Re: My introduction

[Guest guest]

Hello to everyone.

My name is Judy Cammett-Sommer and I have been a type two diabetic for five

years this month. I am controlling with pills and diet and not doing as

well as I would like because it is hard to stick to the diet. I do

exercise and have about twenty more pounds to lose.

I am interested to receive information and am glad to be on this list.

Sincerely,

Judy Cammett-Sommer

[Guest guest]

hi Babs and welcome Nice to meet you. Would you happen to be from Alabama? It

appears you might be.

I think this is you! I know you from elsewhere on Yahoo don't I? seaofhope ring

a bell?

Your conditions and age are even the same. Do you have an advocate working on

your SS for you who is also a friend?

Hugs

-Tommie

My Introduction

Hi Everyone, I am Barbara, 51 years old. I have several spinal issues,

stenosis in ceveral and lumbar 3DDD in my lumbar and cervical also have

spondylosis with thinning of my spincal cord in my neck. chronic pain due to

them. I am not on disablillty after fighting for 3 years. I also have just been

diagnoised with high blood pressure. I also deal with depression and gastric

problems.

Hugs, Babs

[Guest guest]

Tommie, I have gotten my SSDI yes it was a friend that helped me. And yes we

have met. Been awhile back.

Hugs, Babs

[Guest guest]

We are all so similar it is scary!

Both of you welcome to this group. There are awesome people here.

Vicki

Re: My introduction

Your story is nearly identical to mine. I just joined this group and I am trying to write my introduction, but I can't. I feel too much rage when describing the problems. For now, I am going to latch onto your story with a big fat DITTO. Thank you for writing.rk>> I discovered this group last night after looking online trying to find ways to help me better tolerate eating sounds, after an upsetting talk with my husband. I was so happy to see that not only were there other people that feel like I do, but that there was a name for this disorder. Knowing that 99% of people are not bothered by the smacking and slurping, or gum chewing, throat clearing...and that I seemed to be the only one who hear these sounds...I must be crazy!

[Guest guest]

Unfortunately with this condition 'familiarity breeds contempt', and even worse, society considers eating food together a great social glue, so the fact that we are expected to eat and socialise with people we are familiar with exacerbates the reactions.

I am over gum, I really am. I wish they would publicise some sort of terminal illness connection with gum, maybe then people would stop shoving it in their mouths. The anger and annoyance I feel when someone near me is chewing gum is incredible - it's bizarre the intense rage I can feel for a total stranger, merely because they are chewing something as innocuous as gum.

Adrienne

To: Soundsensitivity Sent: Wednesday, 2 September, 2009 9:51:51 PMSubject: My introduction

I discovered this group last night after looking online trying to find ways to help me better tolerate eating sounds, after an upsetting talk with my husband. I was so happy to see that not only were there other people that feel like I do, but that there was a name for this disorder. Knowing that 99% of people are not bothered by the smacking and slurping, or gum chewing, throat clearing...and that I seemed to be the only one who hear these sounds...I must be crazy! Growing up, meals with my father were unbearable. At a certain point I spent every meal with my fingers pushing my ears closed. Of course that only helps so much. I tend to keep things inside, so meals were extremely stressful for me and not enjoyable until he left the table. My first husband was a very quiet eater, I never had any problems eating with him, but he had another habit of picking the skin around his fingers and I could be sitting on the other end of the couch and

feel/hear the vibration of the picking on my end and I would feel that same inner rage. Fast forward and I have a new husband and somehow my love for him in the beginning clouded the noises. Now I realize I am with someone who is 100 times worse than my father. Every bite is a smack. He eats with his mouth open, he talks with his mouth full. I hide gum from him. I have mini-panic attacks if eats at times other than meal times, and he loves pickles. He knows it bothers me and he'll try to be better. Monday we went out to dinner for my birthday and two Appletinis made it very bearable, he was fine and it was a quiet restaurant. Last night we went out for his sister's birthday and he was disgusting. No alcohol and a louder restaurant. I couldn't believe it. I had to discreetly cover the ear closest to him. I can't yell at him in front of his family. Speaking of, his father also grunts when he eats. I have anxiety attacks when he eats with us and I

try to arrange to stand in the kitchen to eat, making it look there aren't enough places at the table. Rude I know. I wish there was a cure for this. The shift in my mood when dinner starts is awful. It doesn't help that he's always badgering my daughters (his step daughters) and trying to eat at the same time--lots of open mouth chewing. And when we eat with his family (which is pretty often) he gets relaxed and forgets to try to eat quieter. It's stressful for him too, because he knows it bothers me. Meals are very tense. I'm hoping to find some support here and ways to help deal with this!

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[Guest guest]

Hi a,

Just wanted to share with you my strategy when I eat with my family, as I identify wholeheartedly with you.

I have found that I can bear to eat with my family if I create background noise by switching on the extractor fan in the kitchen as that is where we normally eat.

It doesn't cut all the trigger noises out but it is a good starting point, and I feel a bit more relaxed about actually sitting at the table.

It took a while to get used to it but somehow I forced myself into it, because I want my children to grow up in a normal environment.

If we make sure that there is plenty of conversation too, that helps to distract me. And with the odd knowing glances I give to my husband, he usually helps me out and avoids eating crunchy food until I get up from the table.

Unfortunately I cant face looking at my husband eating. And I'm not sure how to tackle that one, but I feel pleased with myself actually, that we have come this far as I avoided eating with anyone at home for a long time until about 2 or 3 years ago.

I noticed too that I didnt have as bad a problem eating out in restaurants. I have put this down to having a lot of background noise and conversation.

I hope this might be of a little bit of help to you.

Kind Regards

Jo

To: Soundsensitivity Sent: Wednesday, September 2, 2009 12:51:51 PMSubject: My introduction

I discovered this group last night after looking online trying to find ways to help me better tolerate eating sounds, after an upsetting talk with my husband. I was so happy to see that not only were there other people that feel like I do, but that there was a name for this disorder. Knowing that 99% of people are not bothered by the smacking and slurping, or gum chewing, throat clearing...and that I seemed to be the only one who hear these sounds...I must be crazy! Growing up, meals with my father were unbearable. At a certain point I spent every meal with my fingers pushing my ears closed. Of course that only helps so much. I tend to keep things inside, so meals were extremely stressful for me and not enjoyable until he left the table. My first husband was a very quiet eater, I never had any problems eating with him, but he had another habit of picking the skin around his fingers and I could be sitting on the other end of the couch and

feel/hear the vibration of the picking on my end and I would feel that same inner rage. Fast forward and I have a new husband and somehow my love for him in the beginning clouded the noises. Now I realize I am with someone who is 100 times worse than my father. Every bite is a smack. He eats with his mouth open, he talks with his mouth full. I hide gum from him. I have mini-panic attacks if eats at times other than meal times, and he loves pickles. He knows it bothers me and he'll try to be better. Monday we went out to dinner for my birthday and two Appletinis made it very bearable, he was fine and it was a quiet restaurant. Last night we went out for his sister's birthday and he was disgusting. No alcohol and a louder restaurant. I couldn't believe it. I had to discreetly cover the ear closest to him. I can't yell at him in front of his family. Speaking of, his father also grunts when he eats. I have anxiety attacks when he eats with us and I

try to arrange to stand in the kitchen to eat, making it look there aren't enough places at the table. Rude I know. I wish there was a cure for this. The shift in my mood when dinner starts is awful. It doesn't help that he's always badgering my daughters (his step daughters) and trying to eat at the same time--lots of open mouth chewing. And when we eat with his family (which is pretty often) he gets relaxed and forgets to try to eat quieter. It's stressful for him too, because he knows it bothers me. Meals are very tense. I'm hoping to find some support here and ways to help deal with this!

[Guest guest]

I finally bought a white noise machine this weekend. I've always used a fan in my bedroom to cover noises. This works great so far plus it is small enough so I can take it on trips also. Hi a, Just wanted to share with you my strategy when I eat with my family, as I identify wholeheartedly with you.I have found that I can bear to eat with my family if I create background noise by switching on the extractor fan in the kitchen as that is where we normally eat.It doesn't cut all the trigger noises out but it is a good starting point, and I feel a bit more relaxed about actually sitting at the table.It took a while to get used to it but somehow I forced myself into it, because I want my children to grow up in a normal environment. If we make sure that there is plenty of conversation too, that helps to distract me. And with the odd knowing glances I give to my husband, he usually helps me out and avoids eating crunchy food until I get up from the table. Unfortunately I cant face looking at my husband eating. And I'm not sure how to tackle that one, but I feel pleased with myself actually, that we have come this far as I avoided eating with anyone at home for a long time until about 2 or 3 years ago. I noticed too that I didnt have as bad a problem eating out in restaurants. I have put this down to having a lot of background noise and conversation. I hope this might be of a little bit of help to you. Kind RegardsJoFrom: "erica.kleinymail" <erica.kleinymail>To: Soundsensitivity Sent: Wednesday, September 2, 2009 12:51:51 PMSubject: My introduction I discovered this group last night after looking online trying to find ways to help me better tolerate eating sounds, after an upsetting talk with my husband. I was so happy to see that not only were there other people that feel like I do, but that there was a name for this disorder. Knowing that 99% of people are not bothered by the smacking and slurping, or gum chewing, throat clearing...and that I seemed to be the only one who hear these sounds...I must be crazy! Growing up, meals with my father were unbearable. At a certain point I spent every meal with my fingers pushing my ears closed. Of course that only helps so much. I tend to keep things inside, so meals were extremely stressful for me and not enjoyable until he left the table. My first husband was a very quiet eater, I never had any problems eating with him, but he had another habit of picking the skin around his fingers and I could be sitting on the other end of the couch and feel/hear the vibration of the picking on my end and I would feel that same inner rage. Fast forward and I have a new husband and somehow my love for him in the beginning clouded the noises. Now I realize I am with someone who is 100 times worse than my father. Every bite is a smack. He eats with his mouth open, he talks with his mouth full. I hide gum from him. I have mini-panic attacks if eats at times other than meal times, and he loves pickles. He knows it bothers me and he'll try to be better. Monday we went out to dinner for my birthday and two Appletinis made it very bearable, he was fine and it was a quiet restaurant. Last night we went out for his sister's birthday and he was disgusting. No alcohol and a louder restaurant. I couldn't believe it. I had to discreetly cover the ear closest to him. I can't yell at him in front of his family. Speaking of, his father also grunts when he eats. I have anxiety attacks when he eats with us and I try to arrange to stand in the kitchen to eat, making it look there aren't enough places at the table. Rude I know. I wish there was a cure for this. The shift in my mood when dinner starts is awful. It doesn't help that he's always badgering my daughters (his step daughters) and trying to eat at the same time--lots of open mouth chewing. And when we eat with his family (which is pretty often) he gets relaxed and forgets to try to eat quieter. It's stressful for him too, because he knows it bothers me. Meals are very tense. I'm hoping to find some support here and ways to help deal with this!