New here

[Guest guest]

Hi all,

I'm brand new here, but not new to 4S. I'm 36 and I've had this sensitivity

probably since I was about 12. I remember very distinctly coming to hate the

sound of my father eating apples and carrots (which he does...every day). I was

also set off by the sight of people sucking on sweater strings. That eventually

went on to extend to all the lovely crunching, chewing, swallowing, smacking,

coughing, throat clearing, exhaling, grunting, typing, scratching, etc...type of

sounds. Ack. I have visual cues, too.

Although I'm sad that all of you have to suffer through this, too, it's

incredible to realize after all this time that thee are other people who have

experienced the exact same thing! I never talk about it, except with my husband,

because I can be cranky with him and he won't hate me, lol. But of course, he's

not allowed to eat certain things near me, brush his teeth near me, swallow near

me, cough near me, and must have the patience of a saint.

I'm also getting my doctorate in clinical psychology and really, really want to

the field to know about this condition. I had mild OCD as a teenager, and in my

mind there is a strong connection between 4S and OCD...I kind of imagine it as a

compulsion to need to have a noise stop, but not being in control of that

compulsion...so it leads to anger/rage. Actually I'm going to talk with my

advisor tomorrow (he's in neuropsych/health psych).

Okay, I'm rambling now...but I'm so glad to find this board. Hope to do what I

can to bring awareness to this condition!

Steph