There are some situations in which I’m literally unable to speak. I’ve been this way for almost my whole life due to an anxiety disorder called selective mutism. Selective mutism is considered a rare disorder, but the prevalence—which ranges from .03% to 1%—could be an underestimation. I was within the typical range of onset, which is children under five. Most often, symptoms become apparent when a child begins school. Because my family struggled with their own mental health problems, I lived my entire childhood and much of my adulthood undiagnosed. Looking back, I can clearly see the symptoms. As a child, I hid behind my parents’ legs when someone tried to have a conversation with me. In some settings, I could only whisper to someone I felt comfortable with. Everyone thought I was just shy. But selective mutism isn’t shyness. German physician Adolph Kussmaul called it “aphasia voluntaria” in 1877. In 1934, child psychologist Moritz Tramer coined it “elective mutism.” Both terms reflect the notion that professionals considered this form of mutism a refusal to speak—an oppositional or defiant behavior. The DSM-IV adopted the term “selective mutism” in 1994, reflecting the reality of the disorder as the inability to speak. According to the DSM-5, selective mutism is often accompanied by a social anxiety disorder. Separation anxiety disorder, phobias and situational oppositional behaviors are also common. At school, children bullied me for being chubby, and I couldn’t stand up to them. I couldn’t even ask my friends for help, and my silence perhaps implied consent. And because of that experience, I developed PTSD. - See more at: http://www.nami.org/Blogs/NAMI...sthash.0QDVpwM5.dpuf
[For more of this story, written by Traci Noelle, go to http://www.nami.org/Blogs/NAMI...sm-Frozen-in-Silence]
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