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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 3 of 3. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by robot on March 15, 2004, at 23:53:18
I am being treated for depression, and among my symptoms is what i call "mouth freeze". It becomes a strain to speak—it feels as if the autonomic centers of my brain are shut off and I have to use my conscious capacities just to manage to mumble and pronounce words correctly, and get by when i have to speak to people. THe fact that I interact with people all day at my job does not help.
This is not a normal anxiety-reaction. I was not generally a socially anxious person until this symptom turned me into one. It often happens when I otherwise feel okay, and the anxiety FOLLOWS it b/c it is so stressful and frustrating. I hide it quite well. It does cut me off from interaction with others, even my friends.
I have mentioned this to a few doctors, and none of them has offered me any info.
Is this a recognized symptom, and if it is, how common?
What causes it?
Is there anybody out there who has expreienced the same thing? I tried to find it on the internet, but no luck.
I feel that it has prolonged and deepened a depression I otherwise would have managed.
Posted by mair on March 16, 2004, at 15:42:11
In reply to Mouth Frozen, cant speak, posted by robot on March 15, 2004, at 23:53:18
That sounds awful! I've never heard of it either. However, for a time when I was more seriously depressed I developed a stutter. I had never stuttered before and once this symptom went away, I never stuttered again - at least not persistently. I think my stutter was an anxiety reaction (defense mechanism?) to therapy. However, although it was most prevalent there, after awhile I noticed that I was starting to stutter at work also.
Are you taking drugs which might explain some of this?
Mair
Posted by Dr. Bob on March 16, 2004, at 18:33:55
In reply to Mouth Frozen, cant speak, posted by robot on March 15, 2004, at 23:53:18
> I am being treated for depression, and among my symptoms is what i call "mouth freeze"...
To consolidate the responses, I'd like to redirect follow-ups to Psycho-Babble. Here's a link:
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040313/msgs/324836.html
Thanks,
Bob
This is the end of the thread.
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