Tuesday November 12, 2024 | Setting Boundaries and Coping with selective mutism

Here are some tips for setting boundaries and coping with selective mutism:

• Identify your needs

  Consider what you need emotionally, mentally, and physically to feel safe, heard, supported, and seen. You can use a boundary circle to help you identify your limits. 

   
• Talk to a mental health professional

  Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a type of talk therapy that can help people with selective mutism. Speech-language therapy may also be helpful. 

   
• Be patient with yourself

  It can be frustrating to not be able to communicate how you want to, but try to be patient and reward yourself for taking small steps. 

   
• Prepare for new situations

  When approaching new settings, allow yourself some time to warm up and don't feel pressured to speak right away. 

   
• Break down events

  When anticipating an event, break it down into its components and write each one on a post-it note. Then, sort the notes into three columns: things that don't worry you, things that worry you a bit, and things that worry you a lot. 

   
• Ask forced-choice questions

  After some warm-up time, ask a question that gives the person two options to choose from. This can help them speak up in a low-stakes situation. 

   

Tuesday November 12, 2024 | Understanding Boundaries | Auditory Processing

 At what age does a child understand boundaries?

Preschoolers from 3 to 5 years old are able to follow rules and are beginning to under-stand how their behavior affects them and others. They like to please you and you can generally explain to them what limits you have set. They may become very upset when they are unable to do something.

Actually I didn't understand boundaries.  I didn't even understand what it was as I didn't understand word of mouth following rules and instructions. People would get mad at me because I couldn't speak up. Then I would get mad at myself because I couldn't speak up.   My brain/amigdala couldn't process what people were saying. So I would just sit or stand there frozen.  As I got older and was more able to speak. Sometimes I was not able to speak.  If people would just shut up long enough and be patient and wait for me to gather words together to say them right.