Social Anxiety Disorder, Selective Mutism

[roxas]

Have any of you had trouble with any of those?...

sometimes when im too nervous or anxious (i cant even speack, not even a word)....i dont have diagnosis of anything (i have anxiety, i have social trouble)..i took medication for anxiety and depression......i may only have SAD.....but i know a girl who is on the spectrum and has selective mutism (she says thats one thing she does not like)..."i can deal with the Aspie thing, but i dont like selective mutism"....

So has any of you struggle with ASD or SM?

[zenemu]

I think I should point out here that the differences between Selective Mutism, Social Anxiety Disorder and Aspergers Syndrome are so slim that heavy debate is currently underway as to whether they are seperate conditions or slightly different aspects of the same underlying condition, simply manifesting in different ways. Taking Social Mutism as an example, conventional wisdom tends toward the assumption that this is a mainly a childhood condition which improves with age  and when it doesn't it tends to be re-diagnosed as Social Anxiety Disorder or AS. The truth is that some children are socially awkward and others have some form of social / autistic disorder. Slowly but surely they idea of a spectrum is being rethought.

Back on topic - I haven't experienced the oral issues of Selective Mutism, but all the other symptoms I have (poor eye contact, poor fine motorskills, need for routine, tendancy to worry, sensitivity to loud noises, difficulty expressing feelings, social embarressment and awkwardness, moodiness, sleep issues and highly defined morality) - I suspect most of the people with AS/Autism on this site will be able to relate to the majority or all of those symptoms.

[Indelible]

I have been professionally diagnosed as having Social Anxiety Disorder, but I hang around in forums such as this because the similarities between what I experience and the anecdotes noted here are huge.  I took the Aspie Quiz and scored 130/200 for Aspie and 88/200 for Neuro Typical - so I'm definitely Aspie-like.  I love the phrase "Selective Mutism" mainly because it sounds like the mutism is a choice.  I've basically given up on asking girls out (I'm 26) because most times I try absolutely no sound comes out.  And recently (over the past couple of years) as I've made a large effort to get better at speaking in a social sense, I find that often I will stumble over sentences - particularly when I'm trying to explain something.  It's not really a stutter, my diction is good, I just can't seem to keep a constant momentum (it happens at different parts of the sentence).

So yes, I have problems with Social Anxiety Disorder, but I don't like that you said "just" SAD, as though it's the second-prize to ASD.  I've contemplated suicide on several occasions mostly because I felt so hopeless, lonely and like I didn't measure up.  I think I know what you mean in that ASD is more publicised (there's a character with it on Shortland Street for goodness' sake) but I still felt it important to point out.  But maybe that's the aspie in me

[zenemu]

Indelible,

A friend of mine is in a very similar situation and wanted to do something about it. She is taking a part time course in poetry, which obviously involves a certain level of public reading and speaking. She is finding it quite helpful. Reading the poetry gives her something to focus on, and the questions afterward are all about the poem, so she is still focused and relaxed. It is has done the world of good for her mutism. I know that kind of thing wouldn't be for everyone, but it is something to think about.

[Meera]

I have extreme social Anxiety.

[lifepostepic]

Sorry. I removed this because I don't think I want to talk about personal things this much until I'm sure I'm welcomed here.