Applying to Uni for 2024? Find your Uni here and chat with others! >>

Selective mutism

I have been suffering with severe symptoms of selective mutism for several years now. I have asked my parents on several occasions for me to get it tested for it has been effecting my every day life but they will not let me. I don’t know how or who to go to to get it tested for so if anyone knows please will you let me know what I should do in this situation.

Reply 1

Anonymous #2

okay, personally i have had symptoms of a dissociative disorder (DPDR) for a while now, have opened up to my parents, they are “looking into it” realistically they r going to forget about it, but i guess depending on your age and your situation, there are ways to get help! if you are in education it would be a good idea to go talk to your school councillor this could be a way to get your parents to do something for you since the school is aware your parents are more likely to take it seriously, if it’s easier write an email or take a friend with you! or even if you are able to, i suggest go talking to the gp yourself, it can be hard living with symptoms of something that effects you everyday, i know ,, it’s also very important that you have a support system that you can confide in! friends? sibling? even diary? i hope u get through this! ❤️

Reply 2

black tea

I'm sorry you are going through this OP, and that your parents are not being very supportive - must be so isolating :frown:

If getting any support irl is not going to be possible at the moment, it might be worth getting in touch with an organisation like Childline - they won't be able to diagnose you, but their counsellors can still provide support and advice, and you can contact them online via email or chat so you don't actually have to speak to anyone. Good luck and I hope you are able to get some help with things :hugs:

Reply 3

user01906002

Original post by Anonymous #1

Hey I also have selective mutism!! I know exactly how you feel, it’s a horrific thing to have to live with. It’s so so isolating and debilitating, and I definitely get what you mean by it affecting your day to day life. I’ve also found it very difficult to find help as it’s so under-researched and misunderstood.

I’ve been seeing a counsellor through my school for a very long time. I also did an anxiety course through CAHMS about 2 years ago, which did somewhat help as I also experience social anxiety alongside my SM, but it didn’t really help with the SM. I have found it extremely difficult to find anyone that actually understands SM and it’s so difficult to find help specifically for it. However recently we discovered this American organisation (first link below) that specialise in and research SM. I’m about to start a virtual course with one of the people that run it, and it seems so much more promising than anything else. I did a taster session where she outlined what the course would focus on and what actually happens in the brain with SM (because it is different to other anxiety disorders), and it made so so much more sense than anything else I’ve heard before. Genuinely came away feeling so relieved to finally understand what’s actually going on. However the only thing is this may be a bit difficult as you have to pay for some of it. Also I’d recommend joining any online forums you can find for it as well, there are lots on Facebook, I’ve always found it helpful to be able to connect with other people that have it as they’re usually the only ones that truly understand what it’s like to live with it. One of the best things I’ve also found is honestly just researching it myself. I’ve attached below the links to some of the websites i’ve found most helpful.

https://www.smhelp.org/

[url=http://www.selectivemutism.org.uk/]http://www.selectivemutism.org.uk/]http://www.selectivemutism.org.uk/

http://www.ispeak.org.uk/

If your parents refuse to do anything then my best advice is to talk to someone at your school (assuming you are school age). Best go through pastoral care or possibly SEN department if you can, but any trusted teacher should be fine (school nurse/form tutor/head of year or just any teacher you feel you can trust). Send them an email if you can/it’s easier. Or maybe your GP? It is very important that you seek out help as soon as you can, the longer you leave SM the more ingrained/more difficult to treat it becomes (but it is still entirely possible to get better so don’t lose hope!!)

I hope some of this is helpful, sorry it’s quite hard for me to explain or pass too many judgements as I don’t know much about your situation. However if you’d like to chat to someone who has been and is going through a very similar situation to you I am more than happy!! I’m no expert, but I’ve made a lot of progress with my SM recently, I’ve done a lot of research and I understand it really well now, and I’m very open and would love to be able to connect with someone else who has it!! I think you can dm me on here or I don’t mind sharing contact details (email address or something - you’re more than welcome to remain anonymous if you’d prefer and no pressure to share more than what you’re comfortable with). But you don’t have to if you don’t want to.

Wishing you all the best as I know how hard it is to live with. I hope you are doing okay :smile:

(edited 3 days ago)

Selective mutism

Quick Reply

Trending

Latest