I think I have a mild case of selective mutism, if not full fledged.

[Tulicks]

I say this because there are moments where I completely feel psychologically blocked from communicating, especially when it involves me halving to reply to something in which I consider mundane that someone asks me. I have never been a good small talker, I don't enjoy it one bit, and I personally think it's irrelevant and a waste of time and words.

Sometimes I will completely shut off and will put no effort into responding to what the other person is asking me. I know this sounds extremely rude on my part but it's not that I'm completely being unwilling to respond. Psychologically I feel like I can't. This only happens occasionally thankfully!! Once it passes I am more apt to respond to questions and get my voice out, but I find it hard sometimes, depending on what the conversation is about.

I think this selective mutism is associated with my social anxiety because I feel all the symptoms of social phobia when this mutism occurs. I feel anxious inside, and feel like I need to break the silence, but I hold it in because I honestly just don't want to talk, and feel that I can't.

Anyone else experience this?

 

[MollyBeGood]

Yeah I can relate a lot. I do think I have SM, too. I was at a party once and a guy was really just trying to get me to come out of my shell and he was asking me questions about horses which I usually can talk non-stop about and I couldn't get two words out to him. Gawd this happened to me an an interview once too. As far as small talk goes-eeek I hate it with a passion but I smile and nod and try to keep the focus off me and people usually don't even realize I am having anxiety and phobia, but I imagine some people do. I have no advice. I can relate though

 

[Tulicks]

Yeah I can relate a lot. I do think I have SM, too. I was at a party once and a guy was really just trying to get me to come out of my shell and he was asking me questions about horses which I usually can talk non-stop about and I couldn't get two words out to him. Gawd this happened to me an an interview once too. As far as small talk goes-eeek I hate it with a passion but I smile and nod and try to keep the focus off me and people usually don't even realize I am having anxiety and phobia, but I imagine some people do. I have no advice. I can relate though

It's good to know that I'm not the only one who experiences SM. I didn't realize I had it until tonight... my dad was trying to talk to me and I wouldn't respond to anything he said. Part of it felt like it was just me deliberately refusing to respond to his questions, but on the other hand, it also felt like I couldn't reply with anything worthwhile. I'm not sure exactly if I am experiencing SM, it could be just that I am blank all the time in the mind and usually can't think of anything worthwhile to talk about. Thanks for responding!

 

[MollyBeGood]

It's good to know that I'm not the only one who experiences SM. I didn't realize I had it until tonight... my dad was trying to talk to me and I wouldn't respond to anything he said. Part of it felt like it was just me deliberately refusing to respond to his questions, but on the other hand, it also felt like I couldn't reply with anything worthwhile. I'm not sure exactly if I am experiencing SM, it could be just that I am blank all the time in the mind and usually can't think of anything worthwhile to talk about. Thanks for responding!

NP. I am just recently aware I have had it all my life and it goes beyond being shy or having SP. It sucks! It sneaks up on me at the weirdest times too. Last time I went home to visit my family I had it and that was the worst with my own family even. I know what you mean when you feel like you blank out too...I sometimes think being around overly talkative people triggers it in me though that isn't always the case...idk...it's really a mystery to me.