When you have a disorder like selective mutism, where progress happens extremely slowly, it can sometimes be hard to stay motivated. When things are progressing slowly, it can sometimes be difficult to recognize how far you have come, and, from experience, our failures tend to stick out more than our successes. I believe that I have come up with a system that not only allows us to reflect back on our progress, but also inspires us to continue to progress in order to beat this disorder. When you have a disorder like selective mutism, where progress happens extremely slowly, it can sometimes be hard to stay motivated. When things are progressing slowly, it can sometimes be difficult to recognize how far you have come, and, from experience, our failures tend to stick out more than our successes. I believe that I have come up with a system that not only allows us to reflect back on our progress, but also inspires us to continue to progress in order to beat this disorder. As my high school career is quickly coming to an end and graduation is only a year away, ive been thinking a lot about what I want to do after high school. Though I am absolutely positive that I would like to, in some way or another, work with people with selective mutism, ive been trying to think of techniques that would be very beneficial and to my clients. While doing some research on different techniques, I stumbled across a program called Bravery Beads. Basically, " Bravery Beads is a program that allows children with life challenging illnesses to collect special beads to commemorate each procedure or event that they must endure throughout treatment". When I read this, a light bulb went off. Wouldn't this be a perfect program for people suffering from SM as well? I thought that, in my future practice, for each brave thing that a child with SM or other paralyzing anxiety disorder did, they would receive a special bead to commemorate this special occasion. Soon after reading about this program, my family and I began a similar program with my Pandora bracelet. Each time I accomplish something major that I have been working towards for a long time, I get a bead that represents this accomplishment. Then, whenever I'm feeling down or frustrated with myself, I look at my bracelet and remember all that I have accomplished. I thought that to demonstrate this idea, I would explain the significance of some of my most valuable beads. This program has worked amazingly well for me, and hopefully it can be incorporated into the life of you or someone you know with anxiety. Snake: Ever since the beginning stages of my disorder, I have often described selective mutism as being similar to having a boa constrictor wrapped around your throat. You know that he's there every day, but you never know how tight his grip will be, how much he will allow you to say each day. I earned this charm when I beat my boa constrictor and was able to say a word to one of my teachers at my school. Inner strength: Grade 10 was a really bad year for me. Along with my grandmother passing away, my SM decided to take a turn for the worst as I went from speaking rarely at school to not even saying a word at school. Panic attacks were now a weekly occasion. When this terrible year came to an end, my parents bought me the inner strength charm to commemorate by bravery and strength during this difficult time.
7 Comments
Nancy T
7/20/2015 03:02:19 am
Thank you Lauren! My daughter is 9 and has Selective Mutism. She is able to speak with most peers and you wouldn't know she has SM until an adult speaks to her. I've been trying to think of a way to help her progress (we're at 29 new adults/older teens in the last 8 weeks) that would help her at school and Bravery Beads was in my head - she loves beads! :)
Reply
Lauren Whiteway
7/20/2015 04:14:48 am
That's Amazing Nancy! I'm so glad that your daughter is making that amount of progress and that she overcomes sm soon!
Reply
Natalie M
6/30/2017 10:47:38 am
Hi Nancy. Not sure if you're still active on this blog, but my daughter has SM. She is nine and progress is slow. I'd love to pick your brain about what has been working for your daughter. There are not a lot of support groups in New Brunswick. I'd love to chat with other moms.
Reply
7/22/2015 02:04:15 pm
What a coincidence! I use what I've been calling Brave Beads for years, where the kids receive a bead for each time they've stepped out of their comfort zone (not just talking, but anytime they do something "new"). They can collect them at school (I give a bag of beads to the teacher) and at the clinic (they report to me any extra brave things they've done in the week). Then they can decide what to make with their collection of beads. I did not know about Bravery Beads - good to know! I love your idea of using Pandora Beads for older kids/teens. What a wonderful way to mark events and make exposures more age-appropriate and motivating. I'm wondering what can be something comparable and motivating for teen males? Something to continue pondering ...
Reply
Tammy Gallant
3/21/2016 04:31:19 am
Hi Lauren, I am a school teacher who works with a teenager suffering from selective mutism. I was wondering if you have ever considered visiting school to speak to others suffering from this disorder?
Reply
Lauren Whiteway
3/21/2016 06:31:49 am
Yes, I would love to do this!
Reply
Linda Myers
8/11/2017 05:51:52 am
Thank you so much for coming to Crandall and sharing your journey with us. I learned so much from you and the courage and grace you show. My son battles anxiety everyday and he, too, can't eat at school. I know now he is not alone. That in itself is such a huge gift. Again, thank you so much.
Reply
Your comment will be posted after it is approved.
Leave a Reply. |
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
Categories |