You asked: I am 18 year old, female. I have been suffering from stammering since childhood and normally with my family and other people I speak normally and hardly stutter but in public places when I am in situation such as in interviews, presentation etc I am hardly able to speak and sometimes the situation gets worse as I make faces while speaking and my stomach also squeezes. Go out of breath. So recently I was thinking to join a public speaking course or should I see speech therapist but I am confused as will it help me to improve?

Hi lybrate-user, I think you are suffering from 'Social Anxiety Disorder' stammering that specifically occurs in situations that warrants scrutinizing you by people around you along with symptoms like going out-of-breath points to the above diagnosis though its my personal opinion based upon what you hv written here. A talk with you would probably be much helpful though. You can start with Tab Ponol (Propranolol) 20 mg to be taken just before you are about to speak in public. Make sure you don't have bronchial asthma in which case you cannot take ponol. Take deep breaths, practice meditation.

Hi Tanya, Thanks for writing in. Welcome to the forum. From what you are saying, there appears to be a very strong component of social anxiety. This can be handled with psychotherapy, medicines or both depending upon the exacts nature and severity of the symptoms. Public speaking courses and speech therapy are also likely to help with respect to the specific issue of stammering in public places. But with regard to the several other aspects of this problem, speaking to a mental health expert is a good idea. Take care!