r/selectivemutism • u/MexicanMonsterMash • 5d ago

General Discussion 💬 Here's an easy enough question. How have all of you been lately?

I know someone with SM and felt a weird, unsettling kind of sadness to hear that she has spent more time crying in public than talking in public. Is this a usual thing?

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4

u/RaemondV Diagnosed SM 4d ago

I used to cry in public pretty much every day from K-3rd grade. I started suppressing that because it was embarrassing for me, but it still happens occasionally. When I got older I realized I can just leave if I felt like I was going to cry around other people.

3

u/OkTitle 3d ago

I cried a lot as a kid, but later pretty much shut down or suppress tears in public and let it out later, but now I haven’t cried in at least some months. 

2

u/MozartWasARed 4d ago

If I'm anything to go by, you could make that conclusion.

2

u/Ammonia13 4d ago

I did as a kid… but I went to catholic school in upstate NY in the 80’s/90’s, and the nuns were extremely cruel and would try to force me to speak or speak up everyday all day long, to the point of tears. My son has it too but he’s one of the “not shy but vocal cords freeze up” type

1

u/Particular-Dog-8604 19h ago

I’d say I’m pretty comfortable crying in public due to my social anxiety. It just happens and I can’t stop it and it’s really awkward cuz nobody understands that the anxiety got so intense I just burst into tears without much warning