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Selective Mutism or social anxiety?

J

juffur

Well-Known Member
V.I.P Member
How many of you make youtube videos where you speak on camera?

I've been attempting to make some videos, but I've run into a problem. I'm unable to get myself to speak. It's as if I'm physically unable to do it while recording. Anxiety keeps going up and up the more I attempt it.

Have any of you experienced this? Does anyone have tips for overcoming this anxiety / mutism?

I'm not sure what to call this. Is it social anxiety or selective mutism?
 
I've been searching google for this and have found nothing... Kind of amazing. Am I the only one who experienced this? lol
 
I had Selective Mutism during my childhood. It was at its worst up to grade 6 to the point that teachers gave up calling on me because I simply could not respond (as much as I would have liked to). The longer I was silent, and the more times it happened, the more stressful it became. It would be accompanied by blushing, embarrassment and panic. My fear of being called on was overwhelming. It eased a little in high school, but I was one the only student who didn't take a turn talking on stage in the school hall. By the time I entered university I had largely overcome this problem, however my fear of speaking in public ramps up the larger the audience. It wasn't until recently that I came across it and put a name to my childhood condition. It was situation specific. i.e. There were non-threatening situations in which I had no difficulty talking or holding a conversation. It is a crippling condition that until recently I put down to chronic shyness. But it is much more than that.

I think it's more a symptom of Autism / Aspergers than a separate condition, and it's closely related to the symptom of Social Anxiety. Although some will argue that Social Anxiety is a condition all on its own.
 
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I think social Anxieties symptoms could be Selective muteness. I don't see why I wouldn't be considered part of it to a point. I tend to be that way when in social situations that I am unfamiliar. I get super quiet, look down and try not to make any contact with anyone. But like at my job I have to talk so I do I just use the scripts I am used to using. In large groups I generally don't speak like in school for example my teachers had a hard time to get me to talk. I would do my work and only ask for help before or after classes so that I didn't have to ask or say anything in front of the class.
 
Arashi222 said:
In school for example my teachers had a hard time to get me to talk. I would do my work and only ask for help before or after classes so that I didn't have to ask or say anything in front of the class.
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Yes, that is the only time I would communicate with the teacher, too. I guess I figured if I made a fool of myself it was better if it was just the teacher that heard it. If the class heard it they would mock me. But then there were some teachers I wouldn't dare talk to. I'd try to find a friendly classmate to ask instead, or barring that just risk getting it wrong. The embarrassment of failure was less than the embarrassment of asking a question in class. And I really hate failing at something! I related as a rule to adults much better than to kids my own age.
 
I have taken many college courses as an adult, and I still prefer to talk with the professor one to one. Not only do I avoid the anxiety that comes with talking in front of a group, but I can also go into more detail with my specific interests. But mostly it is all about the anxiety.
 
juffur said:
I've been attempting to make some videos, but... I'm unable to get myself to speak. It's as if I'm physically unable to do it while recording. Anxiety keeps going up and up the more I attempt it...I'm not sure what to call this. Is it social anxiety or selective mutism?
Click to expand...

Returning to the original question above (please excuse the edited form) I think selective mutism only occurs in cases of extreme social anxiety, so it's all anxiety related. But whereas a NT can suffer social anxiety, I'm not sure whether NTs suffer selective mutism. Has anyone looked into this? Does anyone know of NTs who've had selective mutism?
 
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I have a youtube channel in which I speak. I'm not good at it but I'm not nervous, nor am I nervous giving presentations in front of crowds.

I'm just nervous when talking to people personally or on the phone. I'll go mute.
 
yes actually I do know someone how had seletive mutism when they were a kid it was one of my ex-friends if you want to call them NT's that's fine. But yes...She had it I don't think its social anxiety in her case though she just doesn't have much to say or at least that's what she used to tell me. Shrugs I don't know.
 
I know I'm probably a little late to this discussion. :P
I stopped speaking to many people in 2008. I was really frustrated that I was not getting the right help. :/ So since then, I've struggled to build confidence to talk to people, apart from the ones who I really trust. :) The days of frustration have long passed, but even then, speech is still tough. :)
 
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