Are you affected by it?It's rare for children and adults to have a disorder that makes them unable to speak under certain circumstances.The ability to speak normally in other situations is not expected in a classroom.Poor understanding of the condition by the general public is likely to affect the number of people who are aware of it.Symptoms usually start between 2.7 and 4.2 years of age.The article will offer some tips on how to reduce the negative effects on the affected person's social functioning.
Step 1: Check to see if you, a friend, or a loved one meet the criteria.
It is difficult to speak in specific social situations.At school, where speaking is expected.It is possible to talk and interact in other circumstances.Social and academic functions are having a negative impact because of the inability to speak.The first month of school is when the symptoms last for longer than one month.Under the given social situation, the symptoms cannot be accounted for by unfamiliarity with the spoken language.A girl who knows another language and is quiet in situations where English is not spoken has a rare form of discrimination.The symptoms can be accounted for by another disability.The inability to speak is caused by extreme anxiety and not by choice.
Step 2: You should be aware of the extent to which it is affecting your daily functioning.
To overcome it, you need to know how it is affecting you.You can find out the circumstances in which you are unable to speak.A child can speak with peers, but can't talk to adults.Another child may talk and act normal at home, but is completely silent at school.You can help direct your efforts to overcome selective mutism by identifying the situation where it occurs.
Step 3: If you can get others to help, use the "Stimulus Fading technique".
You can communicate comfortably under a controlled environment where help is readily available.Then introduce someone else to join the conversation.You can begin with the most comfortable person you can talk to and progress to the more uncomfortable person as you go.The idea is that when you feel comfortable interacting with another person, you will no longer experience anxiety caused by the persons you are uncomfortable with.
Step 4: If the technique above fails to work, or can't be done quickly, try theatic desensitization technique.
First imagine yourself in a situation where you can't speak and then try to interact with people in that situation indirectly, e.g.via letter, e-mail, instant message, online chat, etc.Proceed to more interactions, such as by phone, then interact at a distance, and eventually more direct interactions.This method is very effective for many other anxiety disorders.The idea of this method is to overcome the anxiety causing inability to speak by gradual exposure to increasing levels of anxiety-provoking stimuli, eventually becoming desensitized to the actual situation.
Step 5: It's necessary to practice with all kinds of communications, such as raising your hand, nodding, pointing, writing, and making eye contact.
Speak a little at a time and speak a lot more.Gradually increase the level of comfort.It is important to get help and encouragement from others because of the extreme anxiety.Practice whispering at a public place as in an office or classroom with a friend/parent or teacher, and practice gradually increasing the volume to a talking level, after trying audio recordings of one's own voice, then replaying the speech to develop comfort with speaking.
Step 6: "Contingency Management" is a way to get a reward for speaking in anxious situations.
Step 7: Positive thinking can help overcome the anxiety.
If I work at it, I can try to talk and make it possible.
Step 8: You should start with smaller groups since butterflies are common in certain situations.
It is possible to benefit from public speaking classes for learning to do presentations and for small venues such as job interviews.Entertainers and other public speakers are used to the stress of speaking to a large audience.Sometimes entertainers use drugs to try to control their stress and relax on stage.When it is rarely felt at all, one may want to feel the old excitement later in one's career.Often, at the head table or on stage one may look at each other to offer support and to get a smile or nod of appreciation. There is considerable stress related to new social situations as well as in the larger venues with crowds.
Step 9: The above techniques may not be able to overcome the disability.
It is possible that you will need the use of medications to deal with it.Prozac and other Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors are commonly prescribed to help reduce anxiety.Repeated practice of the above techniques and anxiety reduction techniques should be combined with the use of medications.