Anxious Silence: Anyone Else Experience This?

Almost all the time.... My anxiety throws my nervous system right into freezing.

yeah, ever since i got into college i havent been able to speak in class ever, no matter how confident i am of the answer

This happens to me a lot but usually I get forced to talk anyways, even though sometimes it physically hurts

No I can’t really stop it or control it. I mean, I don’t often actually lose the ability to talk *completely.* but if I force myself to talk when I feel like that my speech is really different- super slow, extremely short, low vocabulary. Talking becomes extremely difficult and it feels like it’s one way for my body to involuntary shut down during stress. I also lose my ability to even think in words.

I'm sorry that must be so hard :( I for sure have ADHD (even though I'm not properly diagnosed, I've done lots of research and relate entirely to others with ADHD) so it may also stem from that, but also I have severe anxiety so idk. I get what you mean, it's not like it's something you can just stop or control.

Yeah, this is common for me because of autism, but I’m sure adhd as well, and other neurotypes though less common. For me it’s totally normal. My partner knows this and understands and let’s me stay silent. BUT there are many times this has happened and in disagreements and they do not like it AT ALL. It just makes it worse when someone tries to fight you lout of mutism.

that could be a nonverbal episode :) i totally relate