Selective Mutism Awareness Month - What It Is & My Experience | 2017
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- Опубліковано 1 гру 2024
- October was Selective Mutism Awareness Month, and as it's not a well-known thing I wanted to take the opportunity to discuss it and my past with it.
Some Resources:
selectivemutis...
www.anxietybc....
My Links:
Blog: jaimiesam.com/
Tumblr: / jaimiesam
Twitter: / jaimiesam4
Instagram: / jaimiesam4
Pinterest: / jaimiesam4
Bloglovin': www.bloglovin.....
I get so exited to find videos of other people who had SM because I used to think I was the only one! I didn't even know that it was called SM until a few years ago. I had it from when I was 4 till I was about 10 when it got better when I was able to go to new places where people didn't know I didn't talk so that I could just be free of labels and start fresh. Fellow former SM girl salutes you 😎✌🏻
makeupandglory yes yes and yes! I totally agree, I’ve also never known anyone personally with SM, and I know it would have made such a difference. And it was such a nice feeling once I started meeting people who didn’t know me as “the quiet girl”. I’m glad to hear your SM has gotten better!
Jaimiesam yeah and I always felt that once people met me and if I didn't talk to them right away that I couldn't talk to them after because they would make a huge deal about it, like my grandpa would be super sarcastic "oh that will be the day when she talks".
In class what annoyed me is that even when I was genuinely trying to be extra talkative with people (who were talkative themselves) in new situations they would still say omg you're so quiet🤦🏻♀️ I learned over the years you can't please everyone and to just be yourself and if I have something to say I say it, but if I'm just listening I won't try to say something random and have it not be relevant just so I don't get judged for being "quiet". Did you used to get in trouble for not talking? I would get punished when I was little for not talking to my grandpa and I would be lectured on how rude I was being. I would try to open my mouth and force words out but it made me more anxious doing that.
I don't think I ever got in trouble for not talking, but I do understand what you mean about not wanting it to be made into a huge deal. I definitely still struggle with that in some situations. And yeah, it's really disheartening to feel like you've spoken a lot more than you usually would, or spoken louder than usual (I have a naturally quiet voice, and am often told I speak quietly), only to be told that you're not talkative or have a soft voice. But it is definitely just important to know what is an achievement for you, and to be proud of what you've accomplished, even if it doesn't seem like an accomplishment to other people.
I didn’t know what SM was until a few months ago and when i was a little younger i thought that i was just really shy and when i was older i really didn’t know why i didn’t talk but thought maybe because when i came to Denmark from Germany (i was 5 or 6 ) i couldn’t talk Danish only my dad could and i started School without any Danish since i never lived there and because i was so little i didn’t Really understand alot like that they wouldn’t understand me i did kind of talk or atleast did some animal sounds and stuff but since kindergarden in Germany i never really talked but if i did talk in kindergarden i would whisper or something
i’m 12, 13 to november now and i still don’t talk and i don’t do my homework eather (don’t know if that’s because SM ??) but i have 3 really good friends. i don’t know what i think about it but there is so many from my class and sometimes kids from other classes too that ask me “can’t you just Plss talk” or “i’ll give you 10 kroner” or things like that (krone/r is the Danish Money thing don’t know what that’s called)
And for me new places dosen’t always matter because i can’t talk with anyone no matter what:/ but i have done it before also i showed a video of me singing to almost the hole class and some teachers
My daughter has selektiv mutism , she is twelve years old now. She can't speak in school and doesn't has friends in school. It is heartbreaking . But she has friends on the internet, she loves gaming. I am glad she has friends when she plays games, then she is not so lonely ! She is such a lovely girl.
I just got diagnosed with SM this year. It's my senior year and I'm 17. It's very hard to deal with.
It is very difficult to deal with. I wish you the best of luck in working through it, I hope you can find people/resources to help you, so you don't have to handle it alone, and that your friends/family are supportive xx
Finally...someone who understands how I feel everyday
Good video. I had selective mutism throughout all my school years. I've gotten better recently and wouldn't say I have it anymore. It's good to see someone else with the same problem improving as well.
I like your message, your bookshelf and sweater. #thanks
I've had SM since I was 7, now I'm 16. School is really hard with it.
School is very tough with it. It definitely helps to have friends or teachers who can support you at school
SM will make you stronger, everyone has a different challenge and this just happened to be ours also remember everyone has a different story as well, you get to decide your story and just keep on fighting though it nothing is impossible. In m case I think something that helps me is showing my personality, for example wearing clothes, though my writing and just little movements and reactions to things, maybe even personal references. You got this, SM dies not define who you are. I hope you have a goody day 😀🌸
Thank you for sharing your experience. My daughter has selective mutism and is 4 years old. It's so important for us as parent to see you speaking so beautifully about it. 🧡🙏
Thank you so much! I hope the video is helpful, and I hope your daughter is doing well.
people treat me like I'm r3tarded just because I don't like to talk in class
My name is Brady Collins I am a 10 years old girl i have SM. I had a passion for acrobatics and i didn’t let my SM stop me so i became part of an acrobatic troupe when I was 5 because my parents saw i loved climb things and they wanted me to do stuff. I got to know everyone very well and they felt like family. The age range of the group is currently 7-40 (male and female) so i became closer with some people to the point where i talk to them a lot and am really normal around but others im a little more hesitant but acrobatics needs a lot of trust. It was hard when i was younger because its even more hard to talk to adults and those are the people catching me but i still don’t talk to all of the bases but we have a great bond and its INCREDIBLE!! I love them so much and we are going on AGT season 15 ❤️❤️🤩🤩
I had SM when I was little as well. When I told my friends they didn’t accept is as a real disorder. They said that I could’ve just tried to talk, like it was super easy. One of them went through surgery when they were younger and said they had a real disorder. How do I explain to her that just because I went through a different challenge than her that doesn’t make my challenge less harder than hers?
I'm so sorry to hear that. That must be so upsetting, for her not to accept it... It's a tough thing to explain, because it's not a visible injury/disability. I suppose you can just explain to her what it is, how it makes you feel, and that it's something that you're constantly trying to work through, and really that it's not a choice, to just speak. Best of luck xx
Hi I would like to add to that 😀🌸. If you want you could explain to her that everyone has different challenges and not all of them are physical but they all make their personality better and different and that everyone has different views of everything. It’s ok if they don’t accept it. This challenge will make you stronger, just be you and remember that world is amazing and so is everyone inside of it and that includes you 😀🌸 I hope you have a goody day
I never knew other people dealt with this as well. I had it up until I was 14. It's crazy, I never really knew what it was called until now.
god i had selective mutism from when i was 4 to when i was 11 and although my school was very inclusive i thought i was the only one who had it. i'm so glad to see that people are talking about it now
Nelly Dunel it can feel so isolating to feel like you’re the only one who has it! I’m glad to hear you’re finding other people who talk about it too ✨
My 10 yr old brother has it, his is severe. He only talks to me, my brother, my parents and his aid at school. He won’t talk to us on the phone though, he used to not talk at all, but one day he just started talking again. It also is very hard for him to whisper to us in public.
I am in clg and I m suffering from SM, but i always try to feel that I have nothing , and I try to speak 🗣️ freely....and thanks for your valuable video...👍👍
thank you for spreading awareness on Selective Mutism . Everyone needs to have a voice ♡ I also make videos on mental health and Selective Mutism 💕
it's actually not as rare as we think, it is about as common statistically as autism.
I have never met anyone else with it either and I have always, and still do, feel like an outcast
aww don't worry! we're here, on youtube, with same situation!
In a way everyone is a “outcast” as we all have different challenges, this just happened to be your challenge. The world is amazing and so is everyone inside of it, I hope you have a goody day 😀🌸. Something that helps me with it is to show your personality though it for example, maybe clothing, though writing, certain actions/movements, personal preferences and facial expressions. Don’t try to be like everyone else as you will loose who you really are, trust me you are here for a reason and you will thrive while being your self. 😀🌸
Thank you so much for sharing your story. I tried googling the youtuber you mentioned, Jamie Jo but nothing came up
Her UA-cam channel name is BananaJamana!
You are so pretty!~ (random sorry)
I feel like I’m going selective mute. I’m constantly afraid I’ll mess up saying something. My family, my cousins, everybody at school. They all tell me that I talk too much. Now I’m terrified that I’ll say something. The only time I can actually smile, is when I’m alone watching bts. I’m on vacation right now and I’m worried when I get back to school my friends will reject my decision. I don’t feel comfortable talking in front of anyone, I force words out of my throat to talk to my family. I’m scared, I don’t know what to do. 😔 I don’t want to talk but my teachers think of me as the girl who talks too much. They already email my parents now I’m afraid they will protest my choice I’ve made to stop talking. I have made this choice, that I don’t want to talk.
And in my opinion, I think that they just need to respect that.
Thank you! I'm sorry to hear you're having such a hard time :/ I hope you can find people to reach out to and speak to about this, and hopefully find help. Although just to clarify, with selective mutism, not speaking was never really a choice, it always felt like something I physically couldn't do, even if I tried. Perhaps you have social anxiety? I'm sorry you're dealing with it though, good luck. I hope you can find people to talk to about it
Thank you for replying. Tomorrow I have school, and I feel like a physically won’t be able to talk. I’m terrified of what will happen.. 😞 I already fear I’m going to end up in ridge view, and if I do this I’m afraid they won’t respect that I’m not talking. I don’t have a choice in the end, but I’m scared they won’t like this very much.
I feel this: *sitting at a table with my cousins*
So, heartcore, what did you enjoy the most this week?
What I’m thinking: (*flashbacks of people saying stop talking, your annoying, just be silent, shut up, STOP TALKING ****************)
My response: .........
Uh... heartcore?
Me: *runs to room*
It’s like I can’t force the words out of my throat unless I’m with my family.
Hi I know this was a year ago but I am just curious on how have you been or possibly improved, you don’t have to tell me. Thank you 😀🌸
Great insights thank you for sharing - how have you been coping these days? Are you more outgoing and expressive these days?
I wrote about this in my Psychology class because it was very interesting to me. I didn't know October was awareness month.
Ann Marie Aguilar that’s very interesting, I’m glad you found something in it to write about!
@@jaimiesam16 Thank you! This topic is special to me because I had SM in elementary through middle school. It has been a struggle but I'm so much better than I was that I can actually do public speaking in class but I still have my triggers.
Ann Marie Aguilar I definitely understand that, some things are still difficult but lots of improvement otherwise
Thank you for sharing your story.
I’m curious if I have selective mutism... I used to be much worse about speaking in class but currently I only speak when called on or asked a question and never start a conversation. Like you I only speak comfortably to my friends and I’ve been struggling to talk louder. some days I’ll go completely without speaking at school and it doesn’t even phase me. I guess it’s just more relaxing for me to not engage in social interaction, I never saw a reason to put myself into a situation that causes my anxiety to skyrocket. Haha I don’t think I’ve ever just walked up to someone I don’t know at my school and just started a conversation ever heh
I was diagnosed with SM when I was 6
I hope you've found ways to deal with it xx
Go off queen
✨💖✨
My son at 21 still just speaks to me at home.. and not even his sibling.. no one outside of home.. gave up on getting any more help??
Really? I had no idea it was October...funny that's my birthday month and yet I had this diagnosis for a long time.
I hope you're doing well! And yeah, this is the first year I've found out about it, tbh. But I think it's important to speak about xx
Jaimiesam thank you! i had it when i was a little kid. hopefully ur doing well and i think the world should know about ppl like us ❤️
What do you think helped the most for you to talk at school? My son is 10 and it had been such a struggle. We worry about him getting picked on.
Jean Marie honestly just taking things in very small steps. So one day I might have had a goal to just go up to my friends and say hi rather than whispering in their ears. We also used to do “practice speakings” where my mom would come to the school and we would sit separately with a kid I felt comfortable with and just have a conversation in a relatively no pressure environment. All the little steps eventually built up and it became easier. Hopefully the kids are understanding, I think the majority of the kids at my school were, but if not, explaining it in an accessible way for them might help
@@jaimiesam16 Thank you so much, your video gives me hope as a parent.
I really want to learn more about selective mutism, what ages is it most prevalent
I left some links in the description to some good resources as a starting point, but I think it tends to be prevalent in younger children (elementary school).
Preschool age 3-4 is when us Moms discover our kids suffer from it 😔
I have this
I have it 😔😔😔😔😔😔😔😔😔 (it's very hard for me)
Precious Garcia I’m sorry to hear you’re having a hard time... I hope you have people around you who can support and help you xx
Jaimiesam thank you
You got this. Hard is just a word and is a different definition for everyone which goes along with that everyone has different challenges. Even if your going though a rough time in your life, live it to the fullest because we never know when life will end. The world is amazing and so is everyone inside of it. Just be you and you will thrive in life. SM is not you, you are a amazing individual that others will love to get to know. You got this. I hope you have a goody day 😀🌸
You are beautiful. So beautiful.
Have you ever taken a Meyers-Briggs personality test?