Selective Mutism / Social Anxiety.

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I have this problem that I can talk to a select few people (right now it's 3 people, not including professionals involved in my care) quite freely. But with everyone else, I struggle to speak.

At the worst times, I am totally mute, I do not leave my bedroom, and I cannot communicate to anybody orally, I have to use hand signs.

At the best times, I can talk to my select few or the professionals, but everyone else I struggle to communicate with, and it is mentally painful to do so. I often muddle my sentences and cannot get my point across.

My occupational therapist thinks I have social anxiety, as I often hide in my bedroom (I live in supported housing) afraid to even open my door, in case I have to interact socially. Also I avoid social occasions and I spend a lot of time alone in my bedroom. Also she thinks I have selective mutism.

Can anyone suggest ways I can combat these problems with anxiety?

I don't have any desire to socialise, but I just wish I could get rid of the anxiety I associate with it, if I have to socialise. Also selective mutism is really difficult to cope with, as people often don't understand it.

Maiden, first let me say I think you're in to some interesting fields of study.

I never had selective mutism; my circumstances wouldn't have permitted such a thing. But I did have lots of trouble speaking, especially to strangers. I would think my thoughts carefully before uttering them, but they somehow got lost between my brain and my mouth.

Today I rarely have that problem; people now tend to listen when I speak. I'm not sure if my improvement in this area is a result of getting older or of painful practice. One thing I found that made my problems worse was isolating myself in my apartment or bedroom. What I would do was to find natural areas outside with few people and spend time there. I'm not sure why, but this made a huge difference. In fact, today I own my own land and I still find getting out and communing with nature to be very therapeutic. It's the reason I bought it. Something similar may help you as well; it's worth a try.

Good luck.

Thanks.

Pharmacology is a great subject. Psychopharmacology has great significance in my life anyway, and it's my obsession, as well as neuropsychiatry.

I will try to go out more. However I live in a mildly dodgy area of Surrey (UK) and often a lot of youths etc hang around on the streets. There are places where I have seen gangs meet up. My Dad told me that I must not walk in the commons alone, and even in the parks I must be careful. School run is hell anyway.

October - March I go to uni and that helps me a lot. It's these damn holidays I hate.

I have exams in July (deferred), so I have to stay at home to study a lot.

I was going to the gym 2-3 times a week, but I've had to put that on hold due to suspected epilepsy and sensory issues getting much worse.

Also my mental health conditions mean that I am often crippled by paranoia and cannot go out, or I have an overwhelming fear of contamination from environmental toxins.