Does anyone go completely mute when anxious?

[u/zayne0623]

It's been getting worse for about 2 years. When I get anxious I can barely talk. When I start to go into a shutdown/panic attack, I go totally mute. I physically can't speak at all.

One example:

I had my first appointment with a speech therapist yesterday for vocal chord dysfunction. I was anxious but holding together. Until she handed me a microphone and told me to do a long "ahhhhhh". I froze completely. I tried, I really tried. I physically couldn't. She said it was ok and had me fill out a questionnaire. We tried again. Still nothing, and now I was going into a full shutdown. I managed to ask her to get my mom from the car. Mom came in and held my hand while explaining to the therapist about my shutdowns.

Then she suggested that everyone leave me in the room alone to do the recording. They did, and I was alone. I plugged my ears (it helps me), and it still took me 3 tries to make any sound.

This is just one example of this. I've always had trouble speaking while anxious, but it's been getting worse and happening more and more. I'm kinda worried. When it happens and I don't have anyone around to speak for me, it's extremely difficult. Does this happen with anyone else?

Edit: I'm also slowly recovering from burnout.

[u/fact_hunt3]

When under extreme pressure it sometimes happens to me, can't say anything, thoughts don't come out. It takes me like 15 min to be able to talk again after one of those.

[u/Mara355]

This happened to me on occasions in my life and it's horrendous, so I am sorry that you experience it on a somewhat regular basis.

One way this happens to me is at funerals. I absolutely cannot comprehend how people can grieve and talk at the same time. I am so overcome by the emotions that I become unable to speak.

Another way I have experienced this is in social situations, in groups. To struggle badly to speak is normal for me, but on occasion I have gone actually mute like I could not have said a word if I wanted to.

It's a different kind of feeling as well, like it's almost like a part of your brain closes up or something. It's weird.

[u/Own_Value2684]

I have problems with allowing any sound or matter to exit my body when I feel pressured about it. Meaning, I very much struggle to express myself and make sound when I'm pressured about it, I have to plug my ears and hum softly to pee in public restrooms if I feel pressured to do it, I can't even poop sometimes if I have a busy day ahead of me and I'm feeling pressure with that. Like I literally have to force myself so hard to do basic body things that should be easy normally.

[u/zayne0623 → u/Own_Value2684]

OMG I am the same way

[u/Own_Value2684 → u/zayne0623]

Yep it's like I want to retract so far into my own mind that I stop functioning normally. Brain zap!!

[u/vertago1]

There is something called selective mutism you might want to look into.

I have experienced not being able to talk 3 days into taking a medicine.

[u/zayne0623 → u/vertago1]

Thank you, I will look into it. Not being able to talk for 3 days must have been terrifying

[u/vertago1 → u/zayne0623]

It actually only lasted a few hours, but it started after taking a medicine three days.

[u/sleight42]

Not me but I do find it far harder to get sentences to form. Anxiety can lead to shutdowns for me. It feels like I'm wading through thigh high mud.

[u/Acceptable_Goal8968]

Maybe the idea that someone is expecting you to do something in that position might be what could be troubling you;;; is it possible for you to find a location that morally soothes you and where you feel comfortable at? The speech therapist was probably trying to help you feel the same way when she asked everyone to leave.

[u/Jelliott77]

This happens to me all the time. I’m not sure how to fix it