talking about (whether it be true or not).

I have also heard of people whose stuttering gets a lot worse while drinking and wonder if anyone has any theories about why that might come about?

[warrick]

When I was in my late-teens to mid-twenties, I spent a large part of my time drinking for the sole reason that it allowed me to communicate and socialise successfully with others. I was very committed to my solution and spent some time feeling very popular in my own home town. Unfortunately, my solution had side effects to it that began to cost me more and more each day.

When I was drunk, even though I felt that I always meant well, my actions got me into a lot of trouble and I found myself hurting people that I cared about and who cared for me, stutter or no stutter. It was costing me the people who accepted me flaws and all.

I'm sure this isn't a particularly unique story but when you live through it personally, its a whole other story. I found that my health began to pay the price as I moved on to stronger and stronger addictions. My memory became non-existent and my life became a never-ending blur. Along with the drinking came spurts of depression and mood swings. Things were spiraling out of control and my so-called cure was becoming worse than the disease.

I guess what finally turned me around was a girl. Way back in 1992. She had only ever known the drunk me and hated me and my behaviour with a passion. It wasn't until she spent the day with a sober me and a shared friend that she saw the real me. Eventually our friend went home... and the girl stayed. We were married 2 years later and have been together ever since. Now I drink maybe twice a year and it is never to achieve fluency.

I know I have a long way to go in terms of mastering communication but I will always be proud of the transformations I have made in my life, and I prove to myself time and time again that anything is possible if you are committed enough.

Thank you for your time.

[Jason]

Nice story, alcohol certainly makes me more vocal and talkative. About my speech. Its gets a bit better but I have to really smashed to become completely fluent. As nice as being fluent is I really hate the drunken feeling and I can't stand the morning after haziness.

[warrick]

Yes, there is definately a price to pay if you use alcohol as a stuttering aid. I did not like the person I became when I was drunk. I was fluent, but I also became a bit of a jerk at times, and hurt people I cared about unintentionally. My lack of inhabition helped my speech but it screwed up everything else. Not recommended. :eek:

[Jason]

I find that I don't become a jerk, I just do really silly things. Things which I eventually regret in the morning. As a result I do my best to keep my intake down to a view pints when I go out.