31 Things About SM

1. To me, SM is... My whole life- it's kind of scary to think what my life would have been like without it.

2. I was diagnosed with it: When I was around 4/5 years old.

3. But I've had symptoms of it since: My parents can remember

4. Most people assume: I'm choosing not to talk

5. But actually, the truth is: I want to talk, I just physically can't

6. The biggest adjustment I've had to make is: Starting college

7. The hardest part about mornings are: Knowing I've probably got to spend another day not being able to communicate for a lot of it.

8. Something I couldn't live without: My family, friends and dogs.

9. The hardest part about nights are: The anxiety about the next day

10. Each day I take: Medication for my sleep and anxiety- don't ask what it's called because I have no idea:)

11. Regarding alternative treatments: I have a psychiatrist

12. Regarding work and career: There's more chance of me knowing what my medication is called than this (although i'm in college at the moment)

13. People would be surprised to know: I can be loud at times

14. The hardest thing to accept is: Knowing I've got to spend a lot of my day not being able to speak or communicate and knowing that there are some family members that may never get to hear me talk

15. If I could have one day of feeling normal I would: Literally anything

16. Want to know a secret? It's not a choice, we want to speak, we just can't

17. It's difficult when people: Pretend I'm not there just because I don't speak

18. Something that has surprised me about living with SM is: Seeing how ignorant and unkind the world can actually be, and how there's many ways to do a something even if you think there isn't

19. The nicest thing someone did for me: Researching selective mutism to know how to help me

20. One of the hardest things I've done was: Going from high school to college

21. The thing that's helped me the most is: My family and friends

22. The person who has inspired me the most is: I don't really know- my high school english teacher

23. When someone is diagnosed with SM, I'd like to tell them: You aren't alone, there's so many of us with SM, and even though it may not seem like it, there is a future

24. A positive that's came out of my SM is: my friends

25. SM has taught me: not everything is how it seems, there's always another side

26. My favourite song/book/poem/film symbolizing my SM is: Read all about it (pt III) - Emeli Sande

27. My favourite motto/quote that gets me through tough times is: "If you don't understand my silence, then you don't deserve my words"

28. I love it when people: Want to know more about selective mutism to help

29. Something I never thought I could do was: a lot of things

30. One day I will: overcome selective mutism

31. I'm getting involved with SM awareness month because: so many childhoods are taken away from the lack of knowledge. it affects so many, but there isn't enough known about SM for them to be supported. its a different type of loneliness, no one will begin to understand