Selective mutism is an anxiety disorder, and its currently one of the most misunderstood, under-diagnosed, and undertreated mental health conditions. When children with selective mutism feel expected or pressured to speak in social situations, they become terrified. Therefore, their level of anxiety significantly increases, but by remaining silent, their anxiety level slightly decreases, obtaining some relief for themselves. For these children, remaining silent is actually an ineffective coping mechanism, or a maladapted solution to create a sense of safety within themselves. Hence, their...