Dubai: A Dubai-based entrepreneur and content creator, who lost her voice for nearly six months due to anxiety, has shared her traumatic experience in the hope of raising awareness about such scenarios.
Speaking to Gulf News, Indian expat Lavanya Vikram, 41, said, “It has been a very difficult year for me. I cannot imagine that someone as talkative and outgoing as I am could go mum - and for so long.”
It all began in February this year when Lavanya suddenly found herself struggling to speak.
“I would fumble and in due course, could not get any words out. It was scary.”
As Lavanya grappled with the unknown, she said she sought psychiatric help in due course. As she underwent therapy, it emerged that extreme anxiety lay at the bottom of the problem.
“I am actually a very strong person as I lost both my parents to health issues when I was just 13. I multi-tasked and juggled with a lot of things to stand on my own feet and also enable my sister, my only sibling, to do so. All that effort and positivity paid off as I got educated and succeeded at work,” she narrated.
Running a ladies salon and spa chain – Blush N Curls – along with her husband Vikram Kokane, Lavanya said the death of another family member – her father in law – in 2022 came as a huge shock to her.
“But I went about my life like the strong woman I had made myself to be. I never realised that I was bottling up the grief of losing my parents, and now my father-in-law. I never realised that it’s okay to cry, to speak to someone about the loss,” she recalled.
The resultant trauma and fear of loss are what led to her losing her voice, she was told.
Lavanya said she never let her silence come in the way of her work commitments. “As a content creator, I travelled to Bali and Kerala as scheduled, but didn’t speak a word even on my social media posts, much to the surprise of my followers. That was quite uncharacteristic of me. Finally, in late August, when I had managed to get back my voice but what still stuttering in between, I let the world know what happened - and what a huge difference that has made.”
Lavanya, who decided to come on Instagram, spoke to her followers through a video where she shared her experience, breaking into a stutter every now and then.
“I was determined to come out of it. I did not want anyone to go through what I did. I wanted to let them know that it is okay to feel vulnerable, break down, cry and grieve,” she said.
She said once she opened up, the response was overwhelming, with hundreds of messages pouring in.
“There were so many who began to share their own experiences, providing solace to me and taking solace themselves. I am so thankful to each of them."
She said it helps to talk to people. "Some of my followers told me about similar experiences they had undergone themselves; one lady told me of how her three-and-a-half-year-old son had begun stammering because of a traumatic surgery experience; yet others took inspiration from my story. It seemed like we were all healing together,” she said.
“Luckily for me, my husband has also been a pillar of strength as he has stood by me every step of the way,” she added
Lavanya said she subsequently got invited to speak on radio shows which has also helped. “I stutter sometimes when I speak, I even broke down on air the other day, but I realise now that it is okay. I will be fine,” she said.
Lavanya, who was put on anti-anxiety and sleep medication as part of her treatment, said, “I only continue with the sleep medication now, and hope to stop that too in due course.”
And come what may, she knows she must talk it out.
Medical point of view
Marie Thérsèse Abi Akel, Head of Allied Health Services and Senior Speech Therapist, Medcare Camali Clinic, explained how stress and anxiety can specifically affect vocal function and speech.
“Stress and anxiety can cause significant tension in the muscles surrounding the larynx (voice box). When we experience stress, our bodies enter a heightened state of alertness, which often leads to muscle tension in the neck and throat. This can result in restricted vocal fold movement, affecting the voice’s quality,” she said.
In severe cases, anxiety can lead to voice loss also known as functional dysphonia. This condition occurs when the vocal cords become so strained from anxiety that they fail to vibrate properly, resulting in partial or complete voice loss. While this is typically temporary, if left unaddressed, chronic anxiety can lead to long-term changes. However, with appropriate therapy, most individuals can recover their normal vocal function.
“Additionally, anxiety can alter breathing patterns leading to shallow or rapid breathing which can further strain the vocal cords and affect speech fluency. In some cases, individuals may also experience stuttering or voice tremors as a result,” she noted.
Chronic stress can even influence long-term vocal health.
“It can lead to persistent tension in the vocal muscles, which may result in the development of vocal strain, hoarseness or even vocal fatigue. Over time, continuous misuse or overuse of the voice due to stress can cause more serious issues such as vocal nodules, polyps or vocal fold paralysis. Chronic stress may also exacerbate pre-existing vocal conditions making them harder to manage and treat. Therefore, managing stress effectively is key to maintaining long-term vocal health,” she said.
In severe cases, anxiety too can lead to voice loss also known as functional dysphonia. “This condition occurs when the vocal cords become so strained from anxiety that they fail to vibrate properly, resulting in partial or complete voice loss. While this is typically temporary, if left unaddressed, chronic anxiety can lead to long-term changes in vocal tone such as a breathy or hoarse quality. However, with appropriate therapy, most individuals can recover their normal vocal function,” she said.
Early signs of dysphonia include a change in vocal quality, such as hoarseness, strain, or a breathy voice. “People may also notice vocal fatigue after minimal use, throat discomfort, or difficulty projecting their voice. In some cases, stuttering or sudden pauses in speech may occur,” she explained.
Treatment involves addressing both the vocal symptoms and the underlying stress and anxiety. Voice therapy with a speech therapist can help restore proper vocal function, while stress management techniques such as mindfulness, breathing exercises and counseling can target the root cause of the issue.
