I strongly believe that with any illness, whether it be physical or mental, it is extremely important to have a support system and people you can talk to. That being said, it is often quite difficult for teens and adults with selective mutism to connect with others, not only because of their limited ability to communicate, but also because of a lack of understanding of this disorder.Though we live almost 3000 miles apart, Lizzie, who also has selective mutism and is from London, UK, and I have been messaging back and forth now for about 10 months. Today,though we have never seen each other face to face, we are so close that we consider ourselves more like sisters than friends. Our online friendship has not only significantly improved our qualities of life but it has also given us so much more determination and hope for the future.
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When something goes wrong or a mistake has been made, many people find it much easier to point the finger at themselves. But, what many people may not realize is that constantly blaming ourselves has a very negative effect on our self-esteem and mental health. Having self-compassion, for me personally, has been a work in progress for many years now. I have made a list of 4 things that have helped me the most in having more acceptance for who I am in hopes that someone reading this can begin to feel more compassion and acceptance towards themselves as well:
As the summer is quickly winding down and the back-to-school season is approaching, it seems that everywhere we look, we are constantly reminded of the worries and excitements of this time of year through tv commercials, flyers, and radio ads. For families affected by selective mutism, this can be an extremely stressful time of year. Not only do they share the same worries as the typical parent of school-aged children, but they must also worry about things that most parents take for granted, such as how their child will make friends, ask to use the washroom, or tell someone if they hurt themselves on the playground. Having a supportive and understanding teacher during this time can definitely mean the difference between the child having a terrible or manageable experience at school. That being said, it can sometimes be difficult for teachers of students with selective mutism to understand and help someone living with this disorder. I have therefore compiled a list of tips that could potentially help teachers understand and manage having a student with this disorder in their classroom.
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CategoriesAll About MeMy name is Lauren and I am 20 years old. I have an anxiety disorder called selective mutism that limits my ability to speak outside of my home. I believe that this disorder has touched me for a reason, and my life mission is to bring much needed awareness to this heartbreaking disorder. Welcome to my journey. Archives
January 2018
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