Stuttering and Essential Tremor?

About 4 years ago, I was diagnosed with Essential Tremor, which is a condition that has symptoms similar to Parkinson's Disease, except the tremors manifest during activity, rather than at rest. My tremors are extremely mild compared to many sufferers and most people don't notice I have it unless they spend more than a few minutes in my presence. To give an example of a manifestation, if I use my right arm (most affected) to put a cap on a bottle, the arm threatens to jerk around on it's own, seemingly, and the harder I try to get the cap on, the worse it gets. Threading a needle is all but impossible and once I almost threw a cup of coffee in my own face. If I hold a piece of paper up to read it with that hand, it shakes almost uncontrollably. In fact, the last example is what alerted my coworkers to my condition and a recommendation to see a doctor.

Most recently, I'm having discomfort in my right shoulder. It's not pain exactly, it's a general feeling of discomfort and unease in that shoulder. It's very difficult to explain. I feel like it's almost glowing, if that makes sense. Like something is going wrong with it. Sometimes I fear to hold out my arm, because it feels like my arm will just slip out of the socket. That's a strange sensation to describe but it's very annoying and I don't really want to go back to the doctor.

I am wondering if there are a significant number of either stutters or ET's who also have the other condition. I am wondering if the two conditions are related. Both seem to have neurological elements and both have unknown sources, except for heredity, perhaps.

I have tried to find information on ET websites, but most are filled with older people who suffer from a myriad of conditions in addition to ET and I find myself lost in a sea of posts filled with complaints about not only ET, but fibromyalgia, sciatica, herniated discs, migraines, medication side effects, leaky bowel syndrome, insomnia and gout, amongst other things. My condition is only mild and aside from Essential Tremor, I am completely healthy. My last cold was nearly three years ago.

Anyway, just wanted to write about that because my right arm is bothering me right now and I wish I had answers.

What is Stuttering Like?

Imagine that you are able to walk normally down the street, but as soon as you enter the mall, you can only walk normally sometimes. Every once in a while, however, you are unable to walk normally and you suddenly fall down at random moments, seemingly for no reason at all.

Imagine that you are able to see perfectly well while you are driving, but once you get to work, suddenly, your eyes cross and you can't focus on what you are looking...but it only happens once in a while and you can't control when those moments come.

Imagine that you are able to eat normally while you are at home, but when you visit your favorite restaurant, sometimes, unpredictably, your arms refuse to bring the spoon to your mouth, but instead, sling the food over your head or across the table. But, it only happens sometimes and you can't know when those times are coming.

That sounds frustrating, doesn't it?

That is similar to the frustration felt by many stutterers. We can be perfectly fluent in some situations...while in others, we suddenly lose the ability to say two words in a row without sounding like we've had a stroke. No rhyme, no reason.

There are patterns, sometimes. For example, if I'm watching television with a friend and they say, "That guy! That actor! I know him! What's his name?" There is no way I'll be able to answer, even if I know. Why? I don't know.

If someone asks me how old my son is. I have to say, "He'll be 8 next year" because I can't say "seven" during those moments. (My son is not seven, by the way). Why? No idea.

Some years, I have a lot of trouble saying words that begin with "S", but then the next year, it will be words that begin with "L". Why does it change? No idea.

Anyway, this was just on my mind today. I'm on vacation still. Until Thursday. And I'm bored. :)

Children's Reaction to Stuttering

Tom from the The Stuttering Brain Blog posted recently about his *tongue in cheek* dislike for children because they lack the social skills yet to act normally when one stutters.

I've experienced this and can feel his pain. Children will often say whatever is on their minds..."Are you pregnant or just fat?"..."You're skinny!"..."You're bald!"..."Daddy says your wife is an alcoholic!"...

Really, they are just saying what most adults are thinking, but have learned, by the implementation of social graces, to not say every little thing that pops into their heads.

My young teen son is getting there, but he still occasionally will openly laugh or smirk if he finds a "block" to be funny sounding. I can tell that he tries to hold it in and he usually apologizes right after...but it is annoying. I tell him that if he had the problem, he'd probably not find it humorous.

I've never heard a stutter that I thought sounded funny. Even when they do it for comedy's sake in a film or on television (which they never get right, by the way.)

I do enjoy children and don't find much difficulty being around them with my stutter, but I do find that I'm much more self-aware when I am in the company of small kids who I know will probably inquire about my stutter or react in some obvious way.