Discussion should i consider exposure therapy?

[ScaredCutter]

my psychologist is leaning into me trying to make very small interactions, mostly between my mum to slowly build up tlaking again or well, being able to talk properly. its been like this for almost 7 years, tlaking in a whisper, as quiet as i can. ive hated my voice, my volume, my tone but i have no idea if thats the reason. i always felt embarrased when i talked in the morning because it sounded so wrong and bad. im already at the point where im unable to communicate w/ strangers in any capacity, maybe except for a select few due to their jobs, doctor, psychologist stuff.

im able to communicate online well but, in sessions i outright refuse using it as a way to communicate w/ a professional, i hate flashcards, those interactive boards, writing stuff down and whatever else. but, im able to communicate some things if my mum is beside me, it just gets relayed back to the psychologist. i was able to somewhat talk to her w/o my mum in the room but after the 1 month break, ive just fallen back.

now, she did bring up exposure smth but with animals and id wanna do that but, no idea what theyd be called or if theres any nearby. i know theres exposure therapy where its with others but, im usually avoidant of it because i feel like ppl r always thinking smth negative of me. i hate being told "oh but, they worry about themselves", "people will but theres these people who dont" yada yada. i care about what ppl think of me and view me, i feel ugly, unlikeable and hedious. it feels like eyes r on me and theres nothing i can do.

idk what to consider though.

 

[NoPoint2Life]

I've done exposure therapy for OCD and it did help. But mine was individual since it wasn't really an issue dealing with others. I don't think there's any way working around having to deal with others with exposure therapy for anxiety like what you have.

Not advocating medicine at all, but I will just tell you there was a huge difference between the first time I tried exposure therapy without medication and the second time when I was on a medication that made it more tolerable.

Good luck.

 

[GlassMoon]

I can relate to how doing exposure therapy i a group would feel uncomfortable, even when in a different way. I have a strong fear of conflicts with other people. I fear that if I criticize them, they might be upset and leave me. But doing confrontation therapy would require doing this with real people, "risking" real relationships. I wish it were something like a fear of objects, then I would only worry about myself rather than about other people in therapy.

It sounds to me like a part of your deeper fear might be about being rejected, and the voice could be the part which the fear became concrete, tangible? I think some of our fears form when our brain links unrelated events, like in OCD.

I like the idea of doing this with animals. The contact with animals can be very soothing, calming. Then you could talk to the animal, and notice that the soothing and calming stays present. Find a space where you and your voice are allowed to show themselves.

I hope it works out for you