My friend has this, and I don’t think people realize how hard it is for them. It took her about four years to talk to me when I first started to try and talk to her, but I’m glad I persisted. She still has trouble communicating her feelings and opinions, and if she’d doesn’t have what she’s going to say planned to teachers or shop keepers, etc., she gets very uncomfortable. I know people find her rude or ignorant, but so little people know about these anxiety disorders and they can’t bare to be patient because it doesn’t suit them.
You are a great person, progress with selective mutsim is a long journey and that fact you have stayed with your friend is amazing. Proper support is what helps, thank you.
I want you to know that for me you're are the saviour to someone like that because not everyone can be persistant to a constantly quiet person. I had that kind of problem to...
"Just say something" Aight mate, it aint that easy Edit 2 years later: I've managed to get over it and speak normally again, I still have issues and phases where I can't get a word out (mostly stressful situations or arguments) but it has gotten WAY, WAY better. If you're someone struggling with this, trust me, it does get better. Don't give up.
So many people have bullied me because of my SM. Like, people at school would say "Hi" because they knew I wouldn't say anything back. And then they'd say shit like "Don't you know that you have to respond when someone says hi?" And after that someone else says "She doesn't know how to talk". So annoying!
Everytime someone ever compliments me or they say hi even if I know them well, I still can't say anything to them. I've never really thought much of it until now.
I hate life cuz of the mean people in my class. I was called bitch, annoying and stupid.. I did nothing wrong but stay quiet. Why can't they just leave us alone?
The Amount Of Things, Even Friends Have Said To Me “OMG yOu cAn tAlK” “yOu sPeAk????” My Friend Just Last Week: “Will You Ever Speak To Me Again...? Like One Word..? I Heard You Once And It Was Like a Mumble. Please Just One Word..” It Makes Me Feel So Bad
Tbh it makes me feel super powerful. Well it did in primary. At my new school they don't really care because I speak a lot less than I did before. I think I've said about 5 words the past year here. 4 in one day, the other 1 about 2 weeks ago.
I remember when in primary my friends were showing everyone that I could speak it was epic. It was super scary tho. I swear I had a panic attack that day lol
I'm working on a feature right now and the lead has selective mutism. very curious to talk and learn more with people who have it so I can understand the experience better
@@nelsonvicens5279 Oh wow! Thats really awesome of you to do that! I'd be more than willing to help you out with the research side of that if you still need it!
I understand. I was in tears too when I found out last year that there is something that I have. I feel better knowing that I'm not the only one who is like this
I have selective mutism but I only talk when I feel the most comfortable. For example, at school i can’t talk because I don’t feel comfortable and have an anxiety attack. If I’m alone with someone and I feel comfortable then I will sprout a few words out. At home I do the same thing. I feel comfortable with my mom, but not my stepdad.
I'm similar. Some people I can't talk at all with and some people I'm completely fine with since I know them the longest. It's so frustrating sometimes
Taylor Alcott I’m not comfortable talking at home or school but I can talk more with my mom than dad, sometimes when I meet new people or talk to strangers I feel more comfortable
I've had it since I was 3 And I'm 16 now I also talk when I feel comfortable I don't talk in school or to my aunts but I talk to my cousins that are around my age I have been threatened by my teachers I only said my name in the beginning of 7th grade, after that I didn't say a single word Even thinking about talking makes me feel trapped, anxious, my heart starts beating fast And I'm so anxious all the time, I don't feel the panic attacks that come to me because I'm used to being anxious so much
I used to love talking to new people. Making friends. But now it just hurts knowing I'll never be the same and that I can't speak to my own family as much as I used too.
Shindi Naomi I also have the same issue I struggle to talk to my family even though it w a snt the case at first. Sometimes my dad comes into my room to initiate convo but we talk for a few seconds then it's dead silent. How are you coping with yours if I may ask?
Shindi Naomi I also have the same issue I struggle to talk to my family even though it w a snt the case at first. Sometimes my dad comes into my room to initiate convo but we talk for a few seconds then it's dead silent. How are you coping with yours if I may ask?
I had teachers ridicule me thinking I was being defiant but I literally could not speak due to the extreme anxiety of speaking in uncomfortable environments. Other kids had a lot of fun at my expense. Boys would scream in my ears louder and louder and joke that maybe I was deaf. I was always being tested for deafness. I was always being pressured to speak and when I couldn’t I’d be treated like I was a lost cause. I have gradually outgrown this...but not 100%. And even though I can speak with people now, I am hiding panic as I do it. Sometimes I’m fine and sometimes I’m not. It’s strange.
I'm an adult who "still" has a lot of trouble speaking. Thanks so much for this video, it's beautifully made and looks totally professional. The actors and actresses were phenomenal. I hope this gets a lot more attention and the love it deserves.
Hey does anyone want to start a support group for SM for adults we can do zoom call maybe once a month! Let me know if you guys would like to i could organize it. I suffered from SM when I was younger and never got proper treatment but having a support group would be beneficial for others including myself
I'd always have classmates at school talking to me as if I was about five. "Can you say this? Try saying this! Repeat after me!" It was so frustrating. And the teachers were no help either; picking on me in class to answer questions I didn't put my hand up for, and getting me to go to other classes to deliver messages to teachers, because they thought it might "help me out of my shell". 😡 In year 11, I had an English teacher who, after I said "here" when he called my name in the register, proceeded to make fun of my voice for the next ten minutes in front of the whole class. He made fun of one of my biggest insecurities and destroyed my confidence just for a few cheap laughs. It's been about ten years since I've left school now, and I'm glad that selective mutism is getting more awareness now.
Even though I don't have selective mutism I know what it feels like to have people not understand it. (More for the awkward feeling that someone thinks you may be rude or made at them when you just can't get words out...) (I have been partially/totally unable to talk for the past month and I still can't figure out why. (I'd like to add that first week it took place I found a few little similarities with selective mutism but I thought it was safe to not assume anything too quickly as I'm no expert, I'm just a very young adult who knows a few things.) Also I would like to say that I'm sorry you had to go through that, I hope you found a better place and got over this stupid teacher comment and all the stuff.
I've had SM all my life and over the years it's gotten worse. I'm 12 and it's never been as horrible as it is now. The only people I can speak around are my mom and my childhood friends. I can barely talk to my dad. My mom is trying so hard to help me and I see she's getting frustrated. No one at school talks to me and everyone hates me because I don't talk. I often get things like "can you talk?" And "are you deaf?" And it's so, so exasperating. I hate all my classes and I just want to be done with school. But most of all I just want to get better. One time at school I said one thing to a girl I was working with and everyone stared at me in shock and she took it more casually, and just complimented my voice. That's how people should treat people with this disorder. We're not objects. We're human beings, no matter how quiet we may be.
yeethaw I agree, it makes me want to disappear when I say something very quietly it’s better to just react with a smile instead of *gasp* OMG YOU TALKED OMG WOAH
But I can’t, at least now I can’t. There was someone in my school, they told me to just shut up. To never talk again. I can’t do it. ;( everyone tells me I talk to much
I had it from 5 to 16, during the time I was in public school. My parents were too stubborn to believe the teachers about my problem, so I was never diagnosed... I convinced my parents to homeschool me by the time I got to high school and my daily fears were finally at peace. Although, I was isolated in my house during my high school years and that's when family-issues arose. I had no job, no car, and no friends, so I was pretty much trapped in my hole. I had a mental breakdown soon afterwards from all the emotions I had bottled up inside. My anxiety levels were to the point of insanity and I suffered hallucinations, had irregular sleeping patterns, and felt emptyness inside. I literally felt dead inside during that time; it's the worst and scariest feeling you could ever experience. I overcame all those issues on my own overtime and I manged to get a job, a car, and progressed from mutisim to basic social anxiety. I can talk to people awkwardly when spoken too, but it's still scary for me to start a conversation. When I was a kid, I really didn't believe I would get this far in life, as if I would die before I became an adult. That's pretty sad, isn't it?
I only just found by means of this video what selective mutism is, so I can't even pretend to understand it. However, those of you who are selectively mute, you are so brave. I cannot even imagine how difficult it must be, so all I can do is say (and honestly mean) that you all are incredible, and don't let anyone convince you otherwise.
BlueDay oh my god, that is so touching to me as a person with selective mutism. It made me cry from real. I was diagnosed at age 11.(1 year ago) It makes me sad that sometimes I can’t talk although I REALLY want to. But I am doing better as I am taking Fluvoxamine. Anyways, if anyone is reading this thanks. It means so much to me that someone will take the time to understand this disorder. Bye❤️
@@MayhemTown a teacher that cares specifically about a student and not be like : I have 20 other kids to watch after I wish i had at least one of those teachers
Aww that means a lot to me since I have had it since I was 4 and I am 13. It is soooo hard and I never hear anything like that. Only: Why can't you talk Do you speak English Just say hi OMG you are weird Why are you being a jerk just talk Talk or I'm telling And way more
I have selective mutism. It sucks because people assume I’m being rude but I just have nothing to say, and when I do, I don’t say it because I’m afraid to sound stupid or mess up on what I’m saying. I need someone. I need help, but I do not know who to go. I don’t know how to stop my behaviour.
I need help too. I see your comment was made a year ago. I hope you’ve found help but in my experience, 1 year is nothing in a world I can’t communicate with. I’m in a very bad place right now and I’m all alone. I’ve actually been trying to reach out but I don’t “qualify” for intervention. I can’t explain to them the problem! Even when I try, I’m thwarted by communication issues. I desperately need help and I have a therapist! I’ll talk to you, or at least try. 😊😊🤗🤗
I thought I was the only person in the world who didn’t want to speak just because I was afraid. It looks like I’m not alone! People often ask me these things: Do you talk at all? Do you talk at home? Do you talk to your parents? I’m gonna catch you talking one day! (This makes me even more uncomfortable) Did you just talk? Why don’t you talk?
Ever since i was 4 years old, i had a rare anxiety disorder called 'selective mutism'. Selective Mutism is where i can't speak in social situations. I find it very hard to talk to someone. My heart would race when someone speaks to me. My mom took notice of it. She had to bring me to a specialist. I don't really remember much of this. Then i was diagnosed, my day-care teachers would tease me. Making me scared and lonely. As soon as i got in elementary.. UGH! it was terrible. I remember Kindergarten. There was this mean girl who had a friend with her, they would pick on me and making the other kids pick on me, they would hurt me, pull my hair, call me bad names, harassing me, the teacher just ignored. I was bullied since head-start. I'm now in highschool, and boy.. shit has gotten worse. Everyone. Like. Literally everyone bullies me now, i can't handle this. I feel like I'm full of rage and can't get it out. I'm scared of losing control of myself so i simply took deep breaths. Walking in school. People staring at me.. like I'm a weirdo, i try to hold my tears, i didn't have any friends, my mom supported me, my dad also supports me as well. I hope things will get better for me cuz i don't wanna fall into deep depression. This is my actual story. If you're going through the same thing what I'm going through. Please. You're not alone, I'm always with you. I love you! 💌
It's nice to know there is someone just like me out there struggling with the same things thank you I believe in you too remember your not alone and that goes for everyone
I recognise my younger self in that young boy. I didn't speak up until I was 9-10 years old and I got bullied for it. I still go mute sometimes when I am down but I have more control over it now. I am shedding tears because I finally understand that more people have/had this problem and that I was not a 'weirdo'. Thank you for this short film, it truly means a lot to me.
McKenna Smith I know I am much younger than you (12) but I may be able to help. I was diagnosed at 11 with SM so I have a firsthand experience. It may help to go to a therapist or a doctor of some kind. Just GET HELP. Please. Thanks for reading if you did hope it gets better ❤️
I recently wrote a song about growing up with SM and shared it publically. It was the first time in all my life I had ever willingly shown myself using my voice to the world. And in the video, I shared this short film - Stuck in Mute. I shared this film because this was the first time I had ever seen someone like me portrayed anywhere in media. Finally, there was an *adult* struggling with SM. And not someone who was magically able to speak after being forced to enough or after finding a friend. No, this was someone who genuinely struggled with anxiety, who seemed lonely and isolated from the world, who genuinely wasn't able to communicate. As someone who has lived all my life in complete social isolation, unable to talk to or communicate with almost anyone, this is the closest portrayal to SM I have ever seen. I wish I had seen this film when I was younger. It would have given me hope. Hope that I had never had because I had never seen or heard of known of anyone like myself. I absolutely loved this film. I loved the little touches that were added. I loved the relationship between Robin and Gavin. I loved how Robin didn't need to talk to be able to help Gavin and form a friendship with him. I loved that there was an adult with SM. I loved that there was finally a portrayal of SM in the media that I felt reflected our own experiences. Thank you so much for making this film. It absolutely deserves to be seen.
Home used to be the place where I expressed myself more than outside like at school. Now I find it awkward even around family at nineteen. Like the only place I can speak freely is in my dreams now
I don’t have SM, but I have ASD and Social Anxiety. Being forced to do things are the worst. I’m usually quiet though. I want to meet a person with SM, even if they won’t talk to me.
I’ve been struggling with SM my whole life, I’m 15 now. I’ve been diagnosed with severe social anxiety already but only just been told that I have Selective Mutism. This film was so impactful and made me cry ❤️
I freeze up like that too when people ask me a question. like there's a bunch of things I want to say but there's always something holding me back. it's hurtful when people ask me certain things. like why can't I be normal
oh my god, this made me cry so hard. my brother has selective mutism and he gets in trouble for not talking and I just want him to try to open up a bit but its so hard for him and it makes me so sad and this really opened my eyes to other people like him and how unfair it is that they're not given a chance to overcome the anxiety because of the stigma and the high expectations
My best friend has this and it kills me because it’s hard! Very very hard because u don’t want to make them uncomfortable or nervous it’s not easy to not get mad at them but I’m nice and I absolutely love her to me she is normal as any other girl but so much better! Her smile it makes my day :)
I am autistic and also have SM.. it is hard and I'm glad there are some people out there who understand that .. your friend is so lucky to have you , thank you for being an amazing human being
i just found out what selective mutism is and found this video while searching stuff up about it and HOLY SHIT this video is so good. im a teenager and i think i might have selective mutism. i’m always silent and hardly talk, not even to my family. when i do talk, it’s usually me responding with “yes” or “no”. i noticed that when people ask me questions or try to talk to me i feel stressed and then “freeze”. it feels like my mouth is stuck because there are so many thoughts in my head and i don’t know how to express it into words. i think the worst part about this is that my problem is basically invisible so i feel like people just assume i’m rude and not trying. this video made me feel seen and made me realize i’m not alone. i can relate so much to the girl in the film and it honestly made me tear up. i hope that i can get help soon. thank u for this. also, wishing everyone with sm lots of love! you’re doing great, don’t give up. it may take some time to be comfortable with who you are and to reach for help, but everything will be okay.
It breaks my heart every time I have to explain to someone that my 8 year old son suffers from selective mutism and adhd, they just look at him like he doesn't belong😔 people need to educate themselves about mental illness.
My father tried to kill me because I couldn’t speak. He was driving fast down a busy highway & looking at me, he steered the car towards the retaining wall. I did not speak but I did grab the steering wheel and keep us on the road. That was when I was 12-15. Now I’m 58 & just a couple of days ago my “best friend” made fun of my inability to speak. It was very cruel & I could say nothing. Therapy would still be welcome, even if very late, since I’ve endured sooooooooooo much trauma I’m reduced to staying in bed, in the dark, by myself. It’s very nice though, compared to the teartment my “friend” has put me through these last couple of years. 🤷🏼♀️🤷🏼♀️
I'm feeling really choked up watching this and remembering when I was selectively mute. It really puts you in a box and is actually physically painful sometimes trying to speak but not being able to. These comments are also really supportive as well. It's good to see so many allies, even though some people don't understand much about it but are still willing to help - I wish I had more of that myself when I struggled with this disorder. And to all those people out there who are still struggling, just know that it gets easier, and the first words are always going to be the hardest. The journey to being 'normal' is long and very VERY hard, but don't ever stop trying to fight this disorder and don't let it control you!
I had selective mutism when I was young and i'm still young and still have it. When i'm texting like right now i'm fine but irl i'm silent. I had one friend but she got stolen from me and my twin sister by my enemy. In grade 3 the teacher made me stare at the wall for 30 minutes when i didn't answer a question. I went to therapy 2 times a week for. 5 years. It all has caused depression Even my own parents got mad at me cause of it. I never talked to anyone but I made a friend and she's not at my school but next year when i'm in middle school i'll see her. During online school with her she just seemed really nice and I really want someone else to talk with besides my twin
I’m a licensed therapist in California and I have successfully worked with teens and children suffering with this condition. Pathologizing the condition only makes it worse, but in our society we lack the ability to let things be without labels or trying to put people in boxes. Love this video :) I’m there are others here who are able to express themselves about their experiences without judgement or expectations.
I have selective mutism also, I only talk to my grandma, mom, and my dad, i want to speak so much, but I just cant, im in 6th grade, 11 years old, everyone makes fun of me but somehow I have a whole lot of friends, I love love love math, for some reason I feel like school is my safe place, ive had perfect attendance for 4 years in a row, on my 5th, p.s I live in georgia
I live next to you, then. Alabama. I'm in 7th grade and go through the same thing, except everyone hates me and doesn't want anything to do with me. I've grown to hate school. It's hard.
What a fantastic counselor/therapist...not. But wow...very well done. Made me cry. All forms of being stuck in your head are horrible, but this must one of the worst kind...
What people say to me: Can you speak Just whisper it in my ear Why can’t you talk Please talk just one word What people say to others about me: She can’t talk Don’t bother trying to get her to speak She won’t I bet you
He opens his mouth, but the words won't come out. He's chokin', how, everybody's jokin' now The clocks run out, times up, over, blaow This is a part of lose yourself from Eminem and this is like how I feel I want to talk but I can’t It just gets stuck in my throat
My daughter was born with SM. She's 3 yrs old. She is the most sweetest and loving little girl. My daughter has her friends in preschool. She gravitates towards the "busy kids" as the teacher would say. I love to see her at least in a group. Even tho she's doing her own thing but she's still amongst people. I'm so proud of her. She's the bravest person I know.
I was born whit Selective Mutism and Social Anxiety I you have any of that, you will relate this... (Selective Mutism) "He's/She's just shy!" "Why don't you talk?" "Why do you just talk to your friends/family and not whit us?" "Spend more time whit people!!"
i love this. i have SM and i dont think people actually understand how hard it actually is. i get comments all the time being like "are you mute" "can u even speak (language)", "you dont speak much, do u?." "can you say _____" "ive never heard you speak" "cats got ur tongue?" "shes just a little shy." like no im not just a little shy. its the feeling of not being able to speak. the anxiety that just rives up my body whenever someone speaks to me or asks me a question. and then im called non-social, ignorant and no manners. i dont control it. my whole life ive grown up with only being able to talk with close family and friends. whenever i wanted to ask for example a teacher smth i always asked my friends if they could do it. and whenever i ask someone if they can for example ask their parents for the wifi pass and the tell me to do it myself.. like no. id rather not have any wifi than literally stare into their parents eyes like a dumb freak cause no words are coming out of my mouth. when i moved and changed schools i was all alone for so long cause i couldnt talk to anyone. "why dont you try making some friends?" i would if i was able to. but after like half a year of going in that school a girl approached me and now im in the best friend group ever. next time you ever see someone whos probably dealing with the same thing be patient. dont rush them. dont tell them to speak. dont say you cant hear them. dont ask them to say something. you can sometimes hand them a paper and a pen for them to write with. but just dont make them feel like theyre not worth anything and theyre just a mistake because their not able to speak as easily as some others can. and dont try making it into something to joke about. cause it certainly isnt.
I only 10 years old it's hard having selective mutism it's hard to do work my parents push me a lot to go to school part of it is my voice pretty high I broke my bone ones at school and didn't tell anyone...
JustYaEverydayMariChatShipper thank you for speaking up here in the comment section. Just knowing you have sm is a good first step towards coping and finding life-long strategies to feel more at ease in the world. I’m 36 years old and I only found out I have sm at age 32. I hadn’t heard of it until then and never knew others would become mute in certain situations too. I am going to go to grad school to get my art therapy degree next year so that I can help others with sm use art and writing to communicate and cope. I remember when I was 4, I broke my wrist and didn’t tell anyone. And at 8, I got stung by a bee and just sat there not being able to tell anyone until my teacher wondered why tears were in my eyes and sent me to the nurse. Maybe art and writing will help you express yourself as you get older. I hope so. They provide me with a whole other “language” so that I will always have a “voice” even when it’s not through speech. I hope you find peace and hope.
Preschool - 11th grade (most of 12th too) I've had selective mutism, which has gotten better since I graduated highschool earlier this year, but the one thing I can say to someone who doesn't understand it or who hasn't heard of it is: Be down to earth with people who have selective mutism. Treating them like they're normal people is the best thing you can do to make them comfortable enough around you. My first friends would include me in conversations even if I didn't say anything and my favorite teacher was amazing because he was chill and acted like I was a normal kid too. He didn't care that I felt I couldn't talk and was fine reading what I wrote down to say. :)
I've got it, had it since first day of preschool. This film is kinda corny for my taste but I'm ecstatic to have been able to finally connect with a character on a movie because it never happened before. THANK YOU!!! for posting this awesome video.
Its so hard 😭. I went 8+years with this. Constantly exposed and i couldnt do it. I didnt learn much at school. I was not exposed safely to deal with this its too overwhelming. I literally lost my childhood and suffer till today.
Robin is just like me, I dont talk at all, and i always hide in my own world with my headphones on, that is the only thing keeping me from getting a panicattack.
every time someone ask me question i f....king stressed so much and i can just say yes or no. this selective mutism is so hard when you in a foreign country iiiiiiiiiiiiits stress me a lot
As a selective mute myself I must say, phones are VERY useful lol. If I wanna tell somebody something I’ll just hop onto my phone and text it to them. It’s great 👍
I have selective mutism, it's honestly so much harder than it looks. I have gotten better, but I used to be to scared to blink. People need to learn more about this. It's not our fault we don't speak
I had this when I was in primary school. It gave me such high anxiety and took absolutely ages to overcome. It wasn't until my mid/late teens I began talking in my own potential. Selective Mutism is a disorder - it's not easy for a sufferer to speak and you can't just make them talk. You have to be patient with them and give them time and gentle encouragement with distractions whether you're a therapist, carer, friend or family member.
Bravery doesnt come from having no fear and doing something, bravery is when you have fear, and you do it anyways. Take your time. And realize, that you all are brave. Whether words come out or not, you're battling fear. It takes bravery to do that, and dont let anyone tell you otherwise. They dont know your struggle, and they have no right to comment. You are brave. Bless you all.
“Just talk to someone” It isn’t that easy lady. Forcing someone to do something because it’s inconvenient for you isn’t “therapy”. My mom deals with teachers like this all the time at school. She’s a SpEd teacher who specializes in kids with behavioral disorders. Many of her kids are traumatized and live in the foster system. Others have disorders because of genetics or their mothers took drugs while pregnant. Some of the adults understand and try to help, but the administration doesn’t care. My mom has to work late and do the paperwork of several teachers because the schools are too lazy to do their own damn jobs. “Just talk” isn’t an option for these kids. They’ve been put through hell by the foster system, by their families, or by school. All because it inconvenient for the adults to do their jobs.
Literally every source I found on selective mutism talks about it in the context of children. Thanks for presenting an older group. Gosh that speech therapist is the worst though, I've known one kind of like that
My husband has Aspergers and selective mutism. The therapist in this film was awful granted but I couldn’t help sympathising a tiny bit.. it’s frustrating and anxiety inducing all round. I’m ashamed to say that in the past I’ve often been that person begging and berating my partner to just speak- ‘it isn’t hard!!!’ I know that’s a stupid ignorant thing to say now. Working as a learning support assistant later in our relationship taught me so much- mainly in empathy and patience and when I had a student who also had selective mutism I would feel so angry on her behalf when students and tutors would get frustrated or fed up with her. Earning the trust and confidence of someone with selective mutism is massive but it takes so much patience and gentleness. More than most are willing to give.
I have selective mutism, at least im 99% sure i do. I don't talk in school or even with family, I have only ever talked to my parents but they believe I am just shy and they tell me that even if I do have it that it doesn't matter and I should just talk to people and I'm overreacting. I don't know what to do, I don't have any friends in school and I just moved to another state 2 years ago so I don't have any family out here and the little friends i did have are all gone. I am 13, I wish I could speak to people but no matter how hard I try I freeze up and whenever I get a word out I feel like I made everything awkward and never talk to them again since I'm embarrassed and feel like I messed everything up. Because everyone believes I'm just shy they tell me I'm being rude by not answering and I need to stop pretending. I want to get counseling but I'm to scared to tell a counselor about it and my parents don't have enough money for my old counselor that I was already used to. I don't have anyone to talk to except my parents and my siblings don't even know how to speak yet since they are 2 and 6 months. My mom had me at a young age to. She is 29 now, and I have a step dad who is 28. anyways sorry for this essay nobody is probably going to read this anyway.
I read because this because i have hope for people like you so please never give up trying to express yourself , this is a condition don't put yourself down over it how can you expect not to mess up when you have selective mutism take small steps, treat yourself better and you are gunna improve.
bro just watching that group therapy made me anxious like the awkward silence after being told to talk HELL NAH and i don't even have selective muteness
This is a great film and it shows selective mutism really well, as someone with selective mutism it hit a bit to close to home and now I'm crying... Well I was diagnosed when I was 4 and now I'm 14, officially 10 years and it's getting worse at the minute.. I know it should get better if I try but I'm trying and nothing's happening and it's stressful honestly I can't cope. My friends try to help me but they don't get it, they don't understand. I'm ok just stressed and struggling ig
i've had selective mutism for 10 years, i have 16 y/o now and i really started talking 4 years ago. i only heard about sm a few months ago. i didn't know it had a name. sm brought me anxiety and depression ruining my childhood and adolescence. i'm trying to go on, but i still can't forget how people made me feel for 10 years. forgetting 10 years is a really big thing, it'll take time, but i hope i'll be fine one day.
My wife has SM. It was hard at the beginning of our relationship but over time it got better. Through the years she has gotten better in talking to a few selective people.
I sort of admire mute people. I wish I could just not talk to people. My main problem is that people would probably get weirded out if I stopped talking though.
I used to laugh at this kid because they *seemed* to be such a rebel and ignore the teacher. I feel guilty because if they had selective mutism then that probably made them feel worse. I have public speaking anxiety quite bad but it's getting better and have done lot's of research about these mental conditions as it's upsetting and also extremely fascinating.
I didn't know i had selective mutism until i found out by doing some research and talking to my family members that i was close to, whenever i go out and the actions and things I've did was like this in the video, even some family I don't even speak to them its just hard to slip out a sentence without feeling very shy or having an anxiety attack or having to stutter or stammer alot when speaking is annoy for me, i hate it but I've been actually been going good with those bad times.. meeting people or talking is my number one uncomfortable thing to do i just get nervous/shy/anxious/having anxiety, its just !BOOM! For me.
out of the many therapists i've seen, only one has understood me & my sm. at first it was awkward for us both but then we were able to communicate through pen & paper, we eventually got along & would pass the session just playing board games, eventually i started speaking to her & she noticed the progress & we stopped the sessions. then my depression got bad again & i was assigned to a new therapist, but covid came around so we would do over the phone sessions & it went downhill from there, i would silently cry throughout the phone call sessions bc i physically couldn't speak, there was so much i wanted to say but i couldn't, my therapist would get upset & i eventually just ghosted her bc it rubbed me the wrong way how she would huff & puff out of frustration 😭☠️
Also I didn't get diagnosed with SM until I was fifteen years old, so growing up I always thought something was wrong with me. No one understood that I just couldn't talk. Even some therapists I went to said that I was just quiet and would speak when I wanted to. It was honestly so nice to learn that there's actually a name for what I have and I'm not the only one
I like this video ive been diagnosed with Selective mutism myself a few years back im 34 years old now even though I'm getting a little bit better i still struggle in crowds & new people this video helps understand im not alone coz having Selective mutism people can judge you for something you can't help I think they should be more awareness on Adults with selective mutism its not a child aniexty Adults can get it too
I had selective mutism up until the age of maybe 10/11. My mum tried to get me into speech therapy to try to get me to talk but because of the long wait she came up with a sticker chart. So I'd have to say a certain amount of words or speak to someone different or just say hello to the teacher that day and I'd get a sticker on the chart. When the chart was full my mum treated me to a toy I'd wanted for ages and by the time I got into speech therapy I didn't actually need it and it took quite a while to get me to talk to people. I remember refusing to speak up in class when taking the register so I would go up to the teacher and whisper in her ear, I'd do that to my friends too if I couldn't speak to a teacher and they'd talk for me. I wouldn't even talk to family really either, sometimes I'd write on a piece of paper or a letter. Everyone was surprisingly supportive from what I can remember
I love this. I've seen a lot of misrepresentation of selective mutism, but this shows how it really is perfectly. Makes me happy to see that some people understand
I’ve struggled going in and out of selective mutism and it’s difficult because there are days when I can talk and days where it feels like someone is choking me it I try and speak. Nobody thinks it’s true and it’s making me doubt it.
i’m someone who has psychogenic mutism (i stopped talking because of really bad trauma). here are some things people say to me and the answers i give in my head: -wAIT YOU CAN TALK (yes i can talk. shocker right?) -so, like, we’re you born like this? (no but it would make it a lot easier to explain to people) -i saw you talking to [my guidance counselors name] the other day so you probably aren’t really mute (mutism isn’t always a medical issue. i chose to stop talking because i have such severe trauma. and that was only a check in and he knows about my mutism) -but boys can’t be mute (well i guess i’m just a damn ghost then) -what does your family think of you? (they know that it’s a thing and they still love me for who i am. speaking or not) -why don’t you just talk to me? (because i’m not willing to) -that’s going to lower your participation and oral presentation grade (yes i’m aware) -so did you do it for attention (no i did it because i couldn’t handle speaking anymore. i just didn’t fucking want to anymore) -why did you stop? (woah there buddy, now we’re getting a little too personal) -but i loved your voice (well that’s great for you) -do you talk to anyone? (not you, that’s for sure) -do your teachers know? (they’ll find out eventually) -just talk. it’s not that hard (see, that’s where you’re wrong)
I have selective mutism and when people ask me questions I try to say it but I feel so scared as if something is blocking my way. When my classmates talk about my favorite stuff I just feel like im talking to them in my mind. I was so sad that I realized about what will happen to my future self. I also made my own story I wrote to share with my class because I wanted to be normal. Until now I'm crying 😰😥😥😭 cause I just tried to run away from my problems When I just said my first word everyone kept asking me to do it again even my teacher. I couldn't go home until I said goodbye so it was 3hours until I started crying and ran home. I'm still so scared I dont want that to happen to me. One day I had to perform on the stage and I was so shocked that they did not even inform me so that I would talk. So when I went on the stage was just frozen, my body couldn't move. And after that I felt like an idiot and it made me not want to talk and recite the talking parts so much more.
My little sister has had SM since Pre-k. She’s in fifth grade now and next year, she’s going to middle school and I’m really worried for her because people in middle school become a whole lot meaner than elementary. One time, some idiot anonymously told the school that my sister was being “bullied” and she was going to bring a gun to school. That was the day I realized how serious my sisters problem was. I always thought that “oh this is probably just a phase she’ll talk at some point” but now I realize this isn’t so easy. She won’t talk to anyone, she would always watch all the other kids on the playground play and laugh and she would sit there.. alone. I feel like crying right that I’m typing this. I hate how people talk to my sister. One time on the bus some kid was asking her questions like “Are you death?” “can you say at least one word” “talk” and I couldn’t take it anymore so I told “Yes she can talk, she just doesn’t want to, and she’s not stupid, just because she doesn’t talk doesn’t mean she doesn’t know what 2 x 4 is okay?” And then when I wasn’t looking he stuck his middle finger at her and asked “do you know what this means?”. The only reason I knew this was because my sister told me. I’m crying so bad because I care about my sister so bad and I don’t want anyone to hurt her. And I hate that I’m not always going to be there for her if I leave. At home, she’s one of the most caring and funniest and coolest person I know. I hope one day she can speak up and learn how to defend herself ❤️
This is a very nice video:) seems very well done! I’m currently working on a character who’s going to be mute or selectively mute and decided to watch this video and read through the comments. It gives me a better understanding of mutism, so thank you for making the video:)
I have ASD, and I have social anxiety. It’s really hard in certain situations, and most times I can’t talk, and people have forced me to. Only now I’ve started to speak more and speak in public settings, and it wasn’t when I was forced to do something that I could do it. Hopefully I’ll find more young adults like me.
I am Brazilian, and in my country there are almost no studies on Selective Mutism. There are no comments. At the school where I attended Elementary and High School, I suffered several times because the teachers pressured my family to demand that I speak. As the teachers knew that I could express myself at home, they believed that I did not act this way out of laziness. I never had difficulties in my studies, I always achieved good grades and it is easy to understand content, but I could not speak or answer calls. Some teachers lowered my grades because they thought I didn't deserve the same marks as other students. During this period, my maternal family was also putting pressure on my family and I was always the target of prejudiced comments by them. My mother doesn't understand my condition nor does she know what I have. I was never officially diagnosed, I believe I have Mutism because I research to understand myself better. Today, I can only talk at home, with my father. He's the only person who understands me, but he doesn't know how to deal with my issue externally, how to explain it to other people. Nobody understands that it is possible for someone to be able to speak at home, but not be able to speak anywhere else. I'm studying Pedagogy EAD and now I have to do a video class, but I already communicated in writing that I can't. The teacher asked me to explain why, but I couldn't describe it.
I know this may be weird but I'm writing a fictional novel about someone who is Selective Mute and I never even knew this existed until a few days ago when I did some research about people who are mute, (long story the idea came to my head after having Laryngitis and I had no choice but to not talk for a week) so then this idea came in my head to write about someone who doesn't speak but only when they feel comfortable, they don't have any sort of anxiety but rather it very much explains in the book the whole reason etc. I'm glad to read your comments and I wish you all the best on your journey to work on it 😊. Stay safe
Least helpful group therapist ever
True!
Right! I wanted to hit her just as much as the bully
ikr like wtf? where did she go to school cause that aint it
Ikr!
agreed
My friend has this, and I don’t think people realize how hard it is for them. It took her about four years to talk to me when I first started to try and talk to her, but I’m glad I persisted. She still has trouble communicating her feelings and opinions, and if she’d doesn’t have what she’s going to say planned to teachers or shop keepers, etc., she gets very uncomfortable. I know people find her rude or ignorant, but so little people know about these anxiety disorders and they can’t bare to be patient because it doesn’t suit them.
I dont talk to people that i dont know and i only speak when im spoken too
Although I don't know u,I'm glad that u understand ur friend😊
You are a great person, progress with selective mutsim is a long journey and that fact you have stayed with your friend is amazing. Proper support is what helps, thank you.
Damn I wish I had someone like you lmao
I want you to know that for me you're are the saviour to someone like that because not everyone can be persistant to a constantly quiet person. I had that kind of problem to...
"Just say something"
Aight mate, it aint that easy
Edit 2 years later: I've managed to get over it and speak normally again, I still have issues and phases where I can't get a word out (mostly stressful situations or arguments) but it has gotten WAY, WAY better. If you're someone struggling with this, trust me, it does get better. Don't give up.
Nothing is easy if you don't try. Or I'll do one better and quote Yoda, "Do, or do not, there is no try".
@@amberslahlize7961 I try to speak I really do, but I just can't, its not that easy to just talk
Yes it is
@@joynheart No its not
@@Eli_16_07 yes it is
Saying “just talk” to someone with sm is like saying “just walk” to someone in a wheelchair
So many people have bullied me because of my SM. Like, people at school would say "Hi" because they knew I wouldn't say anything back. And then they'd say shit like "Don't you know that you have to respond when someone says hi?" And after that someone else says "She doesn't know how to talk". So annoying!
Everytime someone ever compliments me or they say hi even if I know them well, I still can't say anything to them. I've never really thought much of it until now.
@@bbrandumbb I just nod or throw my hand up
I hate life cuz of the mean people in my class. I was called bitch, annoying and stupid.. I did nothing wrong but stay quiet. Why can't they just leave us alone?
Yea this one guy is like are you my fwend? And is like hi because he knows i won't answer
I get this all the time, oh my god. It's S O . A N N O Y I N G.
The Amount Of Things, Even Friends Have Said To Me
“OMG yOu cAn tAlK”
“yOu sPeAk????”
My Friend Just Last Week:
“Will You Ever Speak To Me Again...? Like One Word..? I Heard You Once And It Was Like a Mumble. Please Just One Word..”
It Makes Me Feel So Bad
Cai The Unicorn I’m slowly becoming mute cuz ppl suck and....yeah....
That is MY life😔
Tbh it makes me feel super powerful. Well it did in primary.
At my new school they don't really care because I speak a lot less than I did before. I think I've said about 5 words the past year here. 4 in one day, the other 1 about 2 weeks ago.
I remember when in primary my friends were showing everyone that I could speak it was epic. It was super scary tho.
I swear I had a panic attack that day lol
sending hugs
Can we have an actual TV series with these two as the main characters
That would be awesome.
Hope it too or a short movie number two
I'm working on a feature right now and the lead has selective mutism. very curious to talk and learn more with people who have it so I can understand the experience better
@@nelsonvicens5279 Oh wow! Thats really awesome of you to do that! I'd be more than willing to help you out with the research side of that if you still need it!
Hey, I'm the kid in this; that sounds like an awesome idea I hope you are still working on it!@@nelsonvicens5279
this made me cry, i’m just realising I have this and it’s so hard no one understands me
I understand. I was in tears too when I found out last year that there is something that I have. I feel better knowing that I'm not the only one who is like this
I am just realizing today like an hour ago and am very emotional right now
ok BTS
@@holamoco its been 4 months but please shut the fuck up
I’m here don’t worry 💜💜
I have selective mutism but I only talk when I feel the most comfortable.
For example, at school i can’t talk because I don’t feel comfortable and have an anxiety attack.
If I’m alone with someone and I feel comfortable then I will sprout a few words out.
At home I do the same thing. I feel comfortable with my mom, but not my stepdad.
I'm similar. Some people I can't talk at all with and some people I'm completely fine with since I know them the longest. It's so frustrating sometimes
Taylor Alcott I’m not comfortable talking at home or school but I can talk more with my mom than dad, sometimes when I meet new people or talk to strangers I feel more comfortable
I've had it since I was 3
And I'm 16 now
I also talk when I feel comfortable
I don't talk in school or to my aunts but I talk to my cousins that are around my age
I have been threatened by my teachers
I only said my name in the beginning of 7th grade, after that I didn't say a single word
Even thinking about talking makes me feel trapped, anxious, my heart starts beating fast
And I'm so anxious all the time, I don't feel the panic attacks that come to me because I'm used to being anxious so much
Thats exactly what "Selective" means in it. You can talk to certain people but not the rest
I used to love talking to new people. Making friends. But now it just hurts knowing I'll never be the same and that I can't speak to my own family as much as I used too.
Shindi Naomi I also have the same issue I struggle to talk to my family even though it w a snt the case at first. Sometimes my dad comes into my room to initiate convo but we talk for a few seconds then it's dead silent. How are you coping with yours if I may ask?
Shindi Naomi I also have the same issue I struggle to talk to my family even though it w a snt the case at first. Sometimes my dad comes into my room to initiate convo but we talk for a few seconds then it's dead silent. How are you coping with yours if I may ask?
I had teachers ridicule me thinking I was being defiant but I literally could not speak due to the extreme anxiety of speaking in uncomfortable environments. Other kids had a lot of fun at my expense. Boys would scream in my ears louder and louder and joke that maybe I was deaf. I was always being tested for deafness. I was always being pressured to speak and when I couldn’t I’d be treated like I was a lost cause.
I have gradually outgrown this...but not 100%. And even though I can speak with people now, I am hiding panic as I do it.
Sometimes I’m fine and sometimes I’m not. It’s strange.
Exactly the same
A lot of plp don't like me in school bc they don't know me bc of my selected mutsim
I couldn’t relate to you more my friend
tapadh leat airson an dòigh anns an do chuir thu seo, tha mi a’ faireachdainn gu mòr an aon fhacal airson facal, taing a-rithist
I'm an adult who "still" has a lot of trouble speaking. Thanks so much for this video, it's beautifully made and looks totally professional. The actors and actresses were phenomenal. I hope this gets a lot more attention and the love it deserves.
@Jack K It's because the study for selectively mute is limited
Yes children who don’t receive the proper care for SM do grow out of not speaking, but we still will say only the minimum in stressful situations.
Hey does anyone want to start a support group for SM for adults we can do zoom call maybe once a month! Let me know if you guys would like to i could organize it. I suffered from SM when I was younger and never got proper treatment but having a support group would be beneficial for others including myself
@@Mxclance dd you start yhe the group
I'd always have classmates at school talking to me as if I was about five. "Can you say this? Try saying this! Repeat after me!"
It was so frustrating. And the teachers were no help either; picking on me in class to answer questions I didn't put my hand up for, and getting me to go to other classes to deliver messages to teachers, because they thought it might "help me out of my shell". 😡 In year 11, I had an English teacher who, after I said "here" when he called my name in the register, proceeded to make fun of my voice for the next ten minutes in front of the whole class. He made fun of one of my biggest insecurities and destroyed my confidence just for a few cheap laughs.
It's been about ten years since I've left school now, and I'm glad that selective mutism is getting more awareness now.
YOU ARE NOT ALONE
I’m so sorry to hear you experienced that
Same thing happened to me and it's disturbing as hell
People should have some etiquettes and morals about it
most teachers are scum.
Even though I don't have selective mutism I know what it feels like to have people not understand it. (More for the awkward feeling that someone thinks you may be rude or made at them when you just can't get words out...)
(I have been partially/totally unable to talk for the past month and I still can't figure out why. (I'd like to add that first week it took place I found a few little similarities with selective mutism but I thought it was safe to not assume anything too quickly as I'm no expert, I'm just a very young adult who knows a few things.)
Also I would like to say that I'm sorry you had to go through that, I hope you found a better place and got over this stupid teacher comment and all the stuff.
I've had SM all my life and over the years it's gotten worse. I'm 12 and it's never been as horrible as it is now. The only people I can speak around are my mom and my childhood friends. I can barely talk to my dad. My mom is trying so hard to help me and I see she's getting frustrated. No one at school talks to me and everyone hates me because I don't talk. I often get things like "can you talk?" And "are you deaf?" And it's so, so exasperating. I hate all my classes and I just want to be done with school. But most of all I just want to get better.
One time at school I said one thing to a girl I was working with and everyone stared at me in shock and she took it more casually, and just complimented my voice. That's how people should treat people with this disorder. We're not objects. We're human beings, no matter how quiet we may be.
yeethaw I agree, it makes me want to disappear when I say something very quietly it’s better to just react with a smile instead of
*gasp* OMG YOU TALKED OMG WOAH
Every time I speak I mess up. I can’t do this I can’t talk anymore.
i understand, i get it i really do. keep trying, giving up is not the answer. i believe in you
Don't give up. I have selective mutism, and it's really hard to get rid of.
But I can’t, at least now I can’t. There was someone in my school, they told me to just shut up. To never talk again. I can’t do it. ;( everyone tells me I talk to much
I’m afraid it’s almost to selective mutism, I’m an army too btw. :)
Anyone know if theres any forms or groups online to talk to others with selective mutism?
I had it from 5 to 16, during the time I was in public school. My parents were too stubborn to believe the teachers about my problem, so I was never diagnosed... I convinced my parents to homeschool me by the time I got to high school and my daily fears were finally at peace. Although, I was isolated in my house during my high school years and that's when family-issues arose. I had no job, no car, and no friends, so I was pretty much trapped in my hole. I had a mental breakdown soon afterwards from all the emotions I had bottled up inside.
My anxiety levels were to the point of insanity and I suffered hallucinations, had irregular sleeping patterns, and felt emptyness inside. I literally felt dead inside during that time; it's the worst and scariest feeling you could ever experience.
I overcame all those issues on my own overtime and I manged to get a job, a car, and progressed from mutisim to basic social anxiety. I can talk to people awkwardly when spoken too, but it's still scary for me to start a conversation. When I was a kid, I really didn't believe I would get this far in life, as if I would die before I became an adult. That's pretty sad, isn't it?
Northwind000 its not that sad.
@@fixtureofthesun ??? How is it not sad? Do you know how to be nice?
I literally couldn’t relate more to you my friend
@@alexandra1415 its not really sad tho
i could relate frl made me feel better👍🏾
I only just found by means of this video what selective mutism is, so I can't even pretend to understand it. However, those of you who are selectively mute, you are so brave. I cannot even imagine how difficult it must be, so all I can do is say (and honestly mean) that you all are incredible, and don't let anyone convince you otherwise.
BlueDay oh my god, that is so touching to me as a person with selective mutism. It made me cry from real. I was diagnosed at age 11.(1 year ago) It makes me sad that sometimes I can’t talk although I REALLY want to. But I am doing better as I am taking Fluvoxamine. Anyways, if anyone is reading this thanks. It means so much to me that someone will take the time to understand this disorder. Bye❤️
@@MayhemTown a teacher that cares specifically about a student and not be like : I have 20 other kids to watch after
I wish i had at least one of those teachers
Aww that means a lot to me since I have had it since I was 4 and I am 13. It is soooo hard and I never hear anything like that. Only:
Why can't you talk
Do you speak English
Just say hi
OMG you are weird
Why are you being a jerk just talk
Talk or I'm telling
And way more
Thank u
I’m actually crying right now. This means so much to me as a person with selective mustism♥️thank you so much
I have selective mutism. It sucks because people assume I’m being rude but I just have nothing to say, and when I do, I don’t say it because I’m afraid to sound stupid or mess up on what I’m saying. I need someone. I need help, but I do not know who to go. I don’t know how to stop my behaviour.
Therapist duh
I need help too. I see your comment was made a year ago. I hope you’ve found help but in my experience, 1 year is nothing in a world I can’t communicate with. I’m in a very bad place right now and I’m all alone. I’ve actually been trying to reach out but I don’t “qualify” for intervention. I can’t explain to them the problem! Even when I try, I’m thwarted by communication issues. I desperately need help and I have a therapist! I’ll talk to you, or at least try. 😊😊🤗🤗
The girl with the headphones is really pretty in my opinion.
I just realized her names Robin. I'm dumb.
Ikr
She is not a girls
She is an angel
Very pretty, agreed!
117 likes nice
I thought I was the only person in the world who didn’t want to speak just because I was afraid. It looks like I’m not alone!
People often ask me these things:
Do you talk at all?
Do you talk at home?
Do you talk to your parents?
I’m gonna catch you talking one day!
(This makes me even more uncomfortable)
Did you just talk?
Why don’t you talk?
I thought I was alone too!
Person: why dont you talk
Me: [my mind- your presence annoys me]
Ever since i was 4 years old, i had a rare anxiety disorder called 'selective mutism'. Selective Mutism is where i can't speak in social situations. I find it very hard to talk to someone. My heart would race when someone speaks to me. My mom took notice of it. She had to bring me to a specialist. I don't really remember much of this. Then i was diagnosed, my day-care teachers would tease me. Making me scared and lonely. As soon as i got in elementary.. UGH! it was terrible. I remember Kindergarten. There was this mean girl who had a friend with her, they would pick on me and making the other kids pick on me, they would hurt me, pull my hair, call me bad names, harassing me, the teacher just ignored. I was bullied since head-start. I'm now in highschool, and boy.. shit has gotten worse. Everyone. Like. Literally everyone bullies me now, i can't handle this. I feel like I'm full of rage and can't get it out. I'm scared of losing control of myself so i simply took deep breaths. Walking in school. People staring at me.. like I'm a weirdo, i try to hold my tears, i didn't have any friends, my mom supported me, my dad also supports me as well. I hope things will get better for me cuz i don't wanna fall into deep depression. This is my actual story. If you're going through the same thing what I'm going through. Please. You're not alone, I'm always with you. I love you! 💌
It's nice to know there is someone just like me out there struggling with the same things thank you I believe in you too remember your not alone and that goes for everyone
This therapist is the most inpatient person I’ve ever met
I recognise my younger self in that young boy. I didn't speak up until I was 9-10 years old and I got bullied for it. I still go mute sometimes when I am down but I have more control over it now. I am shedding tears because I finally understand that more people have/had this problem and that I was not a 'weirdo'. Thank you for this short film, it truly means a lot to me.
I had selective mutism from 3 to 14, it got kind of better but I'm 18 now and slipping back into just this inability to speak.
McKenna Smith I know I am much younger than you (12) but I may be able to help. I was diagnosed at 11 with SM so I have a firsthand experience. It may help to go to a therapist or a doctor of some kind. Just GET HELP. Please. Thanks for reading if you did hope it gets better ❤️
i feel you, i have selective mutism also, im just glad im not the only one in the world who has it
Hope you can find a way to reverse that
that group therapist clearly doesn't have a clue what selective mutism is or how to help 💀
I recently wrote a song about growing up with SM and shared it publically. It was the first time in all my life I had ever willingly shown myself using my voice to the world. And in the video, I shared this short film - Stuck in Mute. I shared this film because this was the first time I had ever seen someone like me portrayed anywhere in media. Finally, there was an *adult* struggling with SM. And not someone who was magically able to speak after being forced to enough or after finding a friend. No, this was someone who genuinely struggled with anxiety, who seemed lonely and isolated from the world, who genuinely wasn't able to communicate. As someone who has lived all my life in complete social isolation, unable to talk to or communicate with almost anyone, this is the closest portrayal to SM I have ever seen.
I wish I had seen this film when I was younger. It would have given me hope. Hope that I had never had because I had never seen or heard of known of anyone like myself.
I absolutely loved this film. I loved the little touches that were added. I loved the relationship between Robin and Gavin. I loved how Robin didn't need to talk to be able to help Gavin and form a friendship with him. I loved that there was an adult with SM. I loved that there was finally a portrayal of SM in the media that I felt reflected our own experiences. Thank you so much for making this film. It absolutely deserves to be seen.
Thank you. I'm glad that the film felt real and relatable for people with SM. That was our goal.
you are an amazing being. i love you!
@@terrimeakin-rosario9189 If you are replying to me, thank you. I appreciate it.
Home used to be the place where I expressed myself more than outside like at school. Now I find it awkward even around family at nineteen.
Like the only place I can speak freely is in my dreams now
Luna Eclipse SAMEEEEEE I’m about to turn 19 and I don’t feel comfortable at home or school or even with friends I make though I try more with them
:(
I don’t have SM, but I have ASD and Social Anxiety. Being forced to do things are the worst. I’m usually quiet though. I want to meet a person with SM, even if they won’t talk to me.
AtypicalWeirdo 🙃👋
AtypicalWeirdo 👋🏻
👋🏻 Namjoon😍😂
If someone would talk to me I would talk back but only if I know that they don't know I have sm. If they know I have sm then I would just smile back
👋 😝
I’ve been struggling with SM my whole life, I’m 15 now. I’ve been diagnosed with severe social anxiety already but only just been told that I have Selective Mutism. This film was so impactful and made me cry ❤️
I freeze up like that too when people ask me a question. like there's a bunch of things I want to say but there's always something holding me back. it's hurtful when people ask me certain things. like why can't I be normal
Same
oh my god, this made me cry so hard. my brother has selective mutism and he gets in trouble for not talking and I just want him to try to open up a bit but its so hard for him and it makes me so sad and this really opened my eyes to other people like him and how unfair it is that they're not given a chance to overcome the anxiety because of the stigma and the high expectations
My best friend has this and it kills me because it’s hard! Very very hard because u don’t want to make them uncomfortable or nervous it’s not easy to not get mad at them but I’m nice and I absolutely love her to me she is normal as any other girl but so much better! Her smile it makes my day :)
Aww. You sound soo sweet😍
my best friend has the same thing. And your completely right on how you don't want to make them too nervous.
Aww you guys are great ❤️ Everyone with selective mutism should have a friend like you!
I am autistic and also have SM.. it is hard and I'm glad there are some people out there who understand that .. your friend is so lucky to have you , thank you for being an amazing human being
Aww
I'm shy and whenever I am in a public place I always put my head down. Even my relatives... cause I have Selective Mutism too..
i just found out what selective mutism is and found this video while searching stuff up about it and HOLY SHIT this video is so good. im a teenager and i think i might have selective mutism. i’m always silent and hardly talk, not even to my family. when i do talk, it’s usually me responding with “yes” or “no”. i noticed that when people ask me questions or try to talk to me i feel stressed and then “freeze”. it feels like my mouth is stuck because there are so many thoughts in my head and i don’t know how to express it into words.
i think the worst part about this is that my problem is basically invisible so i feel like people just assume i’m rude and not trying. this video made me feel seen and made me realize i’m not alone. i can relate so much to the girl in the film and it honestly made me tear up. i hope that i can get help soon. thank u for this.
also, wishing everyone with sm lots of love! you’re doing great, don’t give up. it may take some time to be comfortable with who you are and to reach for help, but everything will be okay.
Do u still have SM?
Who liked my comment lol
It breaks my heart every time I have to explain to someone that my 8 year old son suffers from selective mutism and adhd, they just look at him like he doesn't belong😔 people need to educate themselves about mental illness.
My son is 5 and is SM and I feel the exact same...😥😥
My father tried to kill me because I couldn’t speak. He was driving fast down a busy highway & looking at me, he steered the car towards the retaining wall. I did not speak but I did grab the steering wheel and keep us on the road. That was when I was 12-15. Now I’m 58 & just a couple of days ago my “best friend” made fun of my inability to speak. It was very cruel & I could say nothing. Therapy would still be welcome, even if very late, since I’ve endured sooooooooooo much trauma I’m reduced to staying in bed, in the dark, by myself. It’s very nice though, compared to the teartment my “friend” has put me through these last couple of years. 🤷🏼♀️🤷🏼♀️
I am so sorry to hear about the experience you had with your father
I'm feeling really choked up watching this and remembering when I was selectively mute. It really puts you in a box and is actually physically painful sometimes trying to speak but not being able to. These comments are also really supportive as well. It's good to see so many allies, even though some people don't understand much about it but are still willing to help - I wish I had more of that myself when I struggled with this disorder. And to all those people out there who are still struggling, just know that it gets easier, and the first words are always going to be the hardest. The journey to being 'normal' is long and very VERY hard, but don't ever stop trying to fight this disorder and don't let it control you!
I had selective mutism when I was young and i'm still young and still have it. When i'm texting like right now i'm fine but irl i'm silent. I had one friend but she got stolen from me and my twin sister by my enemy. In grade 3 the teacher made me stare at the wall for 30 minutes when i didn't answer a question. I went to therapy 2 times a week for. 5 years. It all has caused depression Even my own parents got mad at me cause of it. I never talked to anyone but I made a friend and she's not at my school but next year when i'm in middle school i'll see her. During online school with her she just seemed really nice and I really want someone else to talk with besides my twin
I’m a licensed therapist in California and I have successfully worked with teens and children suffering with this condition. Pathologizing the condition only makes it worse, but in our society we lack the ability to let things be without labels or trying to put people in boxes. Love this video :)
I’m there are others here who are able to express themselves about their experiences without judgement or expectations.
I'm in California and am suffering how can I find ur office
@@andreabloom7711 I sent a reply, but for some reason it was removed.
I have social anxiety and I can't talk to people unless I'm ordering food or buying something at a shop
How can I recover from this
I have selective mutism also, I only talk to my grandma, mom, and my dad, i want to speak so much, but I just cant, im in 6th grade, 11 years old, everyone makes fun of me but somehow I have a whole lot of friends, I love love love math, for some reason I feel like school is my safe place, ive had perfect attendance for 4 years in a row, on my 5th, p.s I live in georgia
I live next to you, then. Alabama. I'm in 7th grade and go through the same thing, except everyone hates me and doesn't want anything to do with me. I've grown to hate school. It's hard.
What a fantastic counselor/therapist...not. But wow...very well done. Made me cry. All forms of being stuck in your head are horrible, but this must one of the worst kind...
Bruh that therapist. “Just speak” I bet she says to blind people “just see”
What people say to me:
Can you speak
Just whisper it in my ear
Why can’t you talk
Please talk just one word
What people say to others about me:
She can’t talk
Don’t bother trying to get her to speak
She won’t I bet you
Me: "leave her alone if she doesn't want to talk to you then fuck off don't force her to speak remember people have the right to remain silent"
@@teresadownes2422 I wish I had a friend like you when I was at school
He opens his mouth, but the words won't come out. He's chokin', how, everybody's jokin' now
The clocks run out, times up, over, blaow
This is a part of lose yourself from Eminem and this is like how I feel I want to talk but I can’t It just gets stuck in my throat
My daughter was born with SM. She's 3 yrs old. She is the most sweetest and loving little girl. My daughter has her friends in preschool. She gravitates towards the "busy kids" as the teacher would say. I love to see her at least in a group. Even tho she's doing her own thing but she's still amongst people. I'm so proud of her. She's the bravest person I know.
2:12 "just talk to someone"
Wow you just solved all the problems
Plot twist: Mutes are only comfortable talking to other mutes
Maybe
normally it becomes a competition, or at least that’s been the situation for me, whos the quietest. not fun 😭
I was born whit Selective Mutism and Social Anxiety
I you have any of that, you will relate this...
(Selective Mutism)
"He's/She's just shy!"
"Why don't you talk?"
"Why do you just talk to your friends/family and not whit us?"
"Spend more time whit people!!"
i love this. i have SM and i dont think people actually understand how hard it actually is. i get comments all the time being like "are you mute" "can u even speak (language)", "you dont speak much, do u?." "can you say _____" "ive never heard you speak" "cats got ur tongue?" "shes just a little shy." like no im not just a little shy. its the feeling of not being able to speak. the anxiety that just rives up my body whenever someone speaks to me or asks me a question. and then im called non-social, ignorant and no manners. i dont control it. my whole life ive grown up with only being able to talk with close family and friends. whenever i wanted to ask for example a teacher smth i always asked my friends if they could do it. and whenever i ask someone if they can for example ask their parents for the wifi pass and the tell me to do it myself.. like no. id rather not have any wifi than literally stare into their parents eyes like a dumb freak cause no words are coming out of my mouth. when i moved and changed schools i was all alone for so long cause i couldnt talk to anyone. "why dont you try making some friends?" i would if i was able to. but after like half a year of going in that school a girl approached me and now im in the best friend group ever. next time you ever see someone whos probably dealing with the same thing be patient. dont rush them. dont tell them to speak. dont say you cant hear them. dont ask them to say something. you can sometimes hand them a paper and a pen for them to write with. but just dont make them feel like theyre not worth anything and theyre just a mistake because their not able to speak as easily as some others can. and dont try making it into something to joke about. cause it certainly isnt.
Things people say to me
OMG YOU CAN SPEAK
WAIT OMG YOU UNDERSTAND ME
c-a-n y-o-u u-n-d-e-r-s-t-a-d m-e
Are you deaf
Do you have a voice
Omg this is so true or they will ask you: what's your name, Thessaly?
Wow this really hits home I keep watching this over and over again and I don't feel so alone!
They should make a tv series with these two as main characters.
I only 10 years old it's hard having selective mutism it's hard to do work my parents push me a lot to go to school part of it is my voice pretty high I broke my bone ones at school and didn't tell anyone...
JustYaEverydayMariChatShipper thank you for speaking up here in the comment section. Just knowing you have sm is a good first step towards coping and finding life-long strategies to feel more at ease in the world. I’m 36 years old and I only found out I have sm at age 32. I hadn’t heard of it until then and never knew others would become mute in certain situations too. I am going to go to grad school to get my art therapy degree next year so that I can help others with sm use art and writing to communicate and cope. I remember when I was 4, I broke my wrist and didn’t tell anyone. And at 8, I got stung by a bee and just sat there not being able to tell anyone until my teacher wondered why tears were in my eyes and sent me to the nurse.
Maybe art and writing will help you express yourself as you get older. I hope so. They provide me with a whole other “language” so that I will always have a “voice” even when it’s not through speech. I hope you find peace and hope.
JustYaEverydayMariChatShipper Same i hate my girly voice
I hope your doing good now
Preschool - 11th grade (most of 12th too) I've had selective mutism, which has gotten better since I graduated highschool earlier this year, but the one thing I can say to someone who doesn't understand it or who hasn't heard of it is: Be down to earth with people who have selective mutism. Treating them like they're normal people is the best thing you can do to make them comfortable enough around you. My first friends would include me in conversations even if I didn't say anything and my favorite teacher was amazing because he was chill and acted like I was a normal kid too. He didn't care that I felt I couldn't talk and was fine reading what I wrote down to say. :)
I've got it, had it since first day of preschool. This film is kinda corny for my taste but I'm ecstatic to have been able to finally connect with a character on a movie because it never happened before. THANK YOU!!! for posting this awesome video.
Its so hard 😭. I went 8+years with this. Constantly exposed and i couldnt do it. I didnt learn much at school. I was not exposed safely to deal with this its too overwhelming. I literally lost my childhood and suffer till today.
Robin is just like me, I dont talk at all, and i always hide in my own world with my headphones on, that is the only thing keeping me from getting a panicattack.
every time someone ask me question i f....king stressed so much and i can just say yes or no. this selective mutism is so hard when you in a foreign country iiiiiiiiiiiiits stress me a lot
As a selective mute myself I must say, phones are VERY useful lol. If I wanna tell somebody something I’ll just hop onto my phone and text it to them. It’s great 👍
I have selective mutism, it's honestly so much harder than it looks. I have gotten better, but I used to be to scared to blink. People need to learn more about this. It's not our fault we don't speak
For me, Selective Mutism comes with the side effect of "I can't move", also that therapist was the worst person in this whole thing
Makes sense since it stems from anxiety
I had this when I was in primary school. It gave me such high anxiety and took absolutely ages to overcome. It wasn't until my mid/late teens I began talking in my own potential. Selective Mutism is a disorder - it's not easy for a sufferer to speak and you can't just make them talk. You have to be patient with them and give them time and gentle encouragement with distractions whether you're a therapist, carer, friend or family member.
Bravery doesnt come from having no fear and doing something, bravery is when you have fear, and you do it anyways.
Take your time. And realize, that you all are brave. Whether words come out or not, you're battling fear. It takes bravery to do that, and dont let anyone tell you otherwise. They dont know your struggle, and they have no right to comment. You are brave. Bless you all.
“Just talk to someone”
It isn’t that easy lady. Forcing someone to do something because it’s inconvenient for you isn’t “therapy”.
My mom deals with teachers like this all the time at school. She’s a SpEd teacher who specializes in kids with behavioral disorders. Many of her kids are traumatized and live in the foster system. Others have disorders because of genetics or their mothers took drugs while pregnant.
Some of the adults understand and try to help, but the administration doesn’t care. My mom has to work late and do the paperwork of several teachers because the schools are too lazy to do their own damn jobs. “Just talk” isn’t an option for these kids. They’ve been put through hell by the foster system, by their families, or by school. All because it inconvenient for the adults to do their jobs.
Literally every source I found on selective mutism talks about it in the context of children. Thanks for presenting an older group.
Gosh that speech therapist is the worst though, I've known one kind of like that
My husband has Aspergers and selective mutism. The therapist in this film was awful granted but I couldn’t help sympathising a tiny bit.. it’s frustrating and anxiety inducing all round. I’m ashamed to say that in the past I’ve often been that person begging and berating my partner to just speak- ‘it isn’t hard!!!’ I know that’s a stupid ignorant thing to say now. Working as a learning support assistant later in our relationship taught me so much- mainly in empathy and patience and when I had a student who also had selective mutism I would feel so angry on her behalf when students and tutors would get frustrated or fed up with her. Earning the trust and confidence of someone with selective mutism is massive but it takes so much patience and gentleness. More than most are willing to give.
i dont know but that song make me cry.. and i had selective mutism too.
I have selective mutism, at least im 99% sure i do. I don't talk in school or even with family, I have only ever talked to my parents but they believe I am just shy and they tell me that even if I do have it that it doesn't matter and I should just talk to people and I'm overreacting. I don't know what to do, I don't have any friends in school and I just moved to another state 2 years ago so I don't have any family out here and the little friends i did have are all gone. I am 13, I wish I could speak to people but no matter how hard I try I freeze up and whenever I get a word out I feel like I made everything awkward and never talk to them again since I'm embarrassed and feel like I messed everything up. Because everyone believes I'm just shy they tell me I'm being rude by not answering and I need to stop pretending. I want to get counseling but I'm to scared to tell a counselor about it and my parents don't have enough money for my old counselor that I was already used to. I don't have anyone to talk to except my parents and my siblings don't even know how to speak yet since they are 2 and 6 months. My mom had me at a young age to. She is 29 now, and I have a step dad who is 28. anyways sorry for this essay nobody is probably going to read this anyway.
I read because this because i have hope for people like you so please never give up trying to express yourself , this is a condition don't put yourself down over it how can you expect not to mess up when you have selective mutism take small steps, treat yourself better and you are gunna improve.
*relates so hard it hurts*
Her beating up the bully and stealing his bike was awesome.
bro just watching that group therapy made me anxious like the awkward silence after being told to talk HELL NAH and i don't even have selective muteness
This is a great film and it shows selective mutism really well, as someone with selective mutism it hit a bit to close to home and now I'm crying... Well I was diagnosed when I was 4 and now I'm 14, officially 10 years and it's getting worse at the minute.. I know it should get better if I try but I'm trying and nothing's happening and it's stressful honestly I can't cope. My friends try to help me but they don't get it, they don't understand. I'm ok just stressed and struggling ig
i've had selective mutism for 10 years, i have 16 y/o now and i really started talking 4 years ago. i only heard about sm a few months ago. i didn't know it had a name. sm brought me anxiety and depression ruining my childhood and adolescence. i'm trying to go on, but i still can't forget how people made me feel for 10 years. forgetting 10 years is a really big thing, it'll take time, but i hope i'll be fine one day.
i feel u
My wife has SM. It was hard at the beginning of our relationship but over time it got better. Through the years she has gotten better in talking to a few selective people.
I have a daughter who has selektiv mutisme. Good to hear it got better with your wife , that gives hope. Thanks for sharing !
I didn't know there was a movie about it. I really like it and can totally relate to it.
Seeing this makes me want to keep fighting my selective mutism, so I can have better days
A truly meaningful short film. Superb work Shane!
I sort of admire mute people. I wish I could just not talk to people. My main problem is that people would probably get weirded out if I stopped talking though.
It's not fun though, it feels like a noose around my neck preventing the words coming out.
I love watching short movies.
I have watched a ton, but this one is special. Loved it♥️
I used to laugh at this kid because they *seemed* to be such a rebel and ignore the teacher. I feel guilty because if they had selective mutism then that probably made them feel worse. I have public speaking anxiety quite bad but it's getting better and have done lot's of research about these mental conditions as it's upsetting and also extremely fascinating.
"just say something!"
god why didn't i think about that
I didn't know i had selective mutism until i found out by doing some research and talking to my family members that i was close to, whenever i go out and the actions and things I've did was like this in the video, even some family I don't even speak to them its just hard to slip out a sentence without feeling very shy or having an anxiety attack or having to stutter or stammer alot when speaking is annoy for me, i hate it but I've been actually been going good with those bad times.. meeting people or talking is my number one uncomfortable thing to do i just get nervous/shy/anxious/having anxiety, its just !BOOM! For me.
out of the many therapists i've seen, only one has understood me & my sm. at first it was awkward for us both but then we were able to communicate through pen & paper, we eventually got along & would pass the session just playing board games, eventually i started speaking to her & she noticed the progress & we stopped the sessions. then my depression got bad again & i was assigned to a new therapist, but covid came around so we would do over the phone sessions & it went downhill from there, i would silently cry throughout the phone call sessions bc i physically couldn't speak, there was so much i wanted to say but i couldn't, my therapist would get upset & i eventually just ghosted her bc it rubbed me the wrong way how she would huff & puff out of frustration 😭☠️
Also I didn't get diagnosed with SM until I was fifteen years old, so growing up I always thought something was wrong with me. No one understood that I just couldn't talk. Even some therapists I went to said that I was just quiet and would speak when I wanted to. It was honestly so nice to learn that there's actually a name for what I have and I'm not the only one
I like this video ive been diagnosed with Selective mutism myself a few years back im 34 years old now even though I'm getting a little bit better i still struggle in crowds & new people this video helps understand im not alone coz having Selective mutism people can judge you for something you can't help I think they should be more awareness on Adults with selective mutism its not a child aniexty Adults can get it too
Thank you for making this movie.
I had selective mutism up until the age of maybe 10/11. My mum tried to get me into speech therapy to try to get me to talk but because of the long wait she came up with a sticker chart. So I'd have to say a certain amount of words or speak to someone different or just say hello to the teacher that day and I'd get a sticker on the chart. When the chart was full my mum treated me to a toy I'd wanted for ages and by the time I got into speech therapy I didn't actually need it and it took quite a while to get me to talk to people. I remember refusing to speak up in class when taking the register so I would go up to the teacher and whisper in her ear, I'd do that to my friends too if I couldn't speak to a teacher and they'd talk for me. I wouldn't even talk to family really either, sometimes I'd write on a piece of paper or a letter. Everyone was surprisingly supportive from what I can remember
I love this. I've seen a lot of misrepresentation of selective mutism, but this shows how it really is perfectly. Makes me happy to see that some people understand
I’ve struggled going in and out of selective mutism and it’s difficult because there are days when I can talk and days where it feels like someone is choking me it I try and speak. Nobody thinks it’s true and it’s making me doubt it.
It's hard to deal with it even more when people around you don't believe in it
i’m someone who has psychogenic mutism (i stopped talking because of really bad trauma). here are some things people say to me and the answers i give in my head:
-wAIT YOU CAN TALK
(yes i can talk. shocker right?)
-so, like, we’re you born like this?
(no but it would make it a lot easier to explain to people)
-i saw you talking to [my guidance counselors name] the other day so you probably aren’t really mute
(mutism isn’t always a medical issue. i chose to stop talking because i have such severe trauma. and that was only a check in and he knows about my mutism)
-but boys can’t be mute
(well i guess i’m just a damn ghost then)
-what does your family think of you?
(they know that it’s a thing and they still love me for who i am. speaking or not)
-why don’t you just talk to me?
(because i’m not willing to)
-that’s going to lower your participation and oral presentation grade
(yes i’m aware)
-so did you do it for attention
(no i did it because i couldn’t handle speaking anymore. i just didn’t fucking want to anymore)
-why did you stop?
(woah there buddy, now we’re getting a little too personal)
-but i loved your voice
(well that’s great for you)
-do you talk to anyone?
(not you, that’s for sure)
-do your teachers know?
(they’ll find out eventually)
-just talk. it’s not that hard
(see, that’s where you’re wrong)
im sorry. people really suck. i have selective mutism, so i partially know what you go through (those comments)
I have selective mutism and when people ask me questions I try to say it but I feel so scared as if something is blocking my way. When my classmates talk about my favorite stuff I just feel like im talking to them in my mind.
I was so sad that I realized about what will happen to my future self. I also made my own story I wrote to share with my class because I wanted to be normal. Until now I'm crying 😰😥😥😭 cause I just tried to run away from my problems
When I just said my first word everyone kept asking me to do it again even my teacher. I couldn't go home until I said goodbye so it was 3hours until I started crying and ran home. I'm still so scared I dont want that to happen to me.
One day I had to perform on the stage and I was so shocked that they did not even inform me so that I would talk. So when I went on the stage was just frozen, my body couldn't move. And after that I felt like an idiot and it made me not want to talk and recite the talking parts so much more.
this brought me to tears :(
My little sister has had SM since Pre-k. She’s in fifth grade now and next year, she’s going to middle school and I’m really worried for her because people in middle school become a whole lot meaner than elementary. One time, some idiot anonymously told the school that my sister was being “bullied” and she was going to bring a gun to school. That was the day I realized how serious my sisters problem was. I always thought that “oh this is probably just a phase she’ll talk at some point” but now I realize this isn’t so easy. She won’t talk to anyone, she would always watch all the other kids on the playground play and laugh and she would sit there.. alone. I feel like crying right that I’m typing this. I hate how people talk to my sister. One time on the bus some kid was asking her questions like “Are you death?” “can you say at least one word” “talk” and I couldn’t take it anymore so I told “Yes she can talk, she just doesn’t want to, and she’s not stupid, just because she doesn’t talk doesn’t mean she doesn’t know what 2 x 4 is okay?” And then when I wasn’t looking he stuck his middle finger at her and asked “do you know what this means?”. The only reason I knew this was because my sister told me. I’m crying so bad because I care about my sister so bad and I don’t want anyone to hurt her. And I hate that I’m not always going to be there for her if I leave. At home, she’s one of the most caring and funniest and coolest person I know. I hope one day she can speak up and learn how to defend herself ❤️
This is amazing, makes me feel less alone!❤
This is a very nice video:) seems very well done!
I’m currently working on a character who’s going to be mute or selectively mute and decided to watch this video and read through the comments. It gives me a better understanding of mutism, so thank you for making the video:)
I have ASD, and I have social anxiety. It’s really hard in certain situations, and most times I can’t talk, and people have forced me to. Only now I’ve started to speak more and speak in public settings, and it wasn’t when I was forced to do something that I could do it. Hopefully I’ll find more young adults like me.
I have Selective Mutism and its been hard growing up
Sometimes people just ignore my presence
I'm in tears.. I'm an adult but still happens.. Thanks for making this beautiful work..
I am Brazilian, and in my country there are almost no studies on Selective Mutism. There are no comments. At the school where I attended Elementary and High School, I suffered several times because the teachers pressured my family to demand that I speak. As the teachers knew that I could express myself at home, they believed that I did not act this way out of laziness. I never had difficulties in my studies, I always achieved good grades and it is easy to understand content, but I could not speak or answer calls.
Some teachers lowered my grades because they thought I didn't deserve the same marks as other students. During this period, my maternal family was also putting pressure on my family and I was always the target of prejudiced comments by them. My mother doesn't understand my condition nor does she know what I have. I was never officially diagnosed, I believe I have Mutism because I research to understand myself better. Today, I can only talk at home, with my father. He's the only person who understands me, but he doesn't know how to deal with my issue externally, how to explain it to other people. Nobody understands that it is possible for someone to be able to speak at home, but not be able to speak anywhere else. I'm studying Pedagogy EAD and now I have to do a video class, but I already communicated in writing that I can't. The teacher asked me to explain why, but I couldn't describe it.
I know this may be weird but I'm writing a fictional novel about someone who is Selective Mute and I never even knew this existed until a few days ago when I did some research about people who are mute, (long story the idea came to my head after having Laryngitis and I had no choice but to not talk for a week) so then this idea came in my head to write about someone who doesn't speak but only when they feel comfortable, they don't have any sort of anxiety but rather it very much explains in the book the whole reason etc. I'm glad to read your comments and I wish you all the best on your journey to work on it 😊. Stay safe
Hey this might be random but what's the book called, I'd love to read it.
@@icecoffee4462 Glad you asked, I'm still working on it, but haven't thought of a title yet 😅