An interesting YouTube video

[Guest guest]

Hi Mags & #61514; Thanks for your input. I do know that this issue has been

addressed on this message board in the past, specifically the information in

your message about the amygdala and retraining it and all that. Clearly what you

say has great merit. It makes sense and I would be inclined to agree with you.

Yet there is something that just nags at me when I ponder this theory. I guess

what really bothers me, is the fact that having a neurological issue like this,

of course, the phobia would " develop " or perhaps we are simply hardwired this

way? I really don't know.

We are afraid of being exposed to the same sound that sends us to the edge of

insanity, for however many seconds, minutes or hours on end, that we would never

want to endure, or very well might not be able to endure. The argument is that

we could retrain ourselves somehow. Maybe that is true. I would not rule out

that we couldn't. I can just think of no one that would ever want to put

themselves through that agony. I think the owner of this site said it pretty

well when she said this. Getting stung by bees are traumatic, and painful, and

will never be something that we could or should " get used to " , or will ever be

something that would be good for us, and we should not want to intentionally

expose ourselves to the sounds, movements or the bee stings for that matter.

We should never want to or should get used to something that is harmful or

violates us, and causes us extreme stress, which this does for all of us. I do

wonder what is up with the powerful almost uncontrollable urge to mock the

sounds or movements which disturb us so much. Pure and simple, certain sounds

are toxic to us.

I do agree what you said " I recommend Optimum Nutrition for your Childs

Mind by Holford - fish oils, control sugar intake etc), sleep well,

exercise, laugh!, distraction, get out with friends, fun fun. Give the condition

less dominance. " I also think a healthy diet, and reduction or elimination

of harmful substances of all kinds, certainly would be helpful. And

yes…research research research!!!!

I too, do not want to believe that there is no hope, or that any of us should

ever give up or simply resign ourselves to this condition. I think we need to

be as proactive as we can to protect ourselves, as well as keep looking and

searching for and participating in ways that will help us find relief and

ultimately a cure, or healing, or whatever it is that would cause us not to

suffer with it anymore. Truly, supporting and caring about and listening to

one another is vital.

" The " ogress "

> > >

> > > I came across this video today while I was looking for videos about sound

sensitivity. It is interesting because two of the people speaking mention some

familiar-sounding symptoms. And it is a well-presented video (3 minutes long).

> > >

> > > http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyjgPMjCjBM & feature=related

> > >

> > > Another video I saw about SPD unfortunately had eating sounds in a couple

of scenes. I had to remove my headphones quickly to avoid the sounds! Aaargh -

the dangers of audio-visual research! Reminds me of an 80-minute talk by the

famous autistic woman Temple Grandin, who has major sensory sensitivity problems

herself. Every time she took a swig of water during the talk, I had to remove my

headphones.

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Mags & #61514; Thanks for your input. I do know that this issue has been

addressed on this message board in the past, specifically the information in

your message about the amygdala and retraining it and all that. Clearly what you

say has great merit. It makes sense and I would be inclined to agree with you.

Yet there is something that just nags at me when I ponder this theory. I guess

what really bothers me, is the fact that having a neurological issue like this,

of course, the phobia would " develop " or perhaps we are simply hardwired this

way? I really don't know.

We are afraid of being exposed to the same sound that sends us to the edge of

insanity, for however many seconds, minutes or hours on end, that we would never

want to endure, or very well might not be able to endure. The argument is that

we could retrain ourselves somehow. Maybe that is true. I would not rule out

that we couldn't. I can just think of no one that would ever want to put

themselves through that agony. I think the owner of this site said it pretty

well when she said this. Getting stung by bees are traumatic, and painful, and

will never be something that we could or should " get used to " , or will ever be

something that would be good for us, and we should not want to intentionally

expose ourselves to the sounds, movements or the bee stings for that matter.

We should never want to or should get used to something that is harmful or

violates us, and causes us extreme stress, which this does for all of us. I do

wonder what is up with the powerful almost uncontrollable urge to mock the

sounds or movements which disturb us so much. Pure and simple, certain sounds

are toxic to us.

I do agree what you said " I recommend Optimum Nutrition for your Childs

Mind by Holford - fish oils, control sugar intake etc), sleep well,

exercise, laugh!, distraction, get out with friends, fun fun. Give the condition

less dominance. " I also think a healthy diet, and reduction or elimination

of harmful substances of all kinds, certainly would be helpful. And

yes…research research research!!!!

I too, do not want to believe that there is no hope, or that any of us should

ever give up or simply resign ourselves to this condition. I think we need to

be as proactive as we can to protect ourselves, as well as keep looking and

searching for and participating in ways that will help us find relief and

ultimately a cure, or healing, or whatever it is that would cause us not to

suffer with it anymore. Truly, supporting and caring about and listening to

one another is vital.

" The " ogress "

> > >

> > > I came across this video today while I was looking for videos about sound

sensitivity. It is interesting because two of the people speaking mention some

familiar-sounding symptoms. And it is a well-presented video (3 minutes long).

> > >

> > > http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyjgPMjCjBM & feature=related

> > >

> > > Another video I saw about SPD unfortunately had eating sounds in a couple

of scenes. I had to remove my headphones quickly to avoid the sounds! Aaargh -

the dangers of audio-visual research! Reminds me of an 80-minute talk by the

famous autistic woman Temple Grandin, who has major sensory sensitivity problems

herself. Every time she took a swig of water during the talk, I had to remove my

headphones.

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Mags & #61514; Thanks for your input. I do know that this issue has been

addressed on this message board in the past, specifically the information in

your message about the amygdala and retraining it and all that. Clearly what you

say has great merit. It makes sense and I would be inclined to agree with you.

Yet there is something that just nags at me when I ponder this theory. I guess

what really bothers me, is the fact that having a neurological issue like this,

of course, the phobia would " develop " or perhaps we are simply hardwired this

way? I really don't know.

We are afraid of being exposed to the same sound that sends us to the edge of

insanity, for however many seconds, minutes or hours on end, that we would never

want to endure, or very well might not be able to endure. The argument is that

we could retrain ourselves somehow. Maybe that is true. I would not rule out

that we couldn't. I can just think of no one that would ever want to put

themselves through that agony. I think the owner of this site said it pretty

well when she said this. Getting stung by bees are traumatic, and painful, and

will never be something that we could or should " get used to " , or will ever be

something that would be good for us, and we should not want to intentionally

expose ourselves to the sounds, movements or the bee stings for that matter.

We should never want to or should get used to something that is harmful or

violates us, and causes us extreme stress, which this does for all of us. I do

wonder what is up with the powerful almost uncontrollable urge to mock the

sounds or movements which disturb us so much. Pure and simple, certain sounds

are toxic to us.

I do agree what you said " I recommend Optimum Nutrition for your Childs

Mind by Holford - fish oils, control sugar intake etc), sleep well,

exercise, laugh!, distraction, get out with friends, fun fun. Give the condition

less dominance. " I also think a healthy diet, and reduction or elimination

of harmful substances of all kinds, certainly would be helpful. And

yes…research research research!!!!

I too, do not want to believe that there is no hope, or that any of us should

ever give up or simply resign ourselves to this condition. I think we need to

be as proactive as we can to protect ourselves, as well as keep looking and

searching for and participating in ways that will help us find relief and

ultimately a cure, or healing, or whatever it is that would cause us not to

suffer with it anymore. Truly, supporting and caring about and listening to

one another is vital.

" The " ogress "

> > >

> > > I came across this video today while I was looking for videos about sound

sensitivity. It is interesting because two of the people speaking mention some

familiar-sounding symptoms. And it is a well-presented video (3 minutes long).

> > >

> > > http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyjgPMjCjBM & feature=related

> > >

> > > Another video I saw about SPD unfortunately had eating sounds in a couple

of scenes. I had to remove my headphones quickly to avoid the sounds! Aaargh -

the dangers of audio-visual research! Reminds me of an 80-minute talk by the

famous autistic woman Temple Grandin, who has major sensory sensitivity problems

herself. Every time she took a swig of water during the talk, I had to remove my

headphones.

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

People with ocd are hardwired the way they are too, but some of them have been able to rewire their brain with therapy, at least in a way that makes life a little easier.. With trying to overcome phobias, you don't want to work on the phobia at the level of feeling of getting stung by bees, you got to find ways to break it down into smaller more manageable steps. Like just looking at a picture of a bee to begin with.Not that I believe 4s is a phobia, it hasn't responded to desensitization. But I agree putting oneself thru agony is pointless if there is no progress, but there are always new therapy ideas out there. Has anyone tried EDMR?

To: Soundsensitivity Sent: Wed, September 1, 2010 5:35:09 PMSubject: Re: An interesting YouTube video

Hi Mags & #61514; Thanks for your input. I do know that this issue has been addressed on this message board in the past, specifically the information in your message about the amygdala and retraining it and all that. Clearly what you say has great merit. It makes sense and I would be inclined to agree with you. Yet there is something that just nags at me when I ponder this theory. I guess what really bothers me, is the fact that having a neurological issue like this, of course, the phobia would "develop" or perhaps we are simply hardwired this way? I really don't know.

We are afraid of being exposed to the same sound that sends us to the edge of insanity, for however many seconds, minutes or hours on end, that we would never want to endure, or very well might not be able to endure. The argument is that we could retrain ourselves somehow. Maybe that is true. I would not rule out that we couldn't. I can just think of no one that would ever want to put themselves through that agony. I think the owner of this site said it pretty well when she said this. Getting stung by bees are traumatic, and painful, and will never be something that we could or should "get used to", or will ever be something that would be good for us, and we should not want to intentionally expose ourselves to the sounds, movements or the bee stings for that matter. We should never want to or should get used to something that is harmful or violates us, and causes us extreme stress, which this does for all of us. I do wonder what is up with the

powerful almost uncontrollable urge to mock the sounds or movements which disturb us so much. Pure and simple, certain sounds are toxic to us.

I do agree what you said " I recommend Optimum Nutrition for your Childs Mind by Holford - fish oils, control sugar intake etc), sleep well, exercise, laugh!, distraction, get out with friends, fun fun. Give the condition less dominance. " I also think a healthy diet, and reduction or elimination of harmful substances of all kinds, certainly would be helpful. And yes…research research research!!!!

I too, do not want to believe that there is no hope, or that any of us should ever give up or simply resign ourselves to this condition. I think we need to be as proactive as we can to protect ourselves, as well as keep looking and searching for and participating in ways that will help us find relief and ultimately a cure, or healing, or whatever it is that would cause us not to suffer with it anymore. Truly, supporting and caring about and listening to one another is vital.

"The "ogress"

> > >

> > > I came across this video today while I was looking for videos about sound sensitivity. It is interesting because two of the people speaking mention some familiar-sounding symptoms. And it is a well-presented video (3 minutes long).

> > >

> > > http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyjgPMjCjBM & feature=related

> > >

> > > Another video I saw about SPD unfortunately had eating sounds in a couple of scenes. I had to remove my headphones quickly to avoid the sounds! Aaargh - the dangers of audio-visual research! Reminds me of an 80-minute talk by the famous autistic woman Temple Grandin, who has major sensory sensitivity problems herself. Every time she took a swig of water during the talk, I had to remove my headphones.

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

People with ocd are hardwired the way they are too, but some of them have been able to rewire their brain with therapy, at least in a way that makes life a little easier.. With trying to overcome phobias, you don't want to work on the phobia at the level of feeling of getting stung by bees, you got to find ways to break it down into smaller more manageable steps. Like just looking at a picture of a bee to begin with.Not that I believe 4s is a phobia, it hasn't responded to desensitization. But I agree putting oneself thru agony is pointless if there is no progress, but there are always new therapy ideas out there. Has anyone tried EDMR?

To: Soundsensitivity Sent: Wed, September 1, 2010 5:35:09 PMSubject: Re: An interesting YouTube video

Hi Mags & #61514; Thanks for your input. I do know that this issue has been addressed on this message board in the past, specifically the information in your message about the amygdala and retraining it and all that. Clearly what you say has great merit. It makes sense and I would be inclined to agree with you. Yet there is something that just nags at me when I ponder this theory. I guess what really bothers me, is the fact that having a neurological issue like this, of course, the phobia would "develop" or perhaps we are simply hardwired this way? I really don't know.

We are afraid of being exposed to the same sound that sends us to the edge of insanity, for however many seconds, minutes or hours on end, that we would never want to endure, or very well might not be able to endure. The argument is that we could retrain ourselves somehow. Maybe that is true. I would not rule out that we couldn't. I can just think of no one that would ever want to put themselves through that agony. I think the owner of this site said it pretty well when she said this. Getting stung by bees are traumatic, and painful, and will never be something that we could or should "get used to", or will ever be something that would be good for us, and we should not want to intentionally expose ourselves to the sounds, movements or the bee stings for that matter. We should never want to or should get used to something that is harmful or violates us, and causes us extreme stress, which this does for all of us. I do wonder what is up with the

powerful almost uncontrollable urge to mock the sounds or movements which disturb us so much. Pure and simple, certain sounds are toxic to us.

I do agree what you said " I recommend Optimum Nutrition for your Childs Mind by Holford - fish oils, control sugar intake etc), sleep well, exercise, laugh!, distraction, get out with friends, fun fun. Give the condition less dominance. " I also think a healthy diet, and reduction or elimination of harmful substances of all kinds, certainly would be helpful. And yes…research research research!!!!

I too, do not want to believe that there is no hope, or that any of us should ever give up or simply resign ourselves to this condition. I think we need to be as proactive as we can to protect ourselves, as well as keep looking and searching for and participating in ways that will help us find relief and ultimately a cure, or healing, or whatever it is that would cause us not to suffer with it anymore. Truly, supporting and caring about and listening to one another is vital.

"The "ogress"

> > >

> > > I came across this video today while I was looking for videos about sound sensitivity. It is interesting because two of the people speaking mention some familiar-sounding symptoms. And it is a well-presented video (3 minutes long).

> > >

> > > http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyjgPMjCjBM & feature=related

> > >

> > > Another video I saw about SPD unfortunately had eating sounds in a couple of scenes. I had to remove my headphones quickly to avoid the sounds! Aaargh - the dangers of audio-visual research! Reminds me of an 80-minute talk by the famous autistic woman Temple Grandin, who has major sensory sensitivity problems herself. Every time she took a swig of water during the talk, I had to remove my headphones.

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

People with ocd are hardwired the way they are too, but some of them have been able to rewire their brain with therapy, at least in a way that makes life a little easier.. With trying to overcome phobias, you don't want to work on the phobia at the level of feeling of getting stung by bees, you got to find ways to break it down into smaller more manageable steps. Like just looking at a picture of a bee to begin with.Not that I believe 4s is a phobia, it hasn't responded to desensitization. But I agree putting oneself thru agony is pointless if there is no progress, but there are always new therapy ideas out there. Has anyone tried EDMR?

To: Soundsensitivity Sent: Wed, September 1, 2010 5:35:09 PMSubject: Re: An interesting YouTube video

Hi Mags & #61514; Thanks for your input. I do know that this issue has been addressed on this message board in the past, specifically the information in your message about the amygdala and retraining it and all that. Clearly what you say has great merit. It makes sense and I would be inclined to agree with you. Yet there is something that just nags at me when I ponder this theory. I guess what really bothers me, is the fact that having a neurological issue like this, of course, the phobia would "develop" or perhaps we are simply hardwired this way? I really don't know.

We are afraid of being exposed to the same sound that sends us to the edge of insanity, for however many seconds, minutes or hours on end, that we would never want to endure, or very well might not be able to endure. The argument is that we could retrain ourselves somehow. Maybe that is true. I would not rule out that we couldn't. I can just think of no one that would ever want to put themselves through that agony. I think the owner of this site said it pretty well when she said this. Getting stung by bees are traumatic, and painful, and will never be something that we could or should "get used to", or will ever be something that would be good for us, and we should not want to intentionally expose ourselves to the sounds, movements or the bee stings for that matter. We should never want to or should get used to something that is harmful or violates us, and causes us extreme stress, which this does for all of us. I do wonder what is up with the

powerful almost uncontrollable urge to mock the sounds or movements which disturb us so much. Pure and simple, certain sounds are toxic to us.

I do agree what you said " I recommend Optimum Nutrition for your Childs Mind by Holford - fish oils, control sugar intake etc), sleep well, exercise, laugh!, distraction, get out with friends, fun fun. Give the condition less dominance. " I also think a healthy diet, and reduction or elimination of harmful substances of all kinds, certainly would be helpful. And yes…research research research!!!!

I too, do not want to believe that there is no hope, or that any of us should ever give up or simply resign ourselves to this condition. I think we need to be as proactive as we can to protect ourselves, as well as keep looking and searching for and participating in ways that will help us find relief and ultimately a cure, or healing, or whatever it is that would cause us not to suffer with it anymore. Truly, supporting and caring about and listening to one another is vital.

"The "ogress"

> > >

> > > I came across this video today while I was looking for videos about sound sensitivity. It is interesting because two of the people speaking mention some familiar-sounding symptoms. And it is a well-presented video (3 minutes long).

> > >

> > > http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyjgPMjCjBM & feature=related

> > >

> > > Another video I saw about SPD unfortunately had eating sounds in a couple of scenes. I had to remove my headphones quickly to avoid the sounds! Aaargh - the dangers of audio-visual research! Reminds me of an 80-minute talk by the famous autistic woman Temple Grandin, who has major sensory sensitivity problems herself. Every time she took a swig of water during the talk, I had to remove my headphones.

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

My daughter and I have no triggers in common. She reacts to sniffling and

plate-scraping. I don't react to either of her sounds, but do react to slurping,

eating, drinking, whistling, stirring tea-cups (the " ringing bell " sound people

often make). So we can end up triggering each other!

>

> >

> >

> > Repetition certainly figures prominently in my experience and in the posts

> > of many other people here.

> >

> > It is hard to say what the relationship is between SPD and 4S. I sometimes

> > wonder if SPD is a spectrum of many similar, but not identical, sensory

> > problems that can occur in many different combinations - and often with

> > other conditions like ADHD, OCD, and the autism spectrum. For example,

> > besides 4S, I am also sensitive to fluorescent lights (the fluorescent

> > lights in my office are always switched off), *very* spooked by heights, and

> > mildly bothered by loud sounds and some strong smells (e.g. oranges being

> > peeled - as my work colleagues know).

> >

> > One major psychologist I read earlier this year pointed out that sensory

> > sensitivity is one of the most poorly researched areas of abnormal

> > psychology. Don't we know it!

> >

> > As for sniffling ... not my trigger (well, not very high), so I didn't mind

> > that much, but I do understand - it is my daughter's No 1 trigger (I get

> > lots of angry looks if I accidentally sniff near her - and it just finished

> > being winter here). Sorry about that!

> >

[Guest guest]

My daughter and I have no triggers in common. She reacts to sniffling and

plate-scraping. I don't react to either of her sounds, but do react to slurping,

eating, drinking, whistling, stirring tea-cups (the " ringing bell " sound people

often make). So we can end up triggering each other!

>

> >

> >

> > Repetition certainly figures prominently in my experience and in the posts

> > of many other people here.

> >

> > It is hard to say what the relationship is between SPD and 4S. I sometimes

> > wonder if SPD is a spectrum of many similar, but not identical, sensory

> > problems that can occur in many different combinations - and often with

> > other conditions like ADHD, OCD, and the autism spectrum. For example,

> > besides 4S, I am also sensitive to fluorescent lights (the fluorescent

> > lights in my office are always switched off), *very* spooked by heights, and

> > mildly bothered by loud sounds and some strong smells (e.g. oranges being

> > peeled - as my work colleagues know).

> >

> > One major psychologist I read earlier this year pointed out that sensory

> > sensitivity is one of the most poorly researched areas of abnormal

> > psychology. Don't we know it!

> >

> > As for sniffling ... not my trigger (well, not very high), so I didn't mind

> > that much, but I do understand - it is my daughter's No 1 trigger (I get

> > lots of angry looks if I accidentally sniff near her - and it just finished

> > being winter here). Sorry about that!

> >

[Guest guest]

My daughter and I have no triggers in common. She reacts to sniffling and

plate-scraping. I don't react to either of her sounds, but do react to slurping,

eating, drinking, whistling, stirring tea-cups (the " ringing bell " sound people

often make). So we can end up triggering each other!

>

> >

> >

> > Repetition certainly figures prominently in my experience and in the posts

> > of many other people here.

> >

> > It is hard to say what the relationship is between SPD and 4S. I sometimes

> > wonder if SPD is a spectrum of many similar, but not identical, sensory

> > problems that can occur in many different combinations - and often with

> > other conditions like ADHD, OCD, and the autism spectrum. For example,

> > besides 4S, I am also sensitive to fluorescent lights (the fluorescent

> > lights in my office are always switched off), *very* spooked by heights, and

> > mildly bothered by loud sounds and some strong smells (e.g. oranges being

> > peeled - as my work colleagues know).

> >

> > One major psychologist I read earlier this year pointed out that sensory

> > sensitivity is one of the most poorly researched areas of abnormal

> > psychology. Don't we know it!

> >

> > As for sniffling ... not my trigger (well, not very high), so I didn't mind

> > that much, but I do understand - it is my daughter's No 1 trigger (I get

> > lots of angry looks if I accidentally sniff near her - and it just finished

> > being winter here). Sorry about that!

> >

[Guest guest]

That is an interesting thought about the amygdala and its " primitive " reactions

to stimuli before we think them through.

Several others here can comment better than I can about the use of CBT with 4S

and how effective it is. Maikaefer, who has already replied, and Darlene are two

such people. I think you are right to reject " nothing can be done " - both CBT

and sound generators are helpful, even if they are not perfect cures.

On a different point, I have a difficulty with your explanation where you ask:

" Who knows why people like us react angrily that first time to a normal benign

sound. " It seems to me: whatever the mysterious mechanism that makes us react

once (the first time) .. why wouldn't *it* be making us react again and again,

quite apart from the mechanism you propose? What would cause this mysterious

mechanism to operate once, and not subsequently?

4S seems to be inherited, at least in many cases (I and one of my two daughters

have it, for example, and there are quite a few other similar examples in this

forum). That suggests that " whatever makes us react " the first time is some kind

of innate mechanism, and therefore raises the question: what is that mechanism

doing on subsequent occasions when we hear a trigger? If the inherited

mechanism, whatever it is, can make us react negatively *once*, why wouldn't it

also be at work in every later reaction, regardless of any remembering by the

amygdala?

And it is this (presumably inherited) mechanism which does not seem to respond

to CBT, to the sort of mindfulness that is effective in treating OCD, according

to those here who have undergone CBT and tried it for their 4S.

But I think you are right in so far as we have a secondary problem with 4S - we

do learn/remember bad experiences and anticipate them, and so spread the

reaction by conditioning to other (benign) stimuli besides our original

triggers.

So I think you have outlined a part of 4S that we can work on now, but it still

leaves up in the air the underlying neurological problem.

>

> Hi.

>  

> I too feel there is a link and that this condition may be somewhere on the

‘spectrum’ scale.

>  

> People with OCD are taught to stand up to the condition. To relabel it as

something outside themselves. A bully that should be

challenged. www.ocduk.org/2/foursteps.htm  

>  

> Anyone out there think this could apply to our condition? Like OCD its not

easy to challenge a ‘glitch’ in the brain. But maybe we should be trying?

>  

> I am also interested in the way phobias develop and see similarities when

sensitivities for some people start to generalize from the primary eating

noises. I have learnt there is a processing part of the brain called the

amygdala. It is the first to receive information from our surroundings to tell

us how to react before our thinking brain gets a look in. It is a survival

mechanism to protect us from danger. Be it fear (run away) or anger (fight).(We

all know the fight or flight theory). The amygdala makes us react immediately to

a perceived threat. It doesn’t hang around to see if the threat is real. It

can be quite crude but it kind of acts on a ‘better safe than sorry’

principle. (With us we do both - we get mad and get away as quickly as

possible!) Who knows why people like us react angrily that first time to a

normal benign sound. Why its usually to do with the mouth. Why it involves those

closest.  But the next time we heard that sound our

> amygdala remembered our first reaction. It 'remembered' that first anger.

This, as I understand it is called ‘pattern matching’. Thus our anger and

avoidance response is reinforced...and reinforced.... again and again. We get

angry and angry and avoid and avoid and avoid our triggers so we never retrain

our amydala to behave any differently. It is being told ‘yes, you are right

to react that way to that particular stimulus so keep doing it. It is keeping

you safe'  This is our subconscious mind. Instinctive, clever when it works,

(but daft when it doesn’t.) Think of how we jump when we hear a loud bang. It

is our amygdala that fires off messages to prepare us for action - heart rate

increases, muscles jump etc. All before our thinking brain gets a say. And

that’s good if it’s a gun or something. If its not a gun, a second later our

thinking brain takes control by recognising the bursting balloon as being a non

threat. And we relax

> again.

>  

> As some of us know, this problem can get to the point where its not just

eating or breathing that bugs us. It can spread to anything in our

environment, and can involve other senses. We become hypervigilent. I almost

seek it out! That’s why for me its nothing to do with noise volume or my

hearing. I can spread my own toast but I can’t bear hearing anyone else spread

theirs. Its my perception of it thats the problem.  I understand there are

different presentations and what applies to one person may not apply to another

so forgive me if I just relate it to myself.

>  

> It is our fear and our lack of control over it and the lack of help out there

I think that gets us to that point of super sensitivity. I think too it is often

when other things in our lives are stressful. Exams, change. Whatever worries

us. Terrifying. But I really think we have to challenge it. Address how we cope

with worry, get help with that maybe,  but also address the actual problem

itself. Eat well (For any mums out there I recommend Optimum Nutrition for your

Childs Mind by Holford - fish oils, control sugar intake etc), sleep

well, exercise, laugh!, distraction, get out with friends, fun fun. Give the

condition less dominance.

>  

> I feel sick to the stomach every time I read there is nothing can be done.

Reading it leaves me feeling more and more helpless and perpetuates the problem.

Fear is the oppositite of hope. And fear fuels this torture.

>  

> It has been shown in OCD that when the person challenges the thoughts and

stops the behaviour, the relevant dysfunctional part of the brain changes for

the better. So once the behaviour stops the compulsion stops. sounds easy and no

doubt it is not so simle but evidence supports the theory. If we somehow stop

getting angry at a sound we’ll eventually stop feeling angry?

>  

> It may not be easy because, for example, I hate car journeys - I can’t get

away from the noises that may be annoying me. After an hour I am beside myself

but that’s because I am trapped in my head. I need to learn to react

differently, perceive the noise in a different way and plan to try to do so.

Simple exposure will not work. But some form may be necessary as long as it is

carefully graded and controlled by an understanding psychologist?

>  

> As yet we have no real theory and no evidence of treatment. But thats only

because it hasn't been researched! There will be something shown to help this.

>  

>  

>  Any thoughts? (Let me down gently!) Anyways, I plan to put my energy into

finding something that works rather than letting this condition define who I am.

I won't let it!

> Mags

[Guest guest]

That is an interesting thought about the amygdala and its " primitive " reactions

to stimuli before we think them through.

Several others here can comment better than I can about the use of CBT with 4S

and how effective it is. Maikaefer, who has already replied, and Darlene are two

such people. I think you are right to reject " nothing can be done " - both CBT

and sound generators are helpful, even if they are not perfect cures.

On a different point, I have a difficulty with your explanation where you ask:

" Who knows why people like us react angrily that first time to a normal benign

sound. " It seems to me: whatever the mysterious mechanism that makes us react

once (the first time) .. why wouldn't *it* be making us react again and again,

quite apart from the mechanism you propose? What would cause this mysterious

mechanism to operate once, and not subsequently?

4S seems to be inherited, at least in many cases (I and one of my two daughters

have it, for example, and there are quite a few other similar examples in this

forum). That suggests that " whatever makes us react " the first time is some kind

of innate mechanism, and therefore raises the question: what is that mechanism

doing on subsequent occasions when we hear a trigger? If the inherited

mechanism, whatever it is, can make us react negatively *once*, why wouldn't it

also be at work in every later reaction, regardless of any remembering by the

amygdala?

And it is this (presumably inherited) mechanism which does not seem to respond

to CBT, to the sort of mindfulness that is effective in treating OCD, according

to those here who have undergone CBT and tried it for their 4S.

But I think you are right in so far as we have a secondary problem with 4S - we

do learn/remember bad experiences and anticipate them, and so spread the

reaction by conditioning to other (benign) stimuli besides our original

triggers.

So I think you have outlined a part of 4S that we can work on now, but it still

leaves up in the air the underlying neurological problem.

>

> Hi.

>  

> I too feel there is a link and that this condition may be somewhere on the

‘spectrum’ scale.

>  

> People with OCD are taught to stand up to the condition. To relabel it as

something outside themselves. A bully that should be

challenged. www.ocduk.org/2/foursteps.htm  

>  

> Anyone out there think this could apply to our condition? Like OCD its not

easy to challenge a ‘glitch’ in the brain. But maybe we should be trying?

>  

> I am also interested in the way phobias develop and see similarities when

sensitivities for some people start to generalize from the primary eating

noises. I have learnt there is a processing part of the brain called the

amygdala. It is the first to receive information from our surroundings to tell

us how to react before our thinking brain gets a look in. It is a survival

mechanism to protect us from danger. Be it fear (run away) or anger (fight).(We

all know the fight or flight theory). The amygdala makes us react immediately to

a perceived threat. It doesn’t hang around to see if the threat is real. It

can be quite crude but it kind of acts on a ‘better safe than sorry’

principle. (With us we do both - we get mad and get away as quickly as

possible!) Who knows why people like us react angrily that first time to a

normal benign sound. Why its usually to do with the mouth. Why it involves those

closest.  But the next time we heard that sound our

> amygdala remembered our first reaction. It 'remembered' that first anger.

This, as I understand it is called ‘pattern matching’. Thus our anger and

avoidance response is reinforced...and reinforced.... again and again. We get

angry and angry and avoid and avoid and avoid our triggers so we never retrain

our amydala to behave any differently. It is being told ‘yes, you are right

to react that way to that particular stimulus so keep doing it. It is keeping

you safe'  This is our subconscious mind. Instinctive, clever when it works,

(but daft when it doesn’t.) Think of how we jump when we hear a loud bang. It

is our amygdala that fires off messages to prepare us for action - heart rate

increases, muscles jump etc. All before our thinking brain gets a say. And

that’s good if it’s a gun or something. If its not a gun, a second later our

thinking brain takes control by recognising the bursting balloon as being a non

threat. And we relax

> again.

>  

> As some of us know, this problem can get to the point where its not just

eating or breathing that bugs us. It can spread to anything in our

environment, and can involve other senses. We become hypervigilent. I almost

seek it out! That’s why for me its nothing to do with noise volume or my

hearing. I can spread my own toast but I can’t bear hearing anyone else spread

theirs. Its my perception of it thats the problem.  I understand there are

different presentations and what applies to one person may not apply to another

so forgive me if I just relate it to myself.

>  

> It is our fear and our lack of control over it and the lack of help out there

I think that gets us to that point of super sensitivity. I think too it is often

when other things in our lives are stressful. Exams, change. Whatever worries

us. Terrifying. But I really think we have to challenge it. Address how we cope

with worry, get help with that maybe,  but also address the actual problem

itself. Eat well (For any mums out there I recommend Optimum Nutrition for your

Childs Mind by Holford - fish oils, control sugar intake etc), sleep

well, exercise, laugh!, distraction, get out with friends, fun fun. Give the

condition less dominance.

>  

> I feel sick to the stomach every time I read there is nothing can be done.

Reading it leaves me feeling more and more helpless and perpetuates the problem.

Fear is the oppositite of hope. And fear fuels this torture.

>  

> It has been shown in OCD that when the person challenges the thoughts and

stops the behaviour, the relevant dysfunctional part of the brain changes for

the better. So once the behaviour stops the compulsion stops. sounds easy and no

doubt it is not so simle but evidence supports the theory. If we somehow stop

getting angry at a sound we’ll eventually stop feeling angry?

>  

> It may not be easy because, for example, I hate car journeys - I can’t get

away from the noises that may be annoying me. After an hour I am beside myself

but that’s because I am trapped in my head. I need to learn to react

differently, perceive the noise in a different way and plan to try to do so.

Simple exposure will not work. But some form may be necessary as long as it is

carefully graded and controlled by an understanding psychologist?

>  

> As yet we have no real theory and no evidence of treatment. But thats only

because it hasn't been researched! There will be something shown to help this.

>  

>  

>  Any thoughts? (Let me down gently!) Anyways, I plan to put my energy into

finding something that works rather than letting this condition define who I am.

I won't let it!

> Mags

[Guest guest]

That is an interesting thought about the amygdala and its " primitive " reactions

to stimuli before we think them through.

Several others here can comment better than I can about the use of CBT with 4S

and how effective it is. Maikaefer, who has already replied, and Darlene are two

such people. I think you are right to reject " nothing can be done " - both CBT

and sound generators are helpful, even if they are not perfect cures.

On a different point, I have a difficulty with your explanation where you ask:

" Who knows why people like us react angrily that first time to a normal benign

sound. " It seems to me: whatever the mysterious mechanism that makes us react

once (the first time) .. why wouldn't *it* be making us react again and again,

quite apart from the mechanism you propose? What would cause this mysterious

mechanism to operate once, and not subsequently?

4S seems to be inherited, at least in many cases (I and one of my two daughters

have it, for example, and there are quite a few other similar examples in this

forum). That suggests that " whatever makes us react " the first time is some kind

of innate mechanism, and therefore raises the question: what is that mechanism

doing on subsequent occasions when we hear a trigger? If the inherited

mechanism, whatever it is, can make us react negatively *once*, why wouldn't it

also be at work in every later reaction, regardless of any remembering by the

amygdala?

And it is this (presumably inherited) mechanism which does not seem to respond

to CBT, to the sort of mindfulness that is effective in treating OCD, according

to those here who have undergone CBT and tried it for their 4S.

But I think you are right in so far as we have a secondary problem with 4S - we

do learn/remember bad experiences and anticipate them, and so spread the

reaction by conditioning to other (benign) stimuli besides our original

triggers.

So I think you have outlined a part of 4S that we can work on now, but it still

leaves up in the air the underlying neurological problem.

>

> Hi.

>  

> I too feel there is a link and that this condition may be somewhere on the

‘spectrum’ scale.

>  

> People with OCD are taught to stand up to the condition. To relabel it as

something outside themselves. A bully that should be

challenged. www.ocduk.org/2/foursteps.htm  

>  

> Anyone out there think this could apply to our condition? Like OCD its not

easy to challenge a ‘glitch’ in the brain. But maybe we should be trying?

>  

> I am also interested in the way phobias develop and see similarities when

sensitivities for some people start to generalize from the primary eating

noises. I have learnt there is a processing part of the brain called the

amygdala. It is the first to receive information from our surroundings to tell

us how to react before our thinking brain gets a look in. It is a survival

mechanism to protect us from danger. Be it fear (run away) or anger (fight).(We

all know the fight or flight theory). The amygdala makes us react immediately to

a perceived threat. It doesn’t hang around to see if the threat is real. It

can be quite crude but it kind of acts on a ‘better safe than sorry’

principle. (With us we do both - we get mad and get away as quickly as

possible!) Who knows why people like us react angrily that first time to a

normal benign sound. Why its usually to do with the mouth. Why it involves those

closest.  But the next time we heard that sound our

> amygdala remembered our first reaction. It 'remembered' that first anger.

This, as I understand it is called ‘pattern matching’. Thus our anger and

avoidance response is reinforced...and reinforced.... again and again. We get

angry and angry and avoid and avoid and avoid our triggers so we never retrain

our amydala to behave any differently. It is being told ‘yes, you are right

to react that way to that particular stimulus so keep doing it. It is keeping

you safe'  This is our subconscious mind. Instinctive, clever when it works,

(but daft when it doesn’t.) Think of how we jump when we hear a loud bang. It

is our amygdala that fires off messages to prepare us for action - heart rate

increases, muscles jump etc. All before our thinking brain gets a say. And

that’s good if it’s a gun or something. If its not a gun, a second later our

thinking brain takes control by recognising the bursting balloon as being a non

threat. And we relax

> again.

>  

> As some of us know, this problem can get to the point where its not just

eating or breathing that bugs us. It can spread to anything in our

environment, and can involve other senses. We become hypervigilent. I almost

seek it out! That’s why for me its nothing to do with noise volume or my

hearing. I can spread my own toast but I can’t bear hearing anyone else spread

theirs. Its my perception of it thats the problem.  I understand there are

different presentations and what applies to one person may not apply to another

so forgive me if I just relate it to myself.

>  

> It is our fear and our lack of control over it and the lack of help out there

I think that gets us to that point of super sensitivity. I think too it is often

when other things in our lives are stressful. Exams, change. Whatever worries

us. Terrifying. But I really think we have to challenge it. Address how we cope

with worry, get help with that maybe,  but also address the actual problem

itself. Eat well (For any mums out there I recommend Optimum Nutrition for your

Childs Mind by Holford - fish oils, control sugar intake etc), sleep

well, exercise, laugh!, distraction, get out with friends, fun fun. Give the

condition less dominance.

>  

> I feel sick to the stomach every time I read there is nothing can be done.

Reading it leaves me feeling more and more helpless and perpetuates the problem.

Fear is the oppositite of hope. And fear fuels this torture.

>  

> It has been shown in OCD that when the person challenges the thoughts and

stops the behaviour, the relevant dysfunctional part of the brain changes for

the better. So once the behaviour stops the compulsion stops. sounds easy and no

doubt it is not so simle but evidence supports the theory. If we somehow stop

getting angry at a sound we’ll eventually stop feeling angry?

>  

> It may not be easy because, for example, I hate car journeys - I can’t get

away from the noises that may be annoying me. After an hour I am beside myself

but that’s because I am trapped in my head. I need to learn to react

differently, perceive the noise in a different way and plan to try to do so.

Simple exposure will not work. But some form may be necessary as long as it is

carefully graded and controlled by an understanding psychologist?

>  

> As yet we have no real theory and no evidence of treatment. But thats only

because it hasn't been researched! There will be something shown to help this.

>  

>  

>  Any thoughts? (Let me down gently!) Anyways, I plan to put my energy into

finding something that works rather than letting this condition define who I am.

I won't let it!

> Mags

[Guest guest]

Well, I was quoting Marsha on the bee thing. The message was months ago. I am

certain I did not put it as well as she did, but the actual stinging of the bee

would never be healing for us was the point I think she was trying to make. We

could look at all the pictures of bees that we want, but the actual stinging

will never help us. Perhaps I misinterpreted what she said. I realize that CBT

and EMDR and other therapies can help some people. I have tried EMDR and it did

not help me, at least not with 4S.

Clearly we are all individuals with different triggers, and each person might

have a different manifestation of OCD behavior. I have not been " officially "

diagnosed with OCD, but it runs in my family. It seems that some of the

conditions that exist in our society are linked somehow, as have been mentioned

in previous posts. OCD, ADD, ODD, and more. Perhaps because of the hardwiring

of some, it might seem insurmountable, and take a long time and a lot of effort,

to actually see any results. Perhaps some can and need to go through agony to

get to the other side. I really don't know the answers. I do not want to

discourage anyone from trying any technique that might bring them relief. Each

one of us is unique.

> > > >

> > > > I came across this video today while I was looking for videos about

sound

> >sensitivity. It is interesting because two of the people speaking mention

some

> >familiar-sounding symptoms. And it is a well-presented video (3 minutes

long).

> > > >

> > > > http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyjgPMjCjBM & feature=related

> > > >

> > > > Another video I saw about SPD unfortunately had eating sounds in a

couple

> >of scenes. I had to remove my headphones quickly to avoid the sounds! Aaargh

-

> >the dangers of audio-visual research! Reminds me of an 80-minute talk by the

> >famous autistic woman Temple Grandin, who has major sensory sensitivity

problems

> >herself. Every time she took a swig of water during the talk, I had to remove

my

> >headphones.

> > > >

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Well, I was quoting Marsha on the bee thing. The message was months ago. I am

certain I did not put it as well as she did, but the actual stinging of the bee

would never be healing for us was the point I think she was trying to make. We

could look at all the pictures of bees that we want, but the actual stinging

will never help us. Perhaps I misinterpreted what she said. I realize that CBT

and EMDR and other therapies can help some people. I have tried EMDR and it did

not help me, at least not with 4S.

Clearly we are all individuals with different triggers, and each person might

have a different manifestation of OCD behavior. I have not been " officially "

diagnosed with OCD, but it runs in my family. It seems that some of the

conditions that exist in our society are linked somehow, as have been mentioned

in previous posts. OCD, ADD, ODD, and more. Perhaps because of the hardwiring

of some, it might seem insurmountable, and take a long time and a lot of effort,

to actually see any results. Perhaps some can and need to go through agony to

get to the other side. I really don't know the answers. I do not want to

discourage anyone from trying any technique that might bring them relief. Each

one of us is unique.

> > > >

> > > > I came across this video today while I was looking for videos about

sound

> >sensitivity. It is interesting because two of the people speaking mention

some

> >familiar-sounding symptoms. And it is a well-presented video (3 minutes

long).

> > > >

> > > > http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyjgPMjCjBM & feature=related

> > > >

> > > > Another video I saw about SPD unfortunately had eating sounds in a

couple

> >of scenes. I had to remove my headphones quickly to avoid the sounds! Aaargh

-

> >the dangers of audio-visual research! Reminds me of an 80-minute talk by the

> >famous autistic woman Temple Grandin, who has major sensory sensitivity

problems

> >herself. Every time she took a swig of water during the talk, I had to remove

my

> >headphones.

> > > >

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Well, I was quoting Marsha on the bee thing. The message was months ago. I am

certain I did not put it as well as she did, but the actual stinging of the bee

would never be healing for us was the point I think she was trying to make. We

could look at all the pictures of bees that we want, but the actual stinging

will never help us. Perhaps I misinterpreted what she said. I realize that CBT

and EMDR and other therapies can help some people. I have tried EMDR and it did

not help me, at least not with 4S.

Clearly we are all individuals with different triggers, and each person might

have a different manifestation of OCD behavior. I have not been " officially "

diagnosed with OCD, but it runs in my family. It seems that some of the

conditions that exist in our society are linked somehow, as have been mentioned

in previous posts. OCD, ADD, ODD, and more. Perhaps because of the hardwiring

of some, it might seem insurmountable, and take a long time and a lot of effort,

to actually see any results. Perhaps some can and need to go through agony to

get to the other side. I really don't know the answers. I do not want to

discourage anyone from trying any technique that might bring them relief. Each

one of us is unique.

> > > >

> > > > I came across this video today while I was looking for videos about

sound

> >sensitivity. It is interesting because two of the people speaking mention

some

> >familiar-sounding symptoms. And it is a well-presented video (3 minutes

long).

> > > >

> > > > http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyjgPMjCjBM & feature=related

> > > >

> > > > Another video I saw about SPD unfortunately had eating sounds in a

couple

> >of scenes. I had to remove my headphones quickly to avoid the sounds! Aaargh

-

> >the dangers of audio-visual research! Reminds me of an 80-minute talk by the

> >famous autistic woman Temple Grandin, who has major sensory sensitivity

problems

> >herself. Every time she took a swig of water during the talk, I had to remove

my

> >headphones.

> > > >

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Daogress, I do understand what you/Marsha mean by the bee sting analogy. If your reaction to a sound is like getting stung by bees, an extreme physiological reaction, then you are not going to get over it by getting stung by bees over and over again. I do agree. Which is why I really try to limit my exposures to certain intense triggers. Also why my overall stress levels are doing better since I started using the broadband noise when I am really overwhelmed so I get a break.I have tried OCD medications, including anafranil, high doses of SSRI, and SSRI in combination with an anti-seizure drug, none of which helped the 4s. So I am thinking that it most likely is not OCD. However perhaps 4s has similarities to OCD in that it has a physiological origin, so maybe looking into therapies that have worked for OCD might be helpful for some. I am really hoping there is some kind of work around solution to 4s, as analogous to looking at pictures of bees if you have a bee phobia. Like the

guy in the trigger therapy book who I think had 4s. He used progressive

muscle relaxation, hypnosis and systemic desensitization starting with

"imagining" hearing his trigger noises to eventually overcome his noise

sensitivity. It did take a lot of time and effort for him, like probably any treatment for 4s or Ocd would, if you are working on changing something that occurs naturally physiologically in your brain. Thank you for mentioning your experience with EDMR, I do want realistic feedback so I appreciate your sharing that.

To: Soundsensitivity Sent: Thu, September 2, 2010 5:50:52 AMSubject: Re: An interesting YouTube video

Well, I was quoting Marsha on the bee thing. The message was months ago. I am certain I did not put it as well as she did, but the actual stinging of the bee would never be healing for us was the point I think she was trying to make. We could look at all the pictures of bees that we want, but the actual stinging will never help us. Perhaps I misinterpreted what she said. I realize that CBT and EMDR and other therapies can help some people. I have tried EMDR and it did not help me, at least not with 4S.

Clearly we are all individuals with different triggers, and each person might have a different manifestation of OCD behavior. I have not been "officially" diagnosed with OCD, but it runs in my family. It seems that some of the conditions that exist in our society are linked somehow, as have been mentioned in previous posts. OCD, ADD, ODD, and more. Perhaps because of the hardwiring of some, it might seem insurmountable, and take a long time and a lot of effort, to actually see any results. Perhaps some can and need to go through agony to get to the other side. I really don't know the answers. I do not want to discourage anyone from trying any technique that might bring them relief. Each one of us is unique.

> > > >

> > > > I came across this video today while I was looking for videos about sound

> >sensitivity. It is interesting because two of the people speaking mention some

> >familiar-sounding symptoms. And it is a well-presented video (3 minutes long).

> > > >

> > > > http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyjgPMjCjBM & feature=related

> > > >

> > > > Another video I saw about SPD unfortunately had eating sounds in a couple

> >of scenes. I had to remove my headphones quickly to avoid the sounds! Aaargh -

> >the dangers of audio-visual research! Reminds me of an 80-minute talk by the

> >famous autistic woman Temple Grandin, who has major sensory sensitivity problems

> >herself. Every time she took a swig of water during the talk, I had to remove my

> >headphones.

> > > >

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Daogress, I do understand what you/Marsha mean by the bee sting analogy. If your reaction to a sound is like getting stung by bees, an extreme physiological reaction, then you are not going to get over it by getting stung by bees over and over again. I do agree. Which is why I really try to limit my exposures to certain intense triggers. Also why my overall stress levels are doing better since I started using the broadband noise when I am really overwhelmed so I get a break.I have tried OCD medications, including anafranil, high doses of SSRI, and SSRI in combination with an anti-seizure drug, none of which helped the 4s. So I am thinking that it most likely is not OCD. However perhaps 4s has similarities to OCD in that it has a physiological origin, so maybe looking into therapies that have worked for OCD might be helpful for some. I am really hoping there is some kind of work around solution to 4s, as analogous to looking at pictures of bees if you have a bee phobia. Like the

guy in the trigger therapy book who I think had 4s. He used progressive

muscle relaxation, hypnosis and systemic desensitization starting with

"imagining" hearing his trigger noises to eventually overcome his noise

sensitivity. It did take a lot of time and effort for him, like probably any treatment for 4s or Ocd would, if you are working on changing something that occurs naturally physiologically in your brain. Thank you for mentioning your experience with EDMR, I do want realistic feedback so I appreciate your sharing that.

To: Soundsensitivity Sent: Thu, September 2, 2010 5:50:52 AMSubject: Re: An interesting YouTube video

Well, I was quoting Marsha on the bee thing. The message was months ago. I am certain I did not put it as well as she did, but the actual stinging of the bee would never be healing for us was the point I think she was trying to make. We could look at all the pictures of bees that we want, but the actual stinging will never help us. Perhaps I misinterpreted what she said. I realize that CBT and EMDR and other therapies can help some people. I have tried EMDR and it did not help me, at least not with 4S.

Clearly we are all individuals with different triggers, and each person might have a different manifestation of OCD behavior. I have not been "officially" diagnosed with OCD, but it runs in my family. It seems that some of the conditions that exist in our society are linked somehow, as have been mentioned in previous posts. OCD, ADD, ODD, and more. Perhaps because of the hardwiring of some, it might seem insurmountable, and take a long time and a lot of effort, to actually see any results. Perhaps some can and need to go through agony to get to the other side. I really don't know the answers. I do not want to discourage anyone from trying any technique that might bring them relief. Each one of us is unique.

> > > >

> > > > I came across this video today while I was looking for videos about sound

> >sensitivity. It is interesting because two of the people speaking mention some

> >familiar-sounding symptoms. And it is a well-presented video (3 minutes long).

> > > >

> > > > http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyjgPMjCjBM & feature=related

> > > >

> > > > Another video I saw about SPD unfortunately had eating sounds in a couple

> >of scenes. I had to remove my headphones quickly to avoid the sounds! Aaargh -

> >the dangers of audio-visual research! Reminds me of an 80-minute talk by the

> >famous autistic woman Temple Grandin, who has major sensory sensitivity problems

> >herself. Every time she took a swig of water during the talk, I had to remove my

> >headphones.

> > > >

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Daogress, I do understand what you/Marsha mean by the bee sting analogy. If your reaction to a sound is like getting stung by bees, an extreme physiological reaction, then you are not going to get over it by getting stung by bees over and over again. I do agree. Which is why I really try to limit my exposures to certain intense triggers. Also why my overall stress levels are doing better since I started using the broadband noise when I am really overwhelmed so I get a break.I have tried OCD medications, including anafranil, high doses of SSRI, and SSRI in combination with an anti-seizure drug, none of which helped the 4s. So I am thinking that it most likely is not OCD. However perhaps 4s has similarities to OCD in that it has a physiological origin, so maybe looking into therapies that have worked for OCD might be helpful for some. I am really hoping there is some kind of work around solution to 4s, as analogous to looking at pictures of bees if you have a bee phobia. Like the

guy in the trigger therapy book who I think had 4s. He used progressive

muscle relaxation, hypnosis and systemic desensitization starting with

"imagining" hearing his trigger noises to eventually overcome his noise

sensitivity. It did take a lot of time and effort for him, like probably any treatment for 4s or Ocd would, if you are working on changing something that occurs naturally physiologically in your brain. Thank you for mentioning your experience with EDMR, I do want realistic feedback so I appreciate your sharing that.

To: Soundsensitivity Sent: Thu, September 2, 2010 5:50:52 AMSubject: Re: An interesting YouTube video

Well, I was quoting Marsha on the bee thing. The message was months ago. I am certain I did not put it as well as she did, but the actual stinging of the bee would never be healing for us was the point I think she was trying to make. We could look at all the pictures of bees that we want, but the actual stinging will never help us. Perhaps I misinterpreted what she said. I realize that CBT and EMDR and other therapies can help some people. I have tried EMDR and it did not help me, at least not with 4S.

Clearly we are all individuals with different triggers, and each person might have a different manifestation of OCD behavior. I have not been "officially" diagnosed with OCD, but it runs in my family. It seems that some of the conditions that exist in our society are linked somehow, as have been mentioned in previous posts. OCD, ADD, ODD, and more. Perhaps because of the hardwiring of some, it might seem insurmountable, and take a long time and a lot of effort, to actually see any results. Perhaps some can and need to go through agony to get to the other side. I really don't know the answers. I do not want to discourage anyone from trying any technique that might bring them relief. Each one of us is unique.

> > > >

> > > > I came across this video today while I was looking for videos about sound

> >sensitivity. It is interesting because two of the people speaking mention some

> >familiar-sounding symptoms. And it is a well-presented video (3 minutes long).

> > > >

> > > > http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyjgPMjCjBM & feature=related

> > > >

> > > > Another video I saw about SPD unfortunately had eating sounds in a couple

> >of scenes. I had to remove my headphones quickly to avoid the sounds! Aaargh -

> >the dangers of audio-visual research! Reminds me of an 80-minute talk by the

> >famous autistic woman Temple Grandin, who has major sensory sensitivity problems

> >herself. Every time she took a swig of water during the talk, I had to remove my

> >headphones.

> > > >

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

I just watched the video. What is the difference between SPD and 4S?? They

briefly mentioned aversion to odors and touch, but everybody in the video seemed

to have sound triggers. Yes, she was sniffing, but she was crying, and your own

sniffing usually doesn't bother you, correct?

I HATE SNIFFING. One of my worse triggers.

> >

> > I came across this video today while I was looking for videos about

> > sound sensitivity. It is interesting because two of the people

> > speaking mention some familiar-sounding symptoms. And it is a

> > well-presented video (3 minutes long).

> >

> > http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyjgPMjCjBM & feature=related

> > <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyjgPMjCjBM & feature=related>

> >

> > Another video I saw about SPD unfortunately had eating sounds in a

> > couple of scenes. I had to remove my headphones quickly to avoid the

> > sounds! Aaargh - the dangers of audio-visual research! Reminds me of

> > an 80-minute talk by the famous autistic woman Temple Grandin, who has

> > major sensory sensitivity problems herself. Every time she took a swig

> > of water during the talk, I had to remove my headphones.

> >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

I just watched the video. What is the difference between SPD and 4S?? They

briefly mentioned aversion to odors and touch, but everybody in the video seemed

to have sound triggers. Yes, she was sniffing, but she was crying, and your own

sniffing usually doesn't bother you, correct?

I HATE SNIFFING. One of my worse triggers.

> >

> > I came across this video today while I was looking for videos about

> > sound sensitivity. It is interesting because two of the people

> > speaking mention some familiar-sounding symptoms. And it is a

> > well-presented video (3 minutes long).

> >

> > http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyjgPMjCjBM & feature=related

> > <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyjgPMjCjBM & feature=related>

> >

> > Another video I saw about SPD unfortunately had eating sounds in a

> > couple of scenes. I had to remove my headphones quickly to avoid the

> > sounds! Aaargh - the dangers of audio-visual research! Reminds me of

> > an 80-minute talk by the famous autistic woman Temple Grandin, who has

> > major sensory sensitivity problems herself. Every time she took a swig

> > of water during the talk, I had to remove my headphones.

> >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

I just watched the video. What is the difference between SPD and 4S?? They

briefly mentioned aversion to odors and touch, but everybody in the video seemed

to have sound triggers. Yes, she was sniffing, but she was crying, and your own

sniffing usually doesn't bother you, correct?

I HATE SNIFFING. One of my worse triggers.

> >

> > I came across this video today while I was looking for videos about

> > sound sensitivity. It is interesting because two of the people

> > speaking mention some familiar-sounding symptoms. And it is a

> > well-presented video (3 minutes long).

> >

> > http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyjgPMjCjBM & feature=related

> > <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyjgPMjCjBM & feature=related>

> >

> > Another video I saw about SPD unfortunately had eating sounds in a

> > couple of scenes. I had to remove my headphones quickly to avoid the

> > sounds! Aaargh - the dangers of audio-visual research! Reminds me of

> > an 80-minute talk by the famous autistic woman Temple Grandin, who has

> > major sensory sensitivity problems herself. Every time she took a swig

> > of water during the talk, I had to remove my headphones.

> >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

SPD is a term used by occupational therapists. They lump together a wide range

of sensory problems - not just hypersensitivity but also insensitivity to normal

sensations (including lack of sensitivity to pain) as well as motor problems

relating to sensations (e.g. clumsiness, where the senses and muscles fail to be

closely coordinated). SPD can be sensitivity to quantity ( " too loud " ) or to

quality ( " I hate mushy food " ). There is no guarantee that all these different

sensory problems are really a single condition - just as the term " cancer " does

not name a single condition but covers a wide range of conditions including both

hereditary conditions like breast cancer and acquired conditions like lung

cancer.

Audiologists identify at least two distinct sensory (auditory) conditions that

arguably fall under the SPD label: hyperacusis (common among people with autism

spectrum disorders) and 4S. Hyperacusis is sensitivity to the quantity of sound

(loudness) while 4S is sensitivity to particular qualities of sound (e.g. oral

and nasal sounds).

The problem is: neither 4S nor SPD is recognised in the diagnostic

classification system (DSM-IV). And there has been little research into sensory

sensitivity in general, and virtually none in relation to 4S.

All we can say at present is that 4S is a distinctive type of sensory

sensitivity which is not related to loudness but does seem to have some

connection with repetition. Whether it has the same underlying causal mechanism

as other forms of sensory sensitivity is unclear. And whether it responds to

similar treatment as SPD is very unclear.

>

> I just watched the video. What is the difference between SPD and 4S?? They

briefly mentioned aversion to odors and touch, but everybody in the video seemed

to have sound triggers. Yes, she was sniffing, but she was crying, and your own

sniffing usually doesn't bother you, correct?

>

> I HATE SNIFFING. One of my worse triggers.

[Guest guest]

I have difficulties with sniffing, including my own sniffs, so I try

to avoid them if I can. Growing up I remember working on breathing

without making any sounds. As for the difference I don't know. I'm

still trying to figure out exactly what it is that I struggle with.

I just watched the video. What is the difference between

SPD and 4S?? They briefly mentioned aversion to odors and

touch, but everybody in the video seemed to have sound

triggers. Yes, she was sniffing, but she was crying, and

your own sniffing usually doesn't bother you, correct?

I HATE SNIFFING. One of my worse triggers.

> >

> > I came across this video today while I was

looking for videos about

> > sound sensitivity. It is interesting because two

of the people

> > speaking mention some familiar-sounding

symptoms. And it is a

> > well-presented video (3 minutes long).

> >

> > http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyjgPMjCjBM & feature=related

> > <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyjgPMjCjBM & feature=related>

> >

> > Another video I saw about SPD unfortunately had

eating sounds in a

> > couple of scenes. I had to remove my headphones

quickly to avoid the

> > sounds! Aaargh - the dangers of audio-visual

research! Reminds me of

> > an 80-minute talk by the famous autistic woman

Temple Grandin, who has

> > major sensory sensitivity problems herself.

Every time she took a swig

> > of water during the talk, I had to remove my

headphones.

> >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

I have difficulties with sniffing, including my own sniffs, so I try

to avoid them if I can. Growing up I remember working on breathing

without making any sounds. As for the difference I don't know. I'm

still trying to figure out exactly what it is that I struggle with.

I just watched the video. What is the difference between

SPD and 4S?? They briefly mentioned aversion to odors and

touch, but everybody in the video seemed to have sound

triggers. Yes, she was sniffing, but she was crying, and

your own sniffing usually doesn't bother you, correct?

I HATE SNIFFING. One of my worse triggers.

> >

> > I came across this video today while I was

looking for videos about

> > sound sensitivity. It is interesting because two

of the people

> > speaking mention some familiar-sounding

symptoms. And it is a

> > well-presented video (3 minutes long).

> >

> > http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyjgPMjCjBM & feature=related

> > <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyjgPMjCjBM & feature=related>

> >

> > Another video I saw about SPD unfortunately had

eating sounds in a

> > couple of scenes. I had to remove my headphones

quickly to avoid the

> > sounds! Aaargh - the dangers of audio-visual

research! Reminds me of

> > an 80-minute talk by the famous autistic woman

Temple Grandin, who has

> > major sensory sensitivity problems herself.

Every time she took a swig

> > of water during the talk, I had to remove my

headphones.

> >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

I have difficulties with sniffing, including my own sniffs, so I try

to avoid them if I can. Growing up I remember working on breathing

without making any sounds. As for the difference I don't know. I'm

still trying to figure out exactly what it is that I struggle with.

I just watched the video. What is the difference between

SPD and 4S?? They briefly mentioned aversion to odors and

touch, but everybody in the video seemed to have sound

triggers. Yes, she was sniffing, but she was crying, and

your own sniffing usually doesn't bother you, correct?

I HATE SNIFFING. One of my worse triggers.

> >

> > I came across this video today while I was

looking for videos about

> > sound sensitivity. It is interesting because two

of the people

> > speaking mention some familiar-sounding

symptoms. And it is a

> > well-presented video (3 minutes long).

> >

> > http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyjgPMjCjBM & feature=related

> > <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyjgPMjCjBM & feature=related>

> >

> > Another video I saw about SPD unfortunately had

eating sounds in a

> > couple of scenes. I had to remove my headphones

quickly to avoid the

> > sounds! Aaargh - the dangers of audio-visual

research! Reminds me of

> > an 80-minute talk by the famous autistic woman

Temple Grandin, who has

> > major sensory sensitivity problems herself.

Every time she took a swig

> > of water during the talk, I had to remove my

headphones.

> >

> >

>