Saying your name sounds very simple right? Saying something like “Hello! My name is Christie” or “Christie is my name” was a real challenge for me and I always struggled to say my name.
Read more about how I overcame my struggle to say my name because of my stutter.
I was challenged with a stutter, and there were days introducing myself and saying something as simple as my name was such a real-life struggle. I found it quite hard to communicate with people in general because of my stutter and before the program communication was extremely hard.
From barely being able to keep up a conversation to relying heavily on friends and family to help place orders or book appointments on my behalf. As a result, I developed anxiety, especially trying to foreshadow what speaking situations would I encounter during the day and how could I try to avoid them completely!
Fast forward a few years I heard about a program for people who stutter called the McGuire Programme and needed to seek help so I took up the courage to join in the hope of trying to create a better quality of life for myself.
By the end of my first course, I was able to say my name and a few words about myself in front of a large audience without tension and without any struggle, something I could have never fathomed previously.
Not only that but I gained access to a wide support network that the program offers. Having the opportunity to practice my speech and learn from coaches in the program made a huge impact on my communications skills and I’ve made consistent progress and started stepping out of my comfort zone.
The program has given me a new lease on life, Now I no longer struggle to say my name, something which I will forever be grateful for.
I recently (2022) became a speech coach in the program, and I can’t wait to help others like me reach their true potential and aim to speak with articulate eloquence.
How I overcame my struggle to say my name was written by Christie after attending the McGuire Programme November In-Person Course in Galway, Ireland.
Additíonal Reading: Christie conquered her fear of stuttering and now lives her life on her terms.
To say the programme changed my life would be an understatement. It changed my way of life.
Christie Toney
