Why do I stutter and feel nervous when speaking, unable to express what I'm thinking? What should I do?

Nov 20, 2025 Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Zhang Baohua
Introduction
In general, stuttering or difficulty expressing thoughts during speech may be caused by anxiety, language habit deviations, childhood speech development disorders, Parkinson's disease, or sequelae of stroke. If discomfort symptoms occur, it is recommended to seek timely medical evaluation and treatment at a正规 hospital. In daily life, individuals should actively participate in social activities to practice communication skills; for children during the language acquisition phase, timely guidance and correction of speech deviations are important.

Generally, stuttering or being unable to express one's thoughts due to nervousness when speaking may be caused by anxiety, language habit deviations, childhood speech development disorders, Parkinson's disease, post-stroke sequelae, and other reasons. If discomfort symptoms occur, it is recommended to seek timely diagnosis and treatment at a正规 hospital. Detailed analysis is as follows:

1. Emotional Anxiety

During tension, the sympathetic nervous system becomes overactive and the cerebral cortex is excessively stimulated, interfering with the coordination function of the language center and leading to disordered speech rhythm. Familiarizing oneself with communication content in advance, practicing deep breathing exercises, and repeatedly simulating conversation scenarios can help build confidence in expression.

2. Language Habit Deviation

Mimicking someone who stutters during early language acquisition or long-term lack of verbal practice resulting in weak expressive ability may become more apparent under stress. Daily reading exercises, slowing down speech rate, and focusing on sentence pauses and pronunciation can gradually correct speaking habits.

3. Childhood Speech Development Disorder

Slight delays in the development of brain regions responsible for language processing can cause a mismatch between thinking speed and speech output, worsening stuttering under stress. Under medical guidance, medications such as risperidone oral solution, aripiprazole tablets, or olanzapine tablets may be used, along with professional speech correction training.

4. Parkinson’s Disease

Degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra leads to reduced motor coordination, causing abnormal muscle control during speech and resulting in stuttering. Follow doctor’s instructions to take levodopa-carbidopa (benserazide) tablets, pramipexole extended-release tablets, or piribedil extended-release tablets, combined with speech function rehabilitation training.

5. Post-Stroke Sequelae

Ischemic damage to the brain's language centers impairs language generation and transmission, manifesting as stuttering and difficulty expressing oneself. Treatment may include endovascular thrombolytic procedures. After surgery, patients should take enteric-coated aspirin tablets and clopidogrel hydrogen sulfate tablets as prescribed, and persistently engage in speech rehabilitation training.

In daily life, individuals should actively participate in social activities to practice communication skills; correct any speech abnormalities early during childhood language development; undergo regular health checkups to monitor brain health; and consistently perform rehabilitation training after stroke to gradually improve language function.