Selective Mutism
When I am talking one-on-one with another person and we have a shared interest, I have no problem talking. When there is even one other person involved, I find myself withdrawing and not knowing how to join in the conversation.
I did a little research on this and found Tony Attwood names it as a co-morbid condition with AS/HFA like anorexia norvorsa. I am getting weird feelings just writing about it. I think that's called alexithymia
Are there others with this problem and how do you deal with it?
Lori-
Do you get weird sensations in your body when you are in a group of people talking and you are expected to participate? When I’m in a group I sometimes get so uncomfortable I blurt out things, it feels like I can't control it.
What is the difference between selective mutism and just plain ignoring people?
Hi Mary,
Sorry, somehow missed your reply. I do get weird sensations but I think they are because of being stressed out. I don't usually blurt things out when there are other people around. If things are really bad, a little sound might come out once in a while.
@Darlene, good question. I am not sure exactly what selective mutism is. I am not mute but ever since I was very young, there have been times that I can not talk for periods of time. Don't know if that is selective mutism or not, but ignoring people seems like you could talk if you wanted to.
Hi Mary,
That happens to me too. All the time except with people I know very well or sometimes when talking about something that I know about very well. Haven't really figured out how to deal with it. Usually just stay as long as I can and try to figure it out. If I can't figure it out, I leave the situation if possible because of being too uncomfortable and confused.
One of the reasons it is very hard has to do with the fact that I hear things a little delayed and find it nearly impossible to say something before someone else does or quick enough to keep the normal flow of group conversation. Sometimes I am still processing the beginning of what someone said and then miss the rest of it. That makes it hard to respond too. Same thing happens when trying to follow conversations.
-Lori