Problems with speech/voice?

[nonsensical]

As a kid I was very shy, quiet and I mumbled a lot. Becoming an adult and working jobs requiring constant communication with customers has forced me into coming off more assertive than I really am. Since I require more time to think before speaking, being 'put on the spot' generally makes words come out of my mouth like a terrible train wreck of jumbled gibberish. I've always likened my communication to individual words on puzzle pieces which must be sorted out one piece at a time and put together before any sense can be made. Becoming nervous before speaking is like scattering those pieces all over the floor.

 

[Mihael Keehl]

Being the quiet, sit in the background type, I always spend a couple of seconds formulating a second before speaking, in those cases I am fine.

When I am having a one on one conversation with someone where I don't have 10+ seconds to think and "pre-record" the speech, I often find myself randomly stopping mid-sentence and being completely unable to remember what I was saying, and the word I was trying to say, often the point I was even trying to put across.

 

[Sparticus]

Problems with my voice-for many many years. Shy as a kid & teenager...in my twenties I took a speech making class & that helped a lot. Then I did some volunteer work and had to spoke in front of groups. It's weird, sometimes I can be good, electric and charismatic. Other times I'm...uh...ah...well while my voice carries I still can't control it 100%. My son has the same problems and I think it's related to self esteem.