Slurring Speech?

[MissKat]

This may seem like kind of weird one, but I was curious if anyone else experiences this?

recently, I've been having trouble speaking efficiently. I'll slur my speech or accidentally jumble my words, or sometimes stutter for no reason. It's so frustrating because I know what I want to say and how I'm supposed to say it, there just seems to be a disconnect between what I'm trying to say and what actually comes out. I brought this up with my Neuropsychologist and she said it's most likely due to a sort of "fight or flight" instinct and it's my brain on high alert trying to protect me and all the energy being put into that so there's little left over for other functions (not sure if that makes sense but that is the best way I can think to describe it). I dont really have any other issues that would contribute to this happening so it's a little confusing. Anyone else here ever experience this or know any ways that might be helpful in combating this?

 

[hodge]

I've had this, too. Also, about 1/2 an hour into my therapy sessions, I start to lose the ability to find words. It's like my brain shuts down and can neither take any more in nor put any more out. Sometimes I finally end up telling my T that I just have no words anymore. She just nods and understands. I think what your neuropsychologist said makes as much sense as anything I've heard. The only thing I know to do for this is to give myself quiet time. Lie down with no TV or music, no stimulation, just shut my eyes and rest.

Come to think of it, every month I have to take have my depression and anxiety rated by answering some questions, and one of them is about speaking either so slowly or so rapidly that others have trouble understanding or stuttering, stuff like that. So I don't think this is weird at all for us.

 

[joeylittle]

@MissKat - are you on any medications right now, where this is a potential developing side effect?

 

[Gs172003]

This may seem like kind of weird one, but I was curious if anyone else experiences this?

recently, I'v...

I spent all last week like that and it was a week from hell. I'm better this week.

 

[Silver.]

I stutter quite often, and this isn't something that I grew up with. It normally happens when my brain is racing more than normal, and the thoughts get jumbled on the way out. I've always just attributed it to being mentally overwhelmed, it is quite embarrassing though.
I try to slow down my thought process before I speak to avoid it (doesn't always work, but it has gotten better)

 

[Gs172003]

I never do it to my therapist. I may have to think about an answer but I never have the same issue

 

[Leighlee87]

This recently happened to a friend of mine. She said that she was getting really frustrated because she knew what she wanted to say, but the words were coming out all jumbled and she was slurring everything like she was drunk. She went to the doctor later about it, and they determined it had been a panic attack.

So, yeah, I don't know how common it is, but it does seem to be a physiological response for some people during panic/anxiety attacks. Reading your post is the first time I've ever heard someone describe that other than her.

 

[Deleted member 541]

When my anxiety was at its worst years ago.... I would feel drunk/high like. Slurred speech, and even felt like I was drunk without drinking or drugs. Not as pronounced, but drunk/highlike, if that makes sense....

 

[illusionist]

It is common for me when I'm stressed or have went without sleep for a couple of days.

 

[MissKat]

I'm not currently on any medications because I've been having weird stomach reactions to any sort of pill as of late. It happens the most when my mind is racing or I'm stressed or anxious, but I figure that's probably a given or something.

 

[Abstract]

I have lots of issues with speech when highly stressed. Sometimes none at all and other times a variety of potential problems. Its sometimes hard to put into words as they can appear similar but from the inside they can be coming from different sources.

Slurred speech can sometimes be related to clinical depression for me. Its the whole psycho motor retardation thing. My body slows down physiologically and I can get to the state when I can barely find the control to speak or sometimes move. At my worst I have been almost totally incapable of either from depression. When this happens my whole body is slowed down and weighed down. Its a body or physical sense or feeling.

Other times I start feeling dissociated/deprersonalised and out of body to an extent. Depersonalisation doesn't at all always effect me this way but when it does I feel removed and have less control over my thoughts and body. Muscle control of my mouth is part of this. This one feels like I have too many glasses of wine in a sense rather than the last which feels like I am wrapped in cement. Its like a brain thought first and then physical reaction.

Then I get somatic conversion disorder symptoms which I really hate and which I rarely get these days. Thank goodness. It was fairly common in the past for me and happens in therapy a lot. I feel fine and alert and normal physically. When I come to talk my muscles all move as normal and I expect my voice to come out but it doesn't. Its just not there. Nothing. I think its when my brain decides it isnt safe to talk and overrides the rest.

As for word spaghetti, thought blanking and confused speech - sadly yes and its pretty common. Hate it too. Related to anxiety for me, and like I think you said, flight and fight mode. The way I understand it our amygdala/primitive brain takes over and our cognitive functions can switch off or reduce as a result.

I do also have this total thought blocking thing which I think is dissociative and have discussed a lot on here but won't go into that now as it doesn't sound relevant.

Speech and surrounding issues are a huge thing for me and I suspect a result of me reacting to my childhood by deciding speech wasn't safe. Shutting down is a habit for me but I am improving.

Its all very frustrating I know and I hope you find something that helps.