Re: NEW TO THIS

[Guest guest]

Hi ! Like you, I just recently found this group and was

relieved to find I'm not alone in my 'weirdness'.

I had a girl who "harrumphed" to clear her throat constantly at work.

When it got to the point where I could no longer stand it, I would

casually ask her if she was alright. She took the hint and would eat a

cough drop or something. Thankfully, they moved her to the opposite

end of the building.

Anyway, welcome!

~

Pannell wrote:

Wow...a whole new world has opened up for me! I am excited and

relieved at the same time! I didn't know there was anyone else like

me in the world and spent my life ashamed because I could not explain

or control my rage when I was exposed to people crunching, etc that I

could not get away from. I always felt like a freak. My wonderful

wife of 8 years (2nd marriage)is a social worker and is usually very

accommodating of my "wierdness". Two days ago she found a thread on

the internet about Hyperacusis and I took it from there. It is

amazing reading the stories...I fit most of them to a "T". I have

worked with a guy for 6 or 7 years and always got along well with him

until 6 months ago. Before we were in seperate rooms about 25 feet

apart...now we sits at a computer right next to me. He spends all

day clearing his throat, coughing up phlegm and CRUNCHING ICE! I

have been miserable! My ears got infected from earplugs...I started

taking vacation time in the middle of the day and getting trashed in

some bar because I could not stand to sit there and listen to it. I

realized I was headed down a dangerous road and have pretty much

stopped that, but my nerves are shot. I just read where someone

concentrates on chewing gum...I'm going to try that. Sorry this is

so windy, but I have never been in the company of someone like me.

It seems like most everyone else here is a woman...is that going to

be an issue? I am a 51 year old very happily married man-I wouldn't

bother anyone.

[Guest guest]

Sometimes I wonder if some people will purposely do something (more

often and more loudly) when they KNOW it bothers you. I know my

husband did - until he finally came to realize that this is something

real for me, I'm not just 'picking' on him.

The anger that stuff like this invokes is frightening to me. I'm not a

violent person. But, like you, I well up with so much anger I just

want to hit something/someone. Running away is a safer alternative...

but not always feasible. It's exhausting how much this thing rules my

life sometimes :-(

It sure is good to talk about it though...

.R.Pannell@... wrote:

Thanks, . I have looked

around his computer at him and asked him if he was okay, but he didn't

get the hint. I told him once that the crunching bothered me and he

seemed to lighten up for a couple of days, but it's back full force

now. The throat clearing is annoying, but it's the ice crunching that

makes me want to run away or hit someone. It feels better just to talk

about it!

[Guest guest]

Welcome !

While I realise that a great majority of us seem to be women,

affected by this syndrome, rest assured there are men amongst us

also. I believe I read a percentage somewhere stating that more women

than men are affected. My father was one of those men. At least,

growing up, I knew someone else that had it, that was maybe the one

saving grace... I could always say I was like my dad, I was never

completely alone with it.

I work as a bank teller, along side a number of other women that love

chewing their gum, slurping their coffee, and crunching on hard

candies. Finding this site gave me the ability to explain my reaction

to sound. It opened a whole new work environment for me. I was able

to explain to them what happens to me when i am confronted by certain

noises. I told them about finding this site, a relatively newly

defined syndrome and about some of the struggles we all face. My work

mates have been incredible! They asked me questions about it, and are

very careful around me. Sometimes, they might forget, but, you know..

more often than not.. they remind themselves before I have to give

them the " Look " ...

***One Key thing that I believe made this work: I did not wait until

I was in the throws of a " sound assault " ... I spoke to them first

thing in the morning, after a good nights sleep, feeling rested and

refreshed. It was so much easier to articulate this without the

emotional cloud coloring my words. I think they were more receptive

also. ****

I still have to serve customers that will chew away on their gum

incessantly, {Gods.. i wish Gum was illegal!), or hold coin in their

hands and clink them together, tapping, smacking, cracking... But

again, finding this site has been a godsend. I have been learning new

ways to cope, trying out different ideas I have come across, learning

to shift my focus,etc that has made many of this interactions so much

more bearable... At least, endurable for the few minutes i must serve

them. I know that I will never be cured of this, but I am absolutely

delighted to find that I can take charge of it, and not let it

control me entirely.

So again, welcome... Like yourself, just finding this site alone gave

me such a sense of peace, a reassurance knowing that we share in

this, a greater understanding.

blessings

Alix

>

> Wow...a whole new world has opened up for me! I am excited and

> relieved at the same time! I didn't know there was anyone else

like

> me in the world and spent my life ashamed because I could not

explain

> or control my rage when I was exposed to people crunching, etc that

I

> could not get away from. I always felt like a freak. My wonderful

> wife of 8 years (2nd marriage)is a social worker and is usually

very

> accommodating of my " wierdness " . Two days ago she found a thread

on

> the internet about Hyperacusis and I took it from there. It is

> amazing reading the stories...I fit most of them to a " T " . I have

> worked with a guy for 6 or 7 years and always got along well with

him

> until 6 months ago. Before we were in seperate rooms about 25 feet

> apart...now we sits at a computer right next to me. He spends all

> day clearing his throat, coughing up phlegm and CRUNCHING ICE! I

> have been miserable! My ears got infected from earplugs...I

started

> taking vacation time in the middle of the day and getting trashed

in

> some bar because I could not stand to sit there and listen to it.

I

> realized I was headed down a dangerous road and have pretty much

> stopped that, but my nerves are shot. I just read where someone

> concentrates on chewing gum...I'm going to try that. Sorry this is

> so windy, but I have never been in the company of someone like me.

> It seems like most everyone else here is a woman...is that going to

> be an issue? I am a 51 year old very happily married man-I

wouldn't

> bother anyone.

>

[Guest guest]

Alix,

Thanks for the note! My father was supposed to have had similar problems to mine, but he and my mom were divorced when I was very young and I don't really remember it. He served in Vietnam and then committed suicide a couple of years after he came back, so I didn't get much of a chance to know him. It is so strange how it's different sounds that affect us. Hard candy, ice, grape nuts and trimming nails with clippers are about the worse things for me, with other eating and chewing sounds moving on down the scale where sometimes I can tune them out. I try to look at it from the other person's perspective...most don't know...but it's really hard sometimes. For instance when you talk about coins jingling...I have done that myself. I'm not saying it's not very real to you, but I guess I'll have to remember not to do that from now on. Boy, it would sure suck to be a teller and not like that sound!! I like the idea about sitting down and explaining before the sounds start, but I work in a mainly male environment and in general I think men are much less concerned about how their actions affect others compared to women. Again, thanks for the note!

Kenny

From: Soundsensitivity [mailto:Soundsensitivity ] On Behalf Of knicknack_caSent: Saturday, September 23, 2006 1:15 PMTo: Soundsensitivity Subject: Re: NEW TO THIS

Welcome !While I realise that a great majority of us seem to be women, affected by this syndrome, rest assured there are men amongst us also. I believe I read a percentage somewhere stating that more women than men are affected. My father was one of those men. At least, growing up, I knew someone else that had it, that was maybe the one saving grace... I could always say I was like my dad, I was never completely alone with it. I work as a bank teller, along side a number of other women that love chewing their gum, slurping their coffee, and crunching on hard candies. Finding this site gave me the ability to explain my reaction to sound. It opened a whole new work environment for me. I was able to explain to them what happens to me when i am confronted by certain noises. I told them about finding this site, a relatively newly defined syndrome and about some of the struggles we all face. My work mates have been incredible! They asked me questions about it, and are very careful around me. Sometimes, they might forget, but, you know.. more often than not.. they remind themselves before I have to give them the "Look"... ***One Key thing that I believe made this work: I did not wait until I was in the throws of a "sound assault"... I spoke to them first thing in the morning, after a good nights sleep, feeling rested and refreshed. It was so much easier to articulate this without the emotional cloud coloring my words. I think they were more receptive also. ****I still have to serve customers that will chew away on their gum incessantly, {Gods.. i wish Gum was illegal!), or hold coin in their hands and clink them together, tapping, smacking, cracking... But again, finding this site has been a godsend. I have been learning new ways to cope, trying out different ideas I have come across, learning to shift my focus,etc that has made many of this interactions so much more bearable... At least, endurable for the few minutes i must serve them. I know that I will never be cured of this, but I am absolutely delighted to find that I can take charge of it, and not let it control me entirely. So again, welcome... Like yourself, just finding this site alone gave me such a sense of peace, a reassurance knowing that we share in this, a greater understanding. blessingsAlix>> Wow...a whole new world has opened up for me! I am excited and > relieved at the same time! I didn't know there was anyone else like > me in the world and spent my life ashamed because I could not explain > or control my rage when I was exposed to people crunching, etc that I > could not get away from. I always felt like a freak. My wonderful > wife of 8 years (2nd marriage)is a social worker and is usually very > accommodating of my "wierdness". Two days ago she found a thread on > the internet about Hyperacusis and I took it from there. It is > amazing reading the stories...I fit most of them to a "T". I have > worked with a guy for 6 or 7 years and always got along well with him > until 6 months ago. Before we were in seperate rooms about 25 feet > apart...now we sits at a computer right next to me. He spends all > day clearing his throat, coughing up phlegm and CRUNCHING ICE! I > have been miserable! My ears got infected from earplugs...I started > taking vacation time in the middle of the day and getting trashed in > some bar because I could not stand to sit there and listen to it. I > realized I was headed down a dangerous road and have pretty much > stopped that, but my nerves are shot. I just read where someone > concentrates on chewing gum...I'm going to try that. Sorry this is > so windy, but I have never been in the company of someone like me. > It seems like most everyone else here is a woman...is that going to > be an issue? I am a 51 year old very happily married man-I wouldn't > bother anyone.>

This email message and any attachments are for the sole use of the intended recipients and may contain proprietary and/or confidential information which may be privileged or otherwise protected from disclosure. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipients, please contact the sender by reply email and destroy the original message and any copies of the message as well as any attachments to the original message.

[Guest guest]

Yes, actually, a lot of people WILL do something on purpose, and

more often, and more loudly, if they know it bothers you. Gum

chewers are the worst offenders, IMO.

My mother had this problem. She hated gum chewing. She married my

father, who chewed gum loudly and with an open mouth, and who rolled

it around on his tongue. And he did it more often and on purpose

because she hated it, and because I came to hate it too.

I am a medical transcriptionist. Sometimes the doctors chew gum

while dictating, or they have cough drops or hard candies, or they

eat. It's quite gross.

But since I work at home in my own office, I know that the

disgusting sounds will end, usually in a few minutes, and then I can

go on to transcribe another dictation. It's MUCH better, IMO, than

working in an office surrounded by loud gum chewers, which I have

done, and which has caused me to quit jobs in the past.

So... my situation isn't perfect, but it's better than most I've

been in.

Pam Maltzman

>

> Sometimes I wonder if some people will purposely do something

(more

> often and more loudly) when they KNOW it bothers you. I know my

husband

> did - until he finally came to realize that this is something real

for

> me, I'm not just 'picking' on him.

I think it's great that your husband realized that you're not just

picking on him.

[Guest guest]

Hi , Just wanted to welcome you to the group and reassure you

that everything you're experiencing sounds perfectly " normal " to me.

Also, I too have used alcohol as a way to manage the stress of 4S. I

realized that every day around 5 my tolerance to noise would hit a low

point and suddenly I couldn't deal with it anymore. I don't know why

but alcohol made it a little easier not to fly off the handle at my

son who was telling me about his day while clicking a pen, kicking a

ball around the kitchen, or eating chips. We all seek out relief

where we can. I share custody with my ex, so every other week is

pretty quiet around here and I don't drink at all then. Also, I've

tried to substitute healthier actions when 5:00 hits, but I do wish

for the easy fix of a nice big glass of wine.

It's good you have a supportive spouse. It makes a huge difference.

I think a large part of the reason my first marriage failed is because

my husband believed me to be intolerant, which I guess I am, but it's

not a choice. Had I known about 4S, I wouldn't have been so hard on

myself, but as it was, though I didn't feel like an intolerant bitch,

I certainly behaved like one. Hubby #2 is very understanding. We

rarely eat together, he sleeps in another room, and he doesn't get mad

at me when I freak out because his pants are dragging on the ground

and he's shuffling his feet.

Hang in there, and take care of yourself. You're in good company,

Rochelle

>

> Wow...a whole new world has opened up for me! I am excited and

> relieved at the same time! I didn't know there was anyone else like

> me in the world and spent my life ashamed because I could not explain

> or control my rage when I was exposed to people crunching, etc that I

> could not get away from. I always felt like a freak. My wonderful

> wife of 8 years (2nd marriage)is a social worker and is usually very

> accommodating of my " wierdness " . Two days ago she found a thread on

> the internet about Hyperacusis and I took it from there. It is

> amazing reading the stories...I fit most of them to a " T " . I have

> worked with a guy for 6 or 7 years and always got along well with him

> until 6 months ago. Before we were in seperate rooms about 25 feet

> apart...now we sits at a computer right next to me. He spends all

> day clearing his throat, coughing up phlegm and CRUNCHING ICE! I

> have been miserable! My ears got infected from earplugs...I started

> taking vacation time in the middle of the day and getting trashed in

> some bar because I could not stand to sit there and listen to it. I

> realized I was headed down a dangerous road and have pretty much

> stopped that, but my nerves are shot. I just read where someone

> concentrates on chewing gum...I'm going to try that. Sorry this is

> so windy, but I have never been in the company of someone like me.

> It seems like most everyone else here is a woman...is that going to

> be an issue? I am a 51 year old very happily married man-I wouldn't

> bother anyone.

>

[Guest guest]

Pam,

This is great...I am trying to learn to chew gum (while wearing my earplugs) to help cover up the sound of the guy sitting next to me at work who chews ice and clears his throat all day long. I was never much on gum, but it does seem to help cover the sound especially of the ice crushing, which is my main thing. At the same time, I don't want to inflict pain on someone like you by chewing. I don't like it when people pop their gum, but so far (thank God) just the chewing it hasn't been much of a problem unless the person was exceptionally gross about it. This is SO frustrating!

KennyP

From: Soundsensitivity [mailto:Soundsensitivity ] On Behalf Of PamSent: Saturday, September 23, 2006 6:45 PMTo: Soundsensitivity Subject: Re: NEW TO THIS

Yes, actually, a lot of people WILL do something on purpose, and more often, and more loudly, if they know it bothers you. Gum chewers are the worst offenders, IMO. My mother had this problem. She hated gum chewing. She married my father, who chewed gum loudly and with an open mouth, and who rolled it around on his tongue. And he did it more often and on purpose because she hated it, and because I came to hate it too. I am a medical transcriptionist. Sometimes the doctors chew gum while dictating, or they have cough drops or hard candies, or they eat. It's quite gross.But since I work at home in my own office, I know that the disgusting sounds will end, usually in a few minutes, and then I can go on to transcribe another dictation. It's MUCH better, IMO, than working in an office surrounded by loud gum chewers, which I have done, and which has caused me to quit jobs in the past.So... my situation isn't perfect, but it's better than most I've been in.Pam Maltzman>> Sometimes I wonder if some people will purposely do something (more > often and more loudly) when they KNOW it bothers you. I know my husband > did - until he finally came to realize that this is something real for > me, I'm not just 'picking' on him. I think it's great that your husband realized that you're not just picking on him.

This email message and any attachments are for the sole use of the intended recipients and may contain proprietary and/or confidential information which may be privileged or otherwise protected from disclosure. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipients, please contact the sender by reply email and destroy the original message and any copies of the message as well as any attachments to the original message.

[Guest guest]

,

I haven't posted here before, but your post really hit home. I'm 36 and sitting at home this afternoon - having left work b/c I could no longer stand the auditory assaults. The guy that sits next to me crunches ice from 8am until I leave and the guy on the other side of the cubicle " wall " from me has also picked up the annoying ice habit and I can hear it like he is sitting next to me. The lady who sits in the cubicle catercorner to me makes non-stop mucous sucking noises AND clips her nails at her desk daily. Today, I just had too much. I can't bear to go back. I have told the guys that it really bothers me and they seems to do it more. I've asked the lady if she's been tested for allergies, but she is Chinese and doesn't practice western medicine and NOTHING seems to be working. She constantly complains about the " stuffy air " in our building. I finally told her that I sat through a hurricane in that building and I KNOW there are plenty of ways for fresh air to get in!

Anyway, I haven't resorted to alcohol - mainly b/c I also have migraines (on the same side I suffer from hyperacusis and 4S and TMJ) and take calcium channel blockers. I've noticed that after starting the CCBs that my hyperacusis has lessened quite a bit and my migraines are more manageable, but the 4S is still there. I usually listen to a sound generator at work - downloaded for free from the internet, but today there is no noise generator that could get the idea out of my head! LOL... (the sound generator is on my PC there and I don't remember what it is called, let me know if you want me to find out)

BTW, I've had 4S (TMJ and migraines, too) since I was a child, just didn't know it. My siblings sure knew which buttons of mine to push, though! The hyperacusis came on 5-6 years ago. My local doctors are still scratching their heads (

Good luck - earplugs didn't work for me - I can STILL hear them and NOTHING will block out nail clipping.

Wow...a whole new world has opened up for me! I am excited and relieved at the same time! I didn't know there was anyone else like me in the world and spent my life ashamed because I could not explain or control my rage when I was exposed to people crunching, etc that I could not get away from. I always felt like a freak. My wonderful wife of 8 years (2nd marriage)is a social worker and is usually very accommodating of my " wierdness " . Two days ago she found a thread on the internet about Hyperacusis and I took it from there. It is amazing reading the stories...I fit most of them to a " T " . I have worked with a guy for 6 or 7 years and always got along well with him until 6 months ago. Before we were in seperate rooms about 25 feet apart...now we sits at a computer right next to me. He spends all day clearing his throat, coughing up phlegm and CRUNCHING ICE! I have been miserable! My ears got infected from earplugs...I started taking vacation time in the middle of the day and getting trashed in some bar because I could not stand to sit there and listen to it. I realized I was headed down a dangerous road and have pretty much stopped that, but my nerves are shot. I just read where someone concentrates on chewing gum...I'm going to try that. Sorry this is so windy, but I have never been in the company of someone like me. It seems like most everyone else here is a woman...is that going to be an issue? I am a 51 year old very happily married man-I wouldn't bother anyone.

[Guest guest]

get the bose noise canceling headphones for

work!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

>

>Reply-To: Soundsensitivity

>To: Soundsensitivity

>Subject: Re: NEW TO THIS

>Date: Mon, 25 Sep 2006 14:03:03 -0500

>

>,

>

>I haven't posted here before, but your post really hit home. I'm 36 and

>sitting at home this afternoon - having left work b/c I could no longer

>stand the auditory assaults. The guy that sits next to me crunches ice from

>8am until I leave and the guy on the other side of the cubicle " wall " from

>me has also picked up the annoying ice habit and I can hear it like he is

>sitting next to me. The lady who sits in the cubicle catercorner to me

>makes non-stop mucous sucking noises AND clips her nails at her desk daily.

>Today, I just had too much. I can't bear to go back. I have told the guys

>that it really bothers me and they seems to do it more. I've asked the lady

>if she's been tested for allergies, but she is Chinese and doesn't practice

>western medicine and NOTHING seems to be working. She constantly complains

>about the " stuffy air " in our building. I finally told her that I sat

>through a hurricane in that building and I KNOW there are plenty of ways

>for

>fresh air to get in!

>

>Anyway, I haven't resorted to alcohol - mainly b/c I also have migraines

>(on

>the same side I suffer from hyperacusis and 4S and TMJ) and take calcium

>channel blockers. I've noticed that after starting the CCBs that my

>hyperacusis has lessened quite a bit and my migraines are more manageable,

>but the 4S is still there. I usually listen to a sound generator at work -

>downloaded for free from the internet, but today there is no noise

>generator

>that could get the idea out of my head! LOL... (the sound generator is on

>my

>PC there and I don't remember what it is called, let me know if you want me

>to find out)

>

>BTW, I've had 4S (TMJ and migraines, too) since I was a child, just didn't

>know it. My siblings sure knew which buttons of mine to push, though! The

>hyperacusis came on 5-6 years ago. My local doctors are still scratching

>their heads (

>

>Good luck - earplugs didn't work for me - I can STILL hear them and NOTHING

>will block out nail clipping.

>

>

>

>

>

>

>>

>> Wow...a whole new world has opened up for me! I am excited and

>>relieved at the same time! I didn't know there was anyone else like

>>me in the world and spent my life ashamed because I could not explain

>>or control my rage when I was exposed to people crunching, etc that I

>>could not get away from. I always felt like a freak. My wonderful

>>wife of 8 years (2nd marriage)is a social worker and is usually very

>>accommodating of my " wierdness " . Two days ago she found a thread on

>>the internet about Hyperacusis and I took it from there. It is

>>amazing reading the stories...I fit most of them to a " T " . I have

>>worked with a guy for 6 or 7 years and always got along well with him

>>until 6 months ago. Before we were in seperate rooms about 25 feet

>>apart...now we sits at a computer right next to me. He spends all

>>day clearing his throat, coughing up phlegm and CRUNCHING ICE! I

>>have been miserable! My ears got infected from earplugs...I started

>>taking vacation time in the middle of the day and getting trashed in

>>some bar because I could not stand to sit there and listen to it. I

>>realized I was headed down a dangerous road and have pretty much

>>stopped that, but my nerves are shot. I just read where someone

>>concentrates on chewing gum...I'm going to try that. Sorry this is

>>so windy, but I have never been in the company of someone like me.

>>It seems like most everyone else here is a woman...is that going to

>>be an issue? I am a 51 year old very happily married man-I wouldn't

>>bother anyone.

>>

>>

>>

[Guest guest]

I have also had to leave work because of the noises. I posted about it a month or so ago. I called the post "The day the headphones went out in Tennessee". About 2 hours after my laptop got hot from staying on all the time, none of my headphones would work. I didn't have a radio or anything here, so I ended up leaving work early. Hard to believe anything can cause someone to have such terrible responses. I now have a radio, too, just in case it happens again. I bought the BOSE noise canceling headphones about 3 weeks ago. They really work good, but they are rather expensive.

As for the alcohol, I also drink everyday after I get off work.

From: Soundsensitivity [mailto:Soundsensitivity ] On Behalf Of halectxSent: Monday, September 25, 2006 3:03 PMTo: Soundsensitivity Subject: Re: NEW TO THIS

,

I haven't posted here before, but your post really hit home. I'm 36 and sitting at home this afternoon - having left work b/c I could no longer stand the auditory assaults. The guy that sits next to me crunches ice from 8am until I leave and the guy on the other side of the cubicle "wall" from me has also picked up the annoying ice habit and I can hear it like he is sitting next to me. The lady who sits in the cubicle catercorner to me makes non-stop mucous sucking noises AND clips her nails at her desk daily. Today, I just had too much. I can't bear to go back. I have told the guys that it really bothers me and they seems to do it more. I've asked the lady if she's been tested for allergies, but she is Chinese and doesn't practice western medicine and NOTHING seems to be working. She constantly complains about the "stuffy air" in our building. I finally told her that I sat through a hurricane in that building and I KNOW! there are plenty of ways for fresh air to get in!

Anyway, I haven't resorted to alcohol - mainly b/c I also have migraines (on the same side I suffer from hyperacusis and 4S and TMJ) and take calcium channel blockers. I've noticed that after starting the CCBs that my hyperacusis has lessened quite a bit and my migraines are more manageable, but the 4S is still there. I usually listen to a sound generator at work - downloaded for free from the internet, but today there is no noise generator that could get the idea out of my head! LOL... (the sound generator is on my PC there and I don't remember what it is called, let me know if you want me to find out)

BTW, I've had 4S (TMJ and migraines, too) since I was a child, just didn't know it. My siblings sure knew which buttons of mine to push, though! The hyperacusis came on 5-6 years ago. My local doctors are still scratching their heads (

Good luck - earplugs didn't work for me - I can STILL hear them and NOTHING will block out nail clipping.

On 9/23/06, Pannell <.R.Pannellrolls-royce> wrote:

Wow...a whole new world has opened up for me! I am excited and relieved at the same time! I didn't know there was anyone else like me in the world and spent my life ashamed because I could not explain or control my rage when I was exposed to people crunching, etc that I could not get away from. I always felt like a freak. My wonderful wife of 8 years (2nd marriage)is a social worker and is usually very accommodating of my "wierdness". Two days ago she found a thread on the internet about Hyperacusis and I took it from there. It is amazing reading the stories...I fit most of them to a "T". I have worked with a guy for 6 or 7 years and always got along well with him until 6 months ago. Before we were in seperate rooms about 25 feet apart...now we sits at a computer right next to me. He spends all day clearing his throat, coughing up phlegm and CRUNCHING ICE! I have been miserable! My ears got infected from earplugs...I started taking vacation time in the middle of the day and getting trashed in some bar because I could not stand to sit there and listen to it. I realized I was headed down a dangerous road and have pretty much stopped that, but my nerves are shot. I just read where someone concentrates on chewing gum...I'm going to try that. Sorry this is so windy, but I have never been in the company of someone like me. It seems like most everyone else here is a woman...is that going to be an issue? I am a 51 year old very happily married man-I wouldn't bother anyone.

[Guest guest]

I drink after work as well. I am also wondering about getting divorced or

just staying put like a roommate!!

The bose headphones can be paid off monthly if you order it over the

internet!!

>

>Reply-To: Soundsensitivity

>To: <Soundsensitivity >

>Subject: Re: NEW TO THIS

>Date: Mon, 25 Sep 2006 15:26:31 -0400

>

>I have also had to leave work because of the noises. I posted about it

>a month or so ago. I called the post " The day the headphones went out

>in Tennessee " . About 2 hours after my laptop got hot from staying on

>all the time, none of my headphones would work. I didn't have a radio

>or anything here, so I ended up leaving work early. Hard to believe

>anything can cause someone to have such terrible responses. I now have

>a radio, too, just in case it happens again. I bought the BOSE noise

>canceling headphones about 3 weeks ago. They really work good, but they

>are rather expensive.

>

>As for the alcohol, I also drink everyday after I get off work.

>

>________________________________

>

>From: Soundsensitivity

>[mailto:Soundsensitivity ] On Behalf Of halectx

>Sent: Monday, September 25, 2006 3:03 PM

>To: Soundsensitivity

>Subject: Re: NEW TO THIS

>

>

>

>,

>

>I haven't posted here before, but your post really hit home. I'm 36 and

>sitting at home this afternoon - having left work b/c I could no longer

>stand the auditory assaults. The guy that sits next to me crunches ice

>from 8am until I leave and the guy on the other side of the cubicle

> " wall " from me has also picked up the annoying ice habit and I can hear

>it like he is sitting next to me. The lady who sits in the cubicle

>catercorner to me makes non-stop mucous sucking noises AND clips her

>nails at her desk daily. Today, I just had too much. I can't bear to go

>back. I have told the guys that it really bothers me and they seems to

>do it more. I've asked the lady if she's been tested for allergies, but

>she is Chinese and doesn't practice western medicine and NOTHING seems

>to be working. She constantly complains about the " stuffy air " in our

>building. I finally told her that I sat through a hurricane in that

>building and I KNOW! there are plenty of ways for fresh air to get in!

>

>Anyway, I haven't resorted to alcohol - mainly b/c I also have migraines

>(on the same side I suffer from hyperacusis and 4S and TMJ) and take

>calcium channel blockers. I've noticed that after starting the CCBs

>that my hyperacusis has lessened quite a bit and my migraines are more

>manageable, but the 4S is still there. I usually listen to a sound

>generator at work - downloaded for free from the internet, but today

>there is no noise generator that could get the idea out of my head!

>LOL... (the sound generator is on my PC there and I don't remember what

>it is called, let me know if you want me to find out)

>

>BTW, I've had 4S (TMJ and migraines, too) since I was a child, just

>didn't know it. My siblings sure knew which buttons of mine to push,

>though! The hyperacusis came on 5-6 years ago. My local doctors are

>still scratching their heads (

>

>Good luck - earplugs didn't work for me - I can STILL hear them and

>NOTHING will block out nail clipping.

>

>

>

>

>

>On 9/23/06, Pannell <.R.Pannell@...

> > wrote:

>

> Wow...a whole new world has opened up for me! I am excited and

> relieved at the same time! I didn't know there was anyone else

>like

> me in the world and spent my life ashamed because I could not

>explain

> or control my rage when I was exposed to people crunching, etc

>that I

> could not get away from. I always felt like a freak. My

>wonderful

> wife of 8 years (2nd marriage)is a social worker and is usually

>very

> accommodating of my " wierdness " . Two days ago she found a thread

>on

> the internet about Hyperacusis and I took it from there. It is

> amazing reading the stories...I fit most of them to a " T " . I

>have

> worked with a guy for 6 or 7 years and always got along well

>with him

> until 6 months ago. Before we were in seperate rooms about 25

>feet

> apart...now we sits at a computer right next to me. He spends

>all

> day clearing his throat, coughing up phlegm and CRUNCHING ICE! I

>

> have been miserable! My ears got infected from earplugs...I

>started

> taking vacation time in the middle of the day and getting

>trashed in

> some bar because I could not stand to sit there and listen to

>it. I

> realized I was headed down a dangerous road and have pretty much

>

> stopped that, but my nerves are shot. I just read where someone

> concentrates on chewing gum...I'm going to try that. Sorry this

>is

> so windy, but I have never been in the company of someone like

>me.

> It seems like most everyone else here is a woman...is that going

>to

> be an issue? I am a 51 year old very happily married man-I

>wouldn't

> bother anyone.

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi, Ken:

Well, I can understand how you must feel, being annoyed by the sound

of ice crunching all day long like that. But I would be the last

person in the world to tell you to take up gum chewing to cover it

up!

A lot of people think that unless they're popping their gum, they're

not making noise at all. THIS IS ABSOLUTELY NOT TRUE--just try

recording yourself while chewing open-mouthed. It's not as quiet as

you might imagine.

Gum chewers are usually making smacking, chewing, slurping,

shlomping, squishy sounds, etc. And they usually chew with an open

mouth, and there is always a stench!! I cannot stand the sight,

smell, or sound of gum chewing.

Some people claim that chewing gum helps them to concentrate...

well, maybe it helps the chewer to concentrate. But there are a lot

of other people for whom it will kill their concentration.

I don't know what to tell you. Ice crunching doesn't affect me the

way gum chewing does (for reasons mentioned in a previous post); but

I had quit jobs in the past because I was surrounded by people who

were apparently congenitally unable to chew with a closed mouth. I

just can't stand it. Yecch.

And these noise-cancelling headphones... do they really need to be

hyper-expensive to be good enough to work? I have seen some in the

electronics stores for well under $100. Do I really need to buy a

pair that costs a couple of hundred dollars? The next time I fly

(shudder) I will probably have to buy a pair of these.

Pam

> >

> > Sometimes I wonder if some people will purposely do something

> (more

> > often and more loudly) when they KNOW it bothers you. I know my

> husband

> > did - until he finally came to realize that this is something

real

> for

> > me, I'm not just 'picking' on him.

>

> I think it's great that your husband realized that you're not just

> picking on him.

>

>

>

>

> This email message and any attachments are for the sole use of the

intended

> recipients and may contain proprietary and/or confidential

information which

> may be privileged or otherwise protected from disclosure. Any

unauthorized

> review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are

not the

> intended recipients, please contact the sender by reply email and

destroy

> the original message and any copies of the message as well as any

> attachments to the original message.

>

[Guest guest]

Part of the reason gum chewing is so damned infuriating and

obnoxious is the feeling of being TRAPPED in close quarters with

these idiots.

Why in the world do people pull out the gum and begin stuffing their

mouths with it when they're sardined in close quarters and there's

no escape for those of us who hate it? In classes. On buses. On

planes and trains. In lines waiting to pay bills. In the movies.

You name it. Right in my face!!

When I was a kid and my family had to go on a car trip somewhere,

we'd all (2 adults, 3 kids) get into the car (NO ESCAPE!!) and my

father and one sister would pull out the freaking gum, stuff their

mouths with it, and proceed to chew the hell out of it with open

mouths, rolling it around on their tongues, etc., cracking it,

squishing it around, etc. And the smell! And it was on purpose.

I know this is where most of my problem with it comes from... but I

can't stand it!!

Pam

> >

> > Sometimes I wonder if some people will purposely do something

> (more

> > often and more loudly) when they KNOW it bothers you. I know my

> husband

> > did - until he finally came to realize that this is something

real

> for

> > me, I'm not just 'picking' on him.

>

> I think it's great that your husband realized that you're not just

> picking on him.

>

>

>

>

> This email message and any attachments are for the sole use of the

intended

> recipients and may contain proprietary and/or confidential

information which

> may be privileged or otherwise protected from disclosure. Any

unauthorized

> review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are

not the

> intended recipients, please contact the sender by reply email and

destroy

> the original message and any copies of the message as well as any

> attachments to the original message.

>

[Guest guest]

Eaglewwit,

You hit the nail on the head... when I am trapped in close quarters

with a frigging gum chewer, I feel like I am being assaulted! No

escape! I get enraged. I wish I could beat the living SH!T out of the

offending chewer.

And yes, most gum chewers I've ever encountered will redouble their

efforts to be obnoxious once they know you're vulnerable.

Pam

>

> ,

>

> Please do not take up chewing gum. I think that most SSSS'ers feel

> that gum is the root of all evil. Don't be a hypocrite and chew gum.

> You never know if there is a closet SSSS'ers around that you might be

> annoying.

>

> P.S. I feel like I have been assualted by gum chewing over the last

> few days, having been stuck in situations I could not get out of.

>