Yes, I have seen a few friends experiencing intense emotions go mute - they could not verbalize what they were feeling and what they were feeling overrode any desire to talk to anyone -- even when I asked them a simple question, I think they just did not know how to answer because they are so overcome and despondent at the same time. One person just shook her head when I asked her questions --- so, I think this could be a common side effect to anyone having such intense emotions. I have seen people who regularly suffer from anxiety have a stutter - so, there's a connection between the brain and what it's feeling and audible communication. Sometimes my daughter gets that way and I just give her space. Other family members, when they are in such a state, have not shown up to family events - they want to be alone I think, and not speak to anyone - they need their space I guess. I think part of it is that you are in a state of "self" preservation (self-absorption), so interacting with others requires you to be open to others and you just can't manage it at that time. I think this is a coping thing - don't make yourself "scared" and more anxious that you are not talking -- it is your time to regroup and deal with your emotions. If people around you are pressuring you, let them know somehow why you need your quiet time. Obvsiously, you don't want to experience such intense anxiety all the time - focus on that and not the fact that you are not talking to others - I think that is just a side effect or a coping mechanism for anxiety that maybe has become more intense recently.