How I Dealt With My Selective Mutism (My Story) Pt. 1

[@nondescriptbeing5944]

I have this still. I’m glad when people talk about it because we’re less likely to speak out and spread awareness due to the nature of the condition, which is okay.

[@trillionaireman9016]

I had selective mutism as a kid too. My mum would get pissed off at me when I didn't talk infront of family, like I was embarrassing her or something, WTF!

[@PamelaAnn]

Same here. when I was a kid, my family would get pissed off at me when I wouldn't speak in front of the family. I know that my family will never admit that they said this but my grandmother that I was an embarrassment. I totally understand. I had selective mutism as a kid and still have it. some idiot named Jason thinks that I have to deal with selective mutism for the rest of my life. I say I can overcome this. Jason tells me that I can't overcome it.

[@nondescriptbeing5944]

People just don’t understand

[@laurasanders5050]

I am sad. I am glad ppl like you exist on KZbin

[@ahomemakersjourney08]

I went through a lot of those same situations too. I'm glad I came across this video because it's so hard to explain to others unless they have gone through it too. Therapy never helped so they stopped counselling me, and can also relate to the friendship thing.

[@BridgetHallisey]

Glad you found it helpful! It's so hard sometimes to find people that can relate.

[@honeymoney4910]

I am autistic and in my childhood I dealt with alexithymia , selective mutism, anxiety attacks, and awkward! so , I have a list of childhood trauma and was being bullied , one of them is, when I was in 1st standard I had a very rude and angry teacher and I feared asking her abt going to washroom and I used to hold the pressure until the point when its so painful and out of control , the whole time I used to prepare a script on how would i ask her! and when it got uncontrollable and I dared to asked her she refused me to go each time also the washroom was far far away, and I started crying but she didn't let me go, so I peed on my seat and all the kids ran away, and the principle scolded her in front of whole class for her behaviour and for the first time i felt that someone is there for me and gets me , so I did it for 3 days straight everytime when she refused me to go ..on purpose cuz it was easier than to beg her to let me go that far ... Also I never knew I should pee until its too late ..

[@Shindler39]

That is great Bridget that you want to help other people, you have a great heart:-) Have a wonderful day:-)

[@goldxiong6900]

Thank you for sharing Bridget! I am thoroughly enjoying your videos as I can relate to bits and pieces as well. I have social anxiety especially in new environments or with new people. I am trying to challenge myself to overcome this fear. I'm a big fan of you and Quazi! Keep making awesome videos! 👍👍👍

[@elizabethgatt]

I wanted to see this video, because sometimes later along the way, you said that it is so bad that it is difficult for you to watch it yourself. But this is a great video. Right from the start you have shown your essential strengths. Your casual way of speaking makes your videos so credible and appealing. I much prefer that rather than some videos where a person speaks in a studied way in a carefully arranged environment. You create a caring and intriguing atmosphere instead.

[@BridgetHallisey]

Thank you! I still think some of these earlier videos are challenging to watch. To me, it really speaks to how far I've come along the way. With each and every video, I find myself creating that more comforting atmosphere like you mentioned. I want it to seem like I'm talking to a friend... not too scripted😂Thank you for sticking around and engaging with the content. I appreciate you!

[@elizabethgatt]

I can imagine it is tough to watch yourself speaking. I am a translator/interpreter, so sometimes I must listen to the recordings of my voice-overs, etc. and I find it hard. I know you want to emphasise how much you have improved, but I think you also have a genuine talent to speak in the way which creates that atmosphere. And no amount of training will do that, it is in you. I admire how hard you worked to bring this talent to the surface. It is a pleasure to watch those videos.

[@Mud_eater]

I found this a comfortable watch. You’re casual and that makes you seem more relatable than it would if you came over as overly-polished and very practiced. I really don’t think you should feel any negative towards this video - it’s all good.

[@QuaziJohir]

LETSSSSSS GOOOOOOOOOO

[@fatimaquazi3554]

Cant wait till part 2!

[@luca_ds9805]

I was diagnosed at the age of 3 and couldn't talk for 10 years in school

[@priya200328]

OMG the same thing happened to me, when I was in Yr 6 I literally could not ask my teacher to go to toilet which meant I wet myself. And I did get my hand stuck on the door of a car recently but it was only for 2minutes and I kind of shouted but yeh man my sm is so bad

[@QuaziJohir]

First

[@TanyaRae12]

I’ve been trying to do shadow work on this experience of selective mutism as a child but yeah idk why I couldn’t talk. It felt like I physically could not talk and the more I tried the more there was like a chokehold on my neck. The more someone told me to talk the less power I felt in having to talk. I let people bully me because of it and the spiraled into more depression and powerlessness. I couldn’t speak up for myself and let people humiliate me and what hurts the most is I let it happen.

[@ahomemakersjourney08]

Thank you for sharing, I have had SM since I was 4 yrs old. Now I am 32 and its not as bad but still a struggle. I wonder if going to school could be the trigger for this being away from family. Seems to be common I notice for it to happen around 4

[@minishay7158]

Loads ppl think im dumb Because I had this

[@karthikkamal3018]

Continue to make videos.you have a bright future

[@snooptech]

Good information, I feel ya pain

[@fatimaquazi3554]

I love your vidio!!

[@indimist390]

Thanks you for making this. Im 26 and still struggle. Would u say u r fully cured. Have u ever tried meds. I feel like therapy isnt working because im not completely mute and can still talk but in a whisper

[@BridgetHallisey]

I don't think I'll ever truly be "cured" but I think I've reached a point where it doesn't control my life anymore... it's just something that I now carry with me and have learned to accept.

[@trillionaireman9016]

I used to have SM also. I think SM/SA can be completely cured by working with the mind. I believe the root cause is essentially low self-esteem. Phrased differently - it is predominantly a collection of powerful limiting beliefs such as "I'm inferior", "I'm not good enough" etc. Do you feel like you have such beliefs? You've got to convince your SUBCONSCIOUS that you're awesome and lovable etc.

[@BridgetHallisey]

@@trillionaireman9016 I agree with you when you say limiting beliefs can have such a powerful effect. I do think they made a huge difference when it working through it. However, I don't believe SM is cause by low self-esteem. How could children have such low self-esteem at the age of 5?

[@trillionaireman9016]

@@BridgetHallisey Well in my case my mother was super stressed due to financial issues while I was in utero. Like too anxious to eat or sleep. I reckon such emotions were passed to me and shaped my world-view. This lines up with what biologist Dr. Bruce Lipton says - in the third trimester babies start absorbing emotions of the environment. I guess it doesn't have to be low self-esteem, it could be beliefs about the world too like "The world is not a safe place". What do you think it's caused by?

[@PamelaAnn]

I was diagnosed with selective mutism 4 years old. I want more than anything to overcome selective mutism! I do keep a journal. I do journal prompts everyday and it still doesn't help. 😢 Had? How did you overcome it? What are your tips and tricks to overcoming selective mutism?

[@nondescriptbeing5944]

I got it too around the same age. You can try therapy for guidance and medication to help symptoms of anxiety, but basically you eventually have to force yourself to talk to people and get into social situations until it gets easier. It has for me somewhat.

[@PamelaAnn]

I have medication and therapy. How do I get into social situations without spending money?@@nondescriptbeing5944

[@raf9x908]

Is it common to specifically have selective mutism with just family and the workplace?

[@Shivashri12]

❤️