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Visualization and Positive Imagery: Imagine yourself confidently speaking in a group setting.  What do you see, hear, and feel? Honestly when I say something to one person, another person chimes in. Is it normal to feel anxious in that setting?   Visualize a "success" moment where you overcame your hesitation and spoke up.  How did it feel? Well, I'll just have to say this in pieces.  I had a menopause question. It was something about menopausal hotflashes.   Draw a picture or create a collage representing your ideal communication style. Drawing a picture is out of the question because I can't draw.   What would you say to yourself to encourage your inner voice to speak up? You can do it.   Important Considerations: Be gentle with yourself: Journaling should be a safe space to explore your feelings without judgment. Start small: Focus on achievable goals and gradually build your confidence. Seek professional support: Consult a thera...

Practicing Communication Skills: Describe a recent situation where you felt comfortable communicating, even if it was non-verbally.  What made it easier? Well this might be in bits and pieces and that shouldn't matter right?  When I am relaxed and not looking at the person, Jason tells me that I can speak to them. But if I am looking the person, my selective mutism says hell no.   If you could choose one thing to say in a challenging situation, what would it be? ??? Write a script for a conversation you'd like to have with someone you find difficult to talk to. I need help on this one.  What are some small steps you can take to gradually increase your verbal communication in social situations? This is why I think I might be on the autism spectrum more specifically Asperger's Syndrome.  I have extreme difficulty describing or explaining things.  Is it true that people with Asperger's have difficulty describing or explaining anything?  

Positive Self-Talk and Affirmations: Write down three positive affirmations about your ability to communicate. My favorite one is:  "Where words fail, music speaks."  <--- I use this to meditate on. "I can use my voice when I feel ready." "I am getting braver every day with speaking." "My voice is getting stronger." "It's okay to take small steps towards speaking." Imagine yourself confidently speaking in a situation that usually makes you nervous.  How does it feel? Well I can't describe that feeling but I can find a song on youtube that can describe how I feel.  Rachel Platten - Fight Song What are your strengths when it comes to communicating, even if it's not always verbal?   Am I empathetic?   What would you say to a friend who is struggling with selective mutism? Imagine when you are struggling with selective mutism.  What would I say to myself.  I can do this.  You are capable of achieving your wishes except findin...

Journal prompts for overcoming selective mutism could focus on  identifying anxieties around speaking, practicing self-affirmations, reflecting on situations where communication feels easier, and visualizing successful interactions , including prompts like: Reflecting on Anxiety and Triggers: What situations or people make you feel most anxious about speaking?    The situations that make me feel anxious the most about speaking up is saying the wrong thing and me getting yelled at.  I watched my sister get yelled at I don't know how many times when I was 3 and my sister was about 8.  Would that be about the time that my sister and her friend Vicki jumped on the car and dad came out and whooped her butt all the way into the house.  I had heard that story a million times and I have seen her get whooped by our dad.  So yeah I have learned not to do stuff that my sister has done.   Describe the physical sensations you feel in your body when you ha...