[Leaena]

Hey All,

Does anyone get times where it is like you physically can't speak?

This is happening to me when talking to my T. When ever the talk gets even a little uncomfortable I just stop speaking its not a concious choice, I just can't issue any sound.

Makes an already anxious me even more anxious.

This use to happen when I was in school if an adult spoke to me when I wasn't expexting it. Got yelled at a few times for not responding to teachers greetings.

thanks

[justxholdon]

I get this on varying levels. I'll blank on words, I'll stutter (which is not a thing that happens in common conversations), I'll be unable to force the words out. I'll know what I want to say and can feel it on my tongue, but it takes like superhuman effort to get it out. I'd suggest talking to your T about this feeling and asking how they (and you!) feel about writing some things down instead of talking when it gets too difficult. At least for awhile.

Yes, This happens to me too. When I was younger I wouldn't talk to anyone. My daughter is now the same, She is diagnosed with selective mutism and ASD.

[*Laurie*]

Maybe you can tell your therapist when it happens. Like, tell her, "I can't speak right now." Unless, of course, you quite literally cannot speak...in that case, maybe write her a note or email explaining what happens to you when you can't speak.

[bunnysockmonkey]

This used to happen to me so much, especially as a child and young teen. It still happens of course, and sometimes people get angry at me for it but it's not something I can help. For me, it's anxiety related but I also am autistic so that's part of it too. Honestly, what Laurie suggested helps me. If I try and force myself to speak, it ends up making me nonverbal longer. Sometimes sticking to non-committal sounds like 'uh huh/ mhm' works when I can't speak, it at least gets a little bit across if it's a yes or no conversation.

[anais_anais]

Yes. I have an extreme form of it in therapy, where in certain topics I find mid sentence that I literally cannot make the thoughts or words necessary to complete the sentence. Everything goes grey and I just glaze over. It's happening less often now than it did when I was just starting out.

I never really spoke to my parents growing up. When I try now, I can only make short, basic sentences, maybe around a second grade level. Everything else seems temporarily inaccessible.

I'm not sure if this is due to anxiety though. To me both experiences feel more like dissociation.

[laleahh34]

Omg, thank you for this post. I have totally felt this way at times. I just get all chocked up and blurt something out as best as i can without seeming too emotionally unstable. It makes me feel sad, stupid, and annoyed with myself. You are not alone!

[lotusflower93]

This happens to me. Either my mind will go blank and I dont know what to say or I will think of something and just physically can't get the words out.

I will also be in the middle of a sentence and just go completely blank and stumble with my words so much. It can be very embarrassing sometimes.

I've had catatonic like depression where I couldn't speak....I had nothing to say and I'd just wail if I tried, then go comotose again. I've had times where I've refused to speak because it never helped and seemed to make things much worse....but I've never been physically unable to make sound except in a dream and it's horrifying so my heart really goes out to you. Hopefully someone can help you fix this as it sounds like it bothers you deeply....I know it would really bother me too. (((Hugs)))