Unable to speak/talk [Selective Mutism]

Hello.
I am Akie Oshima, a reflex integration worker.

Are you familiar with selective mutism?

Selective mutism is a condition where a person becomes unable to speak in certain specific situations or circumstances.
—(omitted)—
There is no problem with brain function itself, and there are no issues with behavior or learning. In some cases, a symptom called 'kando' (motor inhibition) occurs, where the body cannot move as intended due to intense anxiety. The major difference from simple shyness or being bashful is that the symptoms are very strong and can last for many years without natural improvement. (From Wikipedia）

It is a condition where, even if you can speak normally in familiar or safe places, you become unable to speak due to tension, anxiety, or stress.

I myself had very strong symptoms of this from childhood well into adulthood. It didn't happen everywhere, but occurred depending on specific situations, people, or the content of the conversation.

Counseling therapy I received when I was depressed. It was not once or twice that I would finish a 60-minute session without saying a single word.

When I was a child and couldn't tell my parents what I was thinking, the things I wanted to say would swirl around in my head, but I couldn't get them out of my mouth. And I would just cry. By crying, I was balancing things out by 'releasing' what I couldn't say. I remember it being very painful to be told, 'I won't know unless you say it.'

For me, it was most likely to happen when I had to talk about important matters or express my own feelings. It would take over an hour before I could finally say a single word. Even when speaking to my boss at work, I couldn't say anything without first rehearsing the lines in my head, and thinking back on it, that alone was quite exhausting.

Despite that, after continuing reflex integration work, it has hardly bothered me for the past few years. It occasionally happens in tense situations, but only to that extent. I feel that cultivating a sense of safety and security through integration work, the coordination of my heart, head, and mouth, and being able to forgive myself by saying it's okay if I can't speak or do something today, has been a big factor.

Many children with selective mutism have an innate tendency to become anxious. They are also often introverted, which is thought to be due to the overstimulation of an area of the brain called the amygdala. (From Wikipedia）

Having a naturally active amygdala is a characteristic of HSP, but by integrating reflexes, you can become less susceptible to stimulation, or learn to use patterns that allow you to let it pass even if you are stimulated.

I hope that those who have reached information about HSP due to their struggles and pain can live their lives by making the most of their delicate and rich characteristics◎

On 5/23, I will hold a [Reflex Integration Viewing Session to Make Life Easier for HSP] (click the image for details)

[For those who want to work on reflex integration: Details and Application]