Reveals Teen’s Silent Struggle With Mutism

At a Glance

• An 18-year-old finally spoke after 16 years of selective mutism.
• Her TikTok video reached over 5 million views.
• She now speaks openly and offers hope to others.
• Why it matters: Her story shows that even severe anxiety can be overcome with support and sharing.

An 18-year-old finally spoke after years of silence. Melanie Manderino has lived with selective mutism for most of her life, and her recent TikTok video has sparked hope for others facing the same invisible barrier. The story, shared on News Of Los Angeles, highlights the power of personal storytelling in mental-health awareness.

Early Years of Silence

When she was a child, she could only speak at home. “I was a 100% mute at school,” she says. The anxiety she felt in public was so intense that it “felt like someone was choking me.”

Physical symptoms followed the fear. “Even just the thought of talking, I would start getting nauseous. I’d like to start shaking and my heart rate would go up,” she recalls. These reactions made it impossible to speak in social settings.

Isolation followed. “I didn’t really have too many friends growing up. I would sit by myself,” she says. “As I got older, I had a friend group that I wouldn’t really talk to, but I sat with them and hung out with them, and occasionally I got the courage to say a few words.”

Turning Point at 16

At 16, she decided something had to change. “I turned toward God and asked for help,” she tells News Of Los Angeles. The faith-based decision marked a turning point in her journey.

She recalls an event where she hoped for a small breakthrough. “I was going to this event, and I was like, ‘If there’s any hope for me, I just wanna be able to say hi to one person,'” she says. The moment arrived when someone said hi, and she replied. “I was able to say hi back, which is so little, but it was just like the first time that I was able to say something like that.”

The experience also brought a darker side. “During a particularly dark point in my life, I became ‘depressed’ as I wasn’t able to talk or ‘have those human interactions,'” she confides.

Building Confidence

Small interactions became the foundation for larger conversations. “Even now, I still struggle a lot with selective mutism. I realized that I didn’t have to be mute all the time. I could talk a little bit,” she says. “I started saying a few words in conversations, and it built from that.”

A friendship in her junior year proved transformative. “I was able to build a friendship with her and start talking. I feel like I learned a lot of communication stuff in that relationship that I hadn’t gotten through the rest of my years of life,” she shares.

The Viral TikTok

She decided to share her experience on TikTok because she saw a lack of content about selective mutism. The video went viral, amassing over 5 million views. “I have only been talking for two years, and I still have a long way to go, but I don’t think I ever thought I would be able to like to talk at all, especially like sharing a video on TikTok,” she adds.

The response was overwhelming. “There was one girl that reached out to me, and she said, ‘Hey, I’m in high school, and I’m not able to talk, but I watched your video and it just really stood out to me and like gave me hope,'” she says.

Impact and Ongoing Journey

She acknowledges that she still struggles. “I still have a long way to go, but I have just come so far, and I’ve been able to talk about my experience and just be able to build relationships and friendships that I never thought I’d be able to,” she says.

She emphasizes the hope that comes with time. “Sometimes in the moment, you feel so alone or that you’ll never be able to get through it, but like there is hope and you’re eventually going to be able to get through it and be able to talk,” she says.

Looking ahead, she plans to keep sharing. “Manderino’s ready to keep sharing her story – and she has a lot more to say,” she says.

The Power of Sharing

Her story has reached people who feel isolated. “I was able to build a friendship with her and start talking,” she repeats, underscoring how sharing can create connection.

The TikTok platform amplified her voice. The 5 million views demonstrate the reach of authentic mental-health narratives.

What Others Are Saying

Messages from viewers have been encouraging. “I watched your video and it just really stood out to me and gave me hope,” one girl wrote.

Other comments express gratitude. “Your story gave me hope that I can also talk,” a viewer wrote.

Future Goals

She wants to continue raising awareness. “I have a lot more to say,” she says.

She hopes to help others who are silent. “I want to keep sharing my story so that others know they’re not alone,” she says.

The Role of Faith

Faith played a pivotal role in her recovery. “I turned toward God and asked for help,” she says, a statement that guided her early steps toward speaking.

Her spiritual practice provided comfort during moments of anxiety. “I was going to this event, and I was like, ‘If there’s any hope for me, I just wanna be able to say hi to one person,'” she recalls, showing how prayer helped her focus.

Support Systems

Friends and community offered practical support. “I had a friend group that I wouldn’t really talk to, but I sat with them and hung out with them,” she says, illustrating the importance of companionship.

The TikTok audience became a source of encouragement. “There was one girl that reached out to me and said, ‘Hey, I’m in high school, and I’m not able to talk, but I watched your video and it just really stood out to me and like gave me hope,'” she says, highlighting the power of peer support.

Challenges Still Faced

Even with progress, challenges remain. “Even now, I still struggle a lot with selective mutism,” she admits.

• Physical anxiety symptoms persist during new social situations
• Confidence fluctuates depending on environment
• Long-term maintenance of speaking skills requires ongoing effort

Advice to Others

She offers practical encouragement to those in similar situations. “Sometimes in the moment, you feel so alone or that you’ll never be able to get through it, but like there is hope and you’re eventually going to be able to get through it and be able to talk,” she says.

• Start with small, manageable interactions
• Seek supportive communities or faith groups
• Remember that progress is gradual and worth the effort

Understanding Selective Mutism

• Rare anxiety disorder that starts in childhood
• Less than 1 % of people across all age groups
• Causes intense fear or anxiety that makes speaking difficult or impossible

Key Takeaways

• Selective mutism can silence a person for years
• Small, supportive interactions can spark change
• Sharing personal stories can inspire hope
• Continued practice and support help overcome the disorder

Timeline of Key Events