Guest guest Posted April 6, 2006 Report Share Posted April 6, 2006 In a word - honesty! The therapist probably won't know anything about it, so the best thingis probably to broach the topic gently. Something along the lines of 'I've come to see you because I'm having problems with my hearing. I've tried all the audiologists and hearing experts, but it appears that the problem may be partly psychological' When it comes around to describing the actual symptoms try to refer to things that he/she might relate to. 'You know how sometimes when you're talking on the phone you can hear the other person breathing into the mouthpiece? Well I get that all the time.' Or - have you ever been annnoyed by people chewing gum noisily? Normal eating is like that for me.' If they still can't understand it one thing I've always found useful is to bring up the film Star Wars - 'You know the noisy breathing of Darth Vader? I get that from everybody.' Similarly for college write as honestly as possible. State that you know that this is a difficult thing for anybody to understand (it is difficult for sufferers after all!) and then explain what the symptoms are. I don't know if you would be able to get a ban on gum/food in the classroom - I doubt it - but it might be worth a try. You might be able to get a dispensation on marks to take it into account, or maybe be allowed to sit exams in a separate room (although I've always tried to keep away from that as it labels us as 'different'). And I would have thought that you should be able to get a single room in college. Again you will have to go through the process of explaining what this is and how it affects us - difficulty in concentrating, inability to sleep - and that if this happens you will not be able to fulfil your potential. You might want to draw a comparison with something like dyslexia and how dyslexics often now have their condition taken into account. I hope this gives some ideas and good luck. > >Reply-To: Soundsensitivity >To: Soundsensitivity >Subject: Need some advice >Date: Thu, 06 Apr 2006 01:02:18 -0000 > >Firstly I just want to thank all of you who replied to my " SSSS is >ruining my life " post. It was so comforting and helpful to know that >I'm not alone. I appreciate it, from the bottom of my heart. > >Now I'm coming to you all for advice. I finally made an appointment to >see a therapist (free, because it is through my college) after my >boyfriend and I had a huge fight over my deteriorating mood. I've >become so depressed it is affecting every aspect of my life-- and it >just seems to be getting worse and worse every single day. So after >putting it off for years, I finally made that first step to recovery. >What I'm wondering is how to bring this up? I've never been to a >therapist, and I have no idea how it works so I'm incredibly nervous. >I want to, obviously, talk about SSSS but I feel like she's not going >to know anything about it, and I'm not going to be able to explain it >in a way that it is going to sound plausible. > >So I guess what I'm asking is what to expect, what to ask, what to >bring up, how to bring it up? > >I'm going to find a pair of earplugs soon to wear in my anatomy class. >I sit in the front row so I'm assuming I'll still hear her. I loved >the idea of the Bose headphones that someone suggested to me.. I only >wish I could afford $300 headphones! > >Another thing... > >Assuming I get into the college I am trying to transfer to for fall-- >I want to write something up to the professors I will have to explain >to them my condition and if they could please prohibit gum and food >from the classroom, as normal classroom noises will already be >torture. Is this a good idea? Has anyone else done anything like this, >if so what did you include in the writing? What should I include? > >I'd also like to use this approach to be able to get a single when I'm >living on campus. I don't think I can handle life with a roommate in >such a tiny dorm room with her writing, flipping pages, snoring, >breathing, typing, mouse clicking, and everything else. But it's so >hard to do that-- I feel like they are going to read it and think I'm >just trying to get a single out of it or something. > >Ahh I don't know. I'm trying really hard to find ways of making this >work. But it seems so hopeless > >Thanks for any input! > >Savannah > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 6, 2006 Report Share Posted April 6, 2006 Yes, cannot watch Sopranos anymore because Tony breathes like a pig! I get so angry and have to cover my ears immediately and change the channel. I don't even want to be in the same room as my husband anymore and that is scaring me!! > >Reply-To: Soundsensitivity >To: Soundsensitivity >Subject: RE: Need some advice >Date: Thu, 06 Apr 2006 08:34:08 +0000 > >In a word - honesty! > >The therapist probably won't know anything about it, so the best thingis >probably to broach the topic gently. Something along the lines of 'I've >come >to see you because I'm having problems with my hearing. I've tried all the >audiologists and hearing experts, but it appears that the problem may be >partly psychological' > >When it comes around to describing the actual symptoms try to refer to >things that he/she might relate to. 'You know how sometimes when you're >talking on the phone you can hear the other person breathing into the >mouthpiece? Well I get that all the time.' Or - have you ever been annnoyed >by people chewing gum noisily? Normal eating is like that for me.' If they >still can't understand it one thing I've always found useful is to bring up >the film Star Wars - 'You know the noisy breathing of Darth Vader? I get >that from everybody.' > >Similarly for college write as honestly as possible. State that you know >that this is a difficult thing for anybody to understand (it is difficult >for sufferers after all!) and then explain what the symptoms are. I don't >know if you would be able to get a ban on gum/food in the classroom - I >doubt it - but it might be worth a try. You might be able to get a >dispensation on marks to take it into account, or maybe be allowed to sit >exams in a separate room (although I've always tried to keep away from that >as it labels us as 'different'). > >And I would have thought that you should be able to get a single room in >college. Again you will have to go through the process of explaining what >this is and how it affects us - difficulty in concentrating, inability to >sleep - and that if this happens you will not be able to fulfil your >potential. You might want to draw a comparison with something like dyslexia >and how dyslexics often now have their condition taken into account. > >I hope this gives some ideas and good luck. > > > > > > >Reply-To: Soundsensitivity > >To: Soundsensitivity > >Subject: Need some advice > >Date: Thu, 06 Apr 2006 01:02:18 -0000 > > > >Firstly I just want to thank all of you who replied to my " SSSS is > >ruining my life " post. It was so comforting and helpful to know that > >I'm not alone. I appreciate it, from the bottom of my heart. > > > >Now I'm coming to you all for advice. I finally made an appointment to > >see a therapist (free, because it is through my college) after my > >boyfriend and I had a huge fight over my deteriorating mood. I've > >become so depressed it is affecting every aspect of my life-- and it > >just seems to be getting worse and worse every single day. So after > >putting it off for years, I finally made that first step to recovery. > >What I'm wondering is how to bring this up? I've never been to a > >therapist, and I have no idea how it works so I'm incredibly nervous. > >I want to, obviously, talk about SSSS but I feel like she's not going > >to know anything about it, and I'm not going to be able to explain it > >in a way that it is going to sound plausible. > > > >So I guess what I'm asking is what to expect, what to ask, what to > >bring up, how to bring it up? > > > >I'm going to find a pair of earplugs soon to wear in my anatomy class. > >I sit in the front row so I'm assuming I'll still hear her. I loved > >the idea of the Bose headphones that someone suggested to me.. I only > >wish I could afford $300 headphones! > > > >Another thing... > > > >Assuming I get into the college I am trying to transfer to for fall-- > >I want to write something up to the professors I will have to explain > >to them my condition and if they could please prohibit gum and food > >from the classroom, as normal classroom noises will already be > >torture. Is this a good idea? Has anyone else done anything like this, > >if so what did you include in the writing? What should I include? > > > >I'd also like to use this approach to be able to get a single when I'm > >living on campus. I don't think I can handle life with a roommate in > >such a tiny dorm room with her writing, flipping pages, snoring, > >breathing, typing, mouse clicking, and everything else. But it's so > >hard to do that-- I feel like they are going to read it and think I'm > >just trying to get a single out of it or something. > > > >Ahh I don't know. I'm trying really hard to find ways of making this > >work. But it seems so hopeless > > > >Thanks for any input! > > > >Savannah > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 6, 2006 Report Share Posted April 6, 2006 Hi, Savannah . . . You're very courageous to start taking steps in this direction. Being nervous is understandable, but remember that the therapist's job is to be non-judgemental about whatever issues you bring up--her (or his) purpose in being there is to help YOU. You don't have to prove yourself to HER (or him). Also, here's a thought--bring in a book as "proof." Even though **we** all know very well how debilitating SSSS is for us, the credibility factor of a book written by an outside expert might give more weight to what you say when you try to explain your experiences. I went through "Too Loud, Too Bright, Too Fast, Too Tight" by Sharon Heller: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0060932929/sr=8-1/qid=1144367493/ref=pd_bbs_1/103-3333525-7225437?%5Fencoding=UTF8 . . . and underlined things that I wanted to remember or try, but also things that made me think, "Yes!!!!! That's me!" You could do the same thing (with that or another book--maybe other folks here could recommend books they've found helpful), and take it in to your therapist. Or, for that matter, show it to your boyfriend. Or you could even print out pages from this group's posts that ring a bell for you. It helps to show other people proof that you're not the only one suffering with this. More power to you! And all of us . . . I haven't been posting lately, but I've been quietly crying, sympathizing, and cheering along with everyone here. -Mayuri Soundsensitivity wrote: Message: 8 Date: Thu, 06 Apr 2006 01:02:18 -0000From: "savannahleelofgren" Subject: Need some adviceNow I'm coming to you all for advice. I finally made an appointment tosee a therapist (free, because it is through my college) after myboyfriend and I had a huge fight over my deteriorating mood.<snip> What I'm wondering is how to bring this up? I've never been to atherapist, and I have no idea how it works so I'm incredibly nervous. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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