On the December 3 episode of Days of Our Lives, Rachel Boyd as Sophia gave viewers a second look at her brilliant performance, going from a catatonic, institutionalized patient to an obviously loony-tunes schemer. But just because Sophia can speak after all doesn’t mean that she is faking her mental illness. We explain why.

Key Takeaways

• Soap fans assure everyone has an agenda.
• Sophia explained her position to Rachel.
• Everyone else in Salem gets a free pass when they claim mental illness; why not Sophia?

Experience Matters

We don’t blame soap fans. We have been primed to believe that when a character tells a lie, it means they are evil and have a deliberate agenda. But that isn’t always the case. Sophia made it very clear to Rachel (Alice Halsey) that she had initially had a breakdown and stopped talking. Now, she doesn’t feel like talking, except to select people. That’s not a villainous plot. That’s a legitimate medical condition.

Check the Guide

Sophia is obviously suffering from selective mutism, an illness characterized by:

• Consistent failure to speak in specific situations (i.e., public)
• Ability to speak fluently in other situations (e.g., home)
• May be perceived as shy, withdrawn, or rude
• Physical symptoms of anxiety, such as a “freeze” response, rigid body movement, or minimal facial expression
• May use an altered voice, such as a whisper
• It is often regarded as a phobia of speaking to certain people or in certain situations
• It is often linked to anxiety disorders and can be influenced by genetic predisposition, family history, and environmental or psychological factors. Contributing factors include a family history of anxiety, a nervous system that is more easily aroused, and experiences with trauma or stressful events.

Sure sounds like Sophia, doesn’t it? She’s been through stress, she’s been through trauma, and now she doesn’t want to speak to either Tate (Leo Howard) or her mother. And we don’t blame her.

Clean Slate

So now that Sophia has been officially decreed mentally ill, she can get away with all of her awful behavior. Like Rachel. Like Philip (John-Paul Lavoisier). Like Abigail (Marci Miller). A diagnosis is a get-out-of-jail-free card in Salem. And Sophia has as much of a right to use it as anyone else.