[Rainbow_fishB]

hello,
i stopped talking at school around six / seven months ago. i have anxiety, so i guess that might be why, but i dont really know. Anyway, for the past week i haven't spoken at home either. i use sign language, so i can still communicate but i just want to know im not alone. has anyone else become mute due to their mental health?
thanks,
Rainbow x

[Travelinglady]

Hey, can anyone respond to the question?

[poptart316]

yes, I'm mute when I'm with a group of people.. I'm not sure what to do about it.

[C.Oliver]

I have had short times where I go completely mute in therapy when I am triggered. It sometimes takes me about 45 minutes to get my voice back with my therapist helping me...

I haven't gone as long as you though. I went mute for about 2 weeks when my husband triggered me really badly. And I wouldn't say I go mute but I don't speak when I am out with people. I am too afraid to speak...

I am sorry you are having so much trouble speaking. What does your therapist think about it?

C and Oliver (my Service Dog)

Hi,

My daughter has selective mutism and has just turned 15 years old she has just been diagnosed with ASD too. She will talk to me and my husband and her siblings and a few members of the family, She won't talk to any of her teachers or kids at school which can be very upsetting for her and us, She is now seeing a child psychologist every week in which hopefully will help her. My daughter has very high anxiety like you have mentioned too, Are you receiving any help at all?

[thunderbear]

I have the same issue with being mute. For me I cannot speak when in a group or to strangers. Even thinking about speaking around them brings anxiety & panic attacks. I also go mute around people Ive known for years because they make me unconfortable. I also dont like making eye contact with peopke other than my husband. I dont know why but I think it has something to do with my anxiety disorder & PTSD

[camo]

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.