Is it possible to go "partially" non-verbal?

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Often I will go through phases (usually precipitated by stress) where I won't communicate unless vitally necessary, and even then, I will use the shortest amount of words possible. I isolate myself during these phases and don't take notice of my phone. But I do communicate a very small amount.

I have gone through phases, in response to severe stress, where I go totally non-verbal and am only able to communicate via computer or written words.

I have selective mutism (for example I cannot speak to the other students at university, even if they ask me a simple question, and I have a full-time support worker at university to facilitate communication for me - I can talk to her), but with the people I do talk to, normally I talk freely with them, even if I do have very limited emotional expression.

Is it possible to, as in the first paragraph, go almost completely non-verbal, but still have a shred of communication ability with specific people?

Your opinions please.

Thanks.

I seem to do this. I've never thought of it in relation to going non-verbal for a period of time, but it makes sense to me.

Me too, I can lose the ability to speak when I have a stress meltdown. It first happened about four years ago, and it's frightening.

I prefer to not talk to anyone but myself most of the time. Since I live alone, and can no longer work, I get my wish most of the time. I will talk to people when I have to, or when out occasionally running errands, but the rest of the time, it's just me talking to myself or to the radio. The TV died. My younger brother was over for a visit recently and took it away to the appliance cemetery. I plan on adopting a new one soon, so I will have someone else to talk to besides the radio. Lately I've been getting mad at the radio--too much of the same political stories over and over again--and the radio can't even vote!

I was selectively mute until my early twenties and still somewhat now. I was always chatty with my parents and friends, but never spoke in class or in certain situations. Even in my first permanent job, I only spoke to a few people. I would speak for long periods wth the guy back to back with me, but few others and none like that. I smiled, said 'Hello', was polite to the others and answered questions, but never actually started the conversation. Even today, I don't speak at all at the parents council meetings, at my daughter's school. I'm only there to listen. I'd like to be able to speak up, but I've gotten 'stage fright'. I've realised that I could probably speak, if there was a table and the numbers were much fewer. But, there's about 25, all sitting in a circle (kind of). I know I'd turn a lovely shade of crimson, no matter what I said. Maybe some day.

Yes, I have a big problem with this. I think it is mostly from anxiety + stress. I am pretty sure I don't fit the definition for selective mutism since there is no situation where I will go mute every time. It just depends on how much stress I am under. But their are situations where it will happen most of the time. It makes it hard to meet new people. because I can't talk to them.

I seem to have 3 modes.

I can't talk at all, but I can use simple non-verbal gestures, like shaking my head and shrugging.
I can make small answers to direct questions, but can't talk unless I answering a question, I can't just make a statement.
I can't shut up no matter how hard I try. That happens when I get excited. It usually happens at parties or when I have had caffeine. I tend to embarrass myself in that mode.

Sometimes among people I am really comfortable with, like my friends or family, I can be kind of normal. I have to know someone for years before I get to that point.

That doesnt mean that you are "partially" non verbal perse, I don't talk that much, why? Because as cliche as it may sound I have nothing to say to most idiots around me. But heck, I'm way more verbal than them. I'm not frightened to speak, only if you are talking about a big crowd, then yes I freeze instantly but I won't consider myself "non verbal" or partial non verbal.

I only go non-verbal at social environments where I don't know many people and feel shy or embarrassed or awkward. But that's due to Social Phobia and extreme shyness.

I go non-verbal when I am tired and don't want to use any energy or when I am extremely anxious which I guess is selective mutism. I mean I actually seem to lose the ability to talk in meaningful sentences. I don't get completely mute I do a lot of stammering. Sometimes I wish people would leave me alone instead of pester me on about being silent.

Yes, I think I was like this after my parent's divorced. And I certainly am when I am in a shutdown. I have realized recently that I have had selective mutism for years unkown to anyone. Which people found rude, of course. Not that I can blame them..

Sincerely,
Matthew

I often go mostly silent during/after overloads, meltdowns, etc. Just one word/syllable stuff if anything.

I was completely non-verbal until I was 7 years old...

....going into teens I rarely talked, as an adult I did talk but after four years unemployment I'm finding myself randomly going silent in some social situations and it feels similar to how it did when I was non-verbal - an inability to talk, not physically unable but mentally I just stop being able to communicate socially, and of course this also happens with meltdowns and shutdowns too.

I'm not experienced with this myself (wish I could shut out people's jabbering sometimes) but I think my sons have such problem sometimes. One of them almost never answer questions, even simple things like "do you want more bread". His speaking, understanding and vocabularies all tested normal for his age. He just doesn't talk much. Of course when he's freaking out (which is often) we can't get a single word out of him. The other one isn't so bad, but often not hear people talking to him because he's drifting in his own little world.

I don't recall speaking hardly at all in public until junior high sometime. I'm sure I did a bit, but it wasn't very much.

That was a bigger thing for me as a kid - I talked at home, but not in public, or not to new people, etc. Just said nothing - my mother often brings it up when we see a kid crying in a store or something - she says "you never did anything like that" and so on.

I know that I have gone no-talkie when I cannot read written text outloud. This just happened yesterday, and the whole day was krap, and I got nothing done all day.