Living Beyond the Silence: Learning to Overcome Selective Mutism, Severe Shyness, and Other Childhood Anxieties

ISBN-13: 9781647465131

Media Type: Paperback

Publisher: Author Academy Elite

Publication Date: 11-18-2020

Pages: 222

Product Dimensions: 6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.47(d)

Gaye James has lived through the struggles of selective mutism by raising a child with the voice-paralyzing anxiety. Helping her son along his path of overcoming selective mutism has inspired her to reach out and advocate for others suffering from the same disorder. Gaye spent the first half of her career helping people learn to walk through physical therapy, working as a licensed physical therapist assistant. Now, she is using the power of words to help others learn to overcome their internal fear and communicate. Gaye lives in Dayton, Ohio with her husband and enjoys hiking, spending time with her friends, photography, and geocaching. Her two adult sons live nearby. At present, the only grandchildren are two adorable furry four-legged felines named Woodford and Hamilton.

Table of Contents

Note to the Reader. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . .xiii

Introduction: Meeting Selective Mutism. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .xv

Part 1: Breaking the Lie: "He's Just Shy"

1. Beating the Bullies. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

2. Bonding Over Farting: New Beginnings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

3. Beyond Shyness. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11

Part 2: Life With Selective Mutism

4. Diagnosing Selective Mutism. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19

5. Protective Momma Bear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24

6. Fighting Fear with Fear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29

7. A Milestone: First Day of Kindergarten . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33

8. The Impact of Togetherness. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40

9. Giant Leap of Progress. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43

10. Using Anger as an Outlet. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . .48

11. Saying Hi in First Grade . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... .53

12. Selective Mutism Is Much More than Being Silent . . . . . .58

13. Breakthrough Blessings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64

14. A Shred of Normalcy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .69

15. Left Out . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . .74

16. Babysitter Blues. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . .79

17. Second Grade Introductions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . .87

Part 3: Winning The War On Selective Mutism

18. Trevor Talks! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .95

19. Overcoming Selective Mutism . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..100

20. School Presentations Read Aloud. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .105

21. Leo the Lion Finds His Voice. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . .114

22. Quiet Gestures Make Loud Impressions. . . . . . . . . . . . .121

23. Gaining a Furry Friend . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . .126

24. Running for Student Council . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . .133

25. Benefits of Animal Therapy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . .138

26. Trevor's Veterans Day Speech. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .142

27. Saying Goodbye to Grandma. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .148

28. From Struggler to Leader. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . .154

29. Curing Selective Mutism . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . ..161

Epilogue: Finding Hope Through Treatment. . . . . . . . . . . . ..165

Appendices

1. Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..171

2. Practical Application Chapter Discussion Points. . . . . . . .173

3. Treatment Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . .190

Acknowledgments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . .. .193

About the Author. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . ... ..197

About the Artist. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . .. .199

About the Publisher . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .201

Your Next Steps in the Journey Through Selective Mutism . .203