๐ช๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐ถ๐ ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐น๐ฒ๐ฐ๐๐ถ๐๐ฒ ๐ ๐๐๐ถ๐๐บ?!
Selective Mutism is an anxiety disorder whereby a person can talk in some situations but they can't talk in other situations.
๐ผ๐ฃ๐ญ๐๐๐ฉ๐ฎ is stopping them from talking sometimes.
The ๐๐ง๐๐๐ฏ๐ part of the fight, flight, freeze response.
Most of us have been in a situation where we freeze and don't know what to say... it is uncomfortable, imagine that but ๐๐ก๐ก ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ข๐ ๐๐ฃ ๐จ๐ฅ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐จ๐๐ฉ๐ช๐๐ฉ๐๐ค๐ฃ๐จ.
Imagine, being in this state every day at school. It's not long before the child gets the label or identity as
"๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ง๐จ๐ค๐ฃ ๐ฌ๐๐ค ๐๐ค๐๐จ๐ฃ'๐ฉ ๐ฉ๐๐ก๐ "
now it feels even more impossible for them to talk.
And not only that... people don't understand. People assume they are being rude, or controlling, or stubborn.
It's not that they are are being controlling or any of the above by not talking, it's rather that they are ๐ฉ๐ง๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐๐ ๐๐ฃ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐จ๐๐ก๐๐ฃ๐๐.
There is a way out though, and children ๐๐๐ฃ ๐๐๐จ๐ค๐ก๐ช๐ฉ๐๐ก๐ฎ ๐ค๐ซ๐๐ง๐๐ค๐ข๐ ๐๐ (we see it happen all the time!) but do you know what the number 1 first key step is?
Understanding from those around them - family, friends and crucially the school. Educating everyone around the child on what SM is, clearing up those misconceptions is key.
If you want to learn more about SM, please follow our Facebook page, see our YouTube channel, and subscribe to our mailing list at the top of this page.
If you would like to discuss your child with one of our Selective Mutism therapists, just drop us a message here.
And lastly, if you're interested in our school training course, course for parents or course for friends and family, just click here for further info.
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