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whats your most embarrasing moment?
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Posted by: no_use_for_words ® 07/14/2006, 17:06:11

ive been thinking lately of all the situations ive been in with my voice from speaking to strangers in public to speaking in a classroom in front of all my classmates. all of those situations were hard and im sure theres more to come, but the most intense moment for me was when i was best man at my brothers wedding. i was told at the rehearsal that i had to perform a toast. i was so nervous about it i could hardly sleep the night before, trying to figure out what words would be easiest to say. when the wedding day arrived i was so nervous and anxious i thought i was gonna puke. i slammed a couple shots of jim beam to calm my nerves but i dont think anything could take the edge off enough. when it was my time to speak, to make things worse a family friend was recording the whole thing on a video camera. i was so uncomfortable i just wanted to die! but i managed to squeeze out like 2 sentences all shaky, nervous,and broken. my face was all red from embarrasment. half the room probably couldnt hear a word i said, but im sure the camcorder caught it all. everyone who attended got a copy of that tape.i never watched it, but im sure they did. once the toasting was over i had a pretty good time with the ceremonies and the after party,not to mention dancing with the brides maid. everyone was really cool and didnt treat me any different cause my voice. seems like its all in my head sometimes. am i crazy, is everyone juding me? or is the world just crazy? i dont know. all i know is thats probably my most embarrasing moment with sd. anyone else care to share theirs? -jayme

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Re: whats your most embarrasing moment? Re: whats your most embarrasing moment? -- no_use_for_words Top of thread Archive Posted by: Bonniebelle ® 07/14/2006, 20:48:20 You are not crazy at all. Your question took me back to a lot of odd moments with SD and people. My reaction to people who appeared disgusted or aggravated was anger. I didn't go intensive or anything, but I was too upset to think about being embarassed. Even when callers thought I was a man on the phone, I did not feel embarassed. Honestly, I was too shocked to be upset! I attended a Valentine's Day banquet some years ago. I was slated to make a short presentation about the occasion. I did not know the dinner was being filmed until a couple of weeks later, complimentary copies were given those who participated in the program. One lady was kind enough to tell me an order was given to shut the camera off when I got up to speak. I politely refused my copy without giving the reason why. I was really ticked off, but I figured they didn't want me messing up the tape. I have heard myself on tape. It wasn't nice at all. It sounds like, aside from the "rough spot" of having to toast the couple, you were still well received at the other portions of the wedding party. My most embarassing moments had nothing to do with SD. However, I do know how intimidating it is to socialize in spite of SD symptoms. The more you socialize, the more skilled and confident you'll become with adjusting to SD in your life. You'll do well. Much success to you! Bonnie Simmons ADSD 1999 Vocal Therapy | Recommend | Alert Where am I? Original message Top of thread Current page Re: whats your most embarrasing moment? Re: whats your most embarrasing moment? -- no_use_for_words Top of thread Archive Posted by: Barbara S. White ® 07/15/2006, 14:19:38 Hi Jayme, Like you I've had a few embarrassing moments. To start, I went 30 years before I was diagbiused, so didn't know the reason for my discusting voice. I was teaching school (1st & 2nd Grade combined class) but we always started the day with chapel. Mind you without SD, I can't sing. With SD, I can't sing even more. Well, I was asked to lead the singing that morning. This was a Christian school and the director knew I had a bad voice and she knew I couldn't sing but most people think the voice is just a lack of effort. Not sure what her thinking was. Anyway, to make the story short, I never again asked to lead singing. I hung my head and sadly went back to my seat. I felt like a freak show. The director is still a good friend and though we don't live close anymore, I have never shared how I felt. I have talked to her on the phone and she knows about my diagnosis and my surgery and that my voice is good now. I know that I need to share my feelings about that morning when I was so embarrassed. One of these days I will but I want to wait until I see her in person. Be blessed, Barbara / god4me@comcast.net | Recommend | Alert Where am I? Original message Top of thread Current page Re: whats your most embarrasing moment? Re: Re: whats your most embarrasing moment? -- Barbara S. White Top of thread Archive Posted by: Emily Lim ® 07/17/2006, 22:57:16 Hi Jayme, Funny you should ask that question as 2 recent ones have stuck in my mind so here's a good place to get it off. I was in Beijing recently to visit a girlfriend and went out to do some sightseeing and shopping on my own. I have mitral valve prolapse (nothing serious but I get very breathless after walking a lot)so after 2 hours of walking, I went shopping. With that and ABSD, I couldn't have been more breathy. I was hackled by a shopkeeper when I picked up a handbag to inquire the price. She screamed when I spoke (like in a horror movie) and told me I sounded terrifying and ran down the corridor (high chinese drama sort) screaming to the next door shopkeepers how much I frightened her. It's been quite a while since I've been so embarassed -ironically, I couldn't have told her off cause that would have set off any bout of her hysteria so I walked off. I guess on the upside, I didn't spend anymore money after that. Then just last month I was golfing with my friend and her big boss. Our flight was quite slow so we were being chased from the back. As a result, everyone sort of threw caution to the wind and they drove forward to look for their ball even though I was further behind hitting my ball. As the law of probability would have it, my ball shanked and went straight for my friend's boss (although I was aiming somewhere else)! I shouted and of course they couldn't really hear and just stood there looking towards me and when he finally saw the ball coming it was way too late and hit him on his cheek. Thank God he was fine but maybe SD golfers need a whistle on the golf course! Emily L ABSD, 8 years | Recommend | Alert Where am I? Original message Top of thread Current page Re: whats your most embarrasing moment? Re: Re: whats your most embarrasing moment? -- Emily Lim Top of thread Archive Posted by: Colleen ® 07/19/2006, 21:33:53 I think young Customer Service people do not have any patience with our voices. Does anyone else agree? They do not want to be bothered with voices like ours or they laugh about it the most. I dread when I have to deal with young people and my voice gets worse when I have to approach them or talk to them on the phone. Colleen | Recommend | Alert Where am I? Original message Top of thread Current page Re: whats your most embarrasing moment? Re: Re: whats your most embarrasing moment? -- Colleen Top of thread Archive Posted by: mariaa ® 07/24/2006, 21:59:44 this is a good one..........I would have to say my worst experience was doing a telephone conference with principal and other teachers.........now we know the phone is tough, and we know projecting your voice is tough, and we also know speaking in front of a group is tough........well, here is all these things wrapped up in one. Everyone was so nice to me, they were patient. One person said afterward, is that how your voice gets when your nervous how funny. I said no I have one vocal cord that opens up too much aB/sd. She was so embarassed for herself. Some people dont think. But this was my worst experience. lol! We are troopers arent we all! | Recommend | Alert Where am I? Original message Top of thread Current page