I used to...

have a pretend life with an imaginary persona, well many different imaginary personas. That's how I dealt with my selective mutism. The kids in class would talk and goof off, while I pretended to be anywhere but there, and anyone but myself, for that sake. Now, I take medication. I don't have imaginary personas these days. I just try to deal with talking in public and making friends. It can be hard and it was kinda fun to have imaginary personas, but that wasn't reality and I want reality no matter how crappy it is.