I Get Selective Mutism (1)

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Chapter 2 I Get Selective Mutism

I Get Selective Mutism (1)

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In the new school, I couldn't speak as I used to. From then my life with selective mutism started.

[What Caused Me to Get Mute?]

To the best of my memory,

a) I was awfully nervous about the new environment
b) I couldn't get used to the atmosphere of the classroom
c) I was bullied

I suppose the above factors caused me to get mute.

[The Atmosphere of the Classroom]

I was puzzled by the atmosphere of the classroom. Many classmates seemed to be rough unlike previous ones. Being a timid boy, I couldn't get used to the atmosphere of the classroom.

In addition, I was extremely shocked by being called my name without an honorifics. It may be funny for you, but for me it was serious problem. In the previous school, I was firmly taught not to call children's names without honorifics.

(To be continued)

Index of SM story

Anxiety, Conflict, Psychodynamics, Psychoanalysis and Selective Mutism

I'm not familiar with psychoanalysis. But I suppose that in the past selective mutism was thought to be neurosis, and that was the reason why past theories about the etiology of selective mutism focused on family pathology. In psychodynamics approach, it is thought that children who were brought up in pathological families have the risk of creating conflict. Such conflict cause neurosis.

However, recent theories focused on biological factor. According to selectivemutism.org, amygdala, the almond-shaped area of the brain, cause children with selective mutism to be extremely anxious. This discovery is probably a fruit of brain science.

Changing School (2)

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Chapter 2 I Get Selective Mutism

Changing School (2)

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[New Environment]

At the end of April, I moved to my relatives' house. On the other hand, my father was sent to hospital to treat his illness.

My relatives welcomed me with much kindness. Acquaintances of mine (a girl and a boy) who lived in the house's neighborhood also welcomed me.

I wasn't afraid of new environment very much, because my family and I had visited their house every Bon holidays, the Buddhist All Souls' Day. My relatives and acquaintances were always kind to me, so I trusted them.

[Preparing For School]

I would go to school as soon as I moved here. But I couldn't. My mother didn't seem to have completed moving-in formalities yet. I did nothing at home.

One relative guided me to the elementary school where I was going to go to. Although we didn't go in the school, we viewed the school building and ground from a distance. I had something like 30% of expectation and 70% of fearful.

The first time I went in the school was about 1 or 2 days before I attended lesson first. In this day parent-teacher-student meeting was held, and I first saw Ms. N, my homeroom teacher.

After that the day was coming when I attended lesson and saw my classmates for the first time.

(To be continued)

Index of SM story

Changing School (1)

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Chapter 2 I Get Selective Mutism

Changing School (1)

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In the previous chapter I was a shy boy, but not selective mutism. In this chapter I got mute.

[Moving]

"We family will move from here."

My mother told me a shocking plan which will change my destiny.

It was April. I had just gone into the 4th grade (Unlike in the US, Back to School Day in Japan is April.)

According to my mother, details were such as below.

a) We'll move from here to relatives on my father's side's house in another prefecture, because my father will transfer to another hospital.

b) I will also transfer to another school.

c) By the time my father will recover from his illness, my family will share relatives' house.

I felt anxiety about moving from familiar environment to alien one. But I child was obliged to obey the plan decided by adult.

[Classmates' Cold Attitude]

My mother told the moving plan to my homeroom teacher. And the teacher told the plan to my classmates. But they didn't seem to be interested in my moving. It wasn't odd, because I had few friends due to my shyness.

At the end of April, I left my familiar school and town.

(To be continued)

Behavior Analysis and Selective Mutism

I study psychology by myself, especially the genre which is called "behavior analysis."

The fruits of behavior analysis are used in the therapy of selective mutism.

For example, Helping Your Child With Selective Mutism, a practical guide to treat selective mutism for parents, is an apllication of "shaping."

Shaping is an idea of behavior analysis. To teach a behavior, behavior analysis gradually reinforce behavior with rewards.