Where have you been?

[Guest guest]

I have been living with 4S for 30 years. I am 40. If you do the math,

that winds up being close to infinity. I only found out about this

world wide condition(?) maybe three days ago. Why I searched google

for I Hate Gum I do not know. I was driven, I guess. But I did and I

found your site with thousands of posts describing feelings similar

to mine. My doctor thinks I have OCD. I probably do have OCD now

since I cannot seem to get away from the sounds of gum chewing and

breathing, and since I have obsessed about getting away from them

since I was a kid. He prescribed OCD medicine and sessions with a

psychologist. The psychologist suggested visulization and relaxation

techniques. Neither is really working for me. My doctor also said I

should chew gum to get over the fear. After first forcing myself to

buy a pack last year, I chew it every day. By myself, of course. I

would not dream of offending anyone else with the pop-squish-snap.

Sick. I have been chewing for a year now, but, for fear of sounding

like a hypocrite, it does not bother me when I chew it, just when

other people do it. I also realize that I breathe, so the sounds I

generate does not seem to be the problem either. Maybe we hear sounds

differently coming from ourselves. Who knows?

My doctor also told me to have my wife chew gum around me so I get

over it. So I told her. That felt like suicide when I told her to do

that. And she is more than happy to oblige. I think she even enjoys

creating the sounds that sicken me and make me leave the room. Maybe

because I forgot to pick up my wet towel off the floor this morning

she gets back at me. Now, she told her sister and her mom, so they

feel like they all have to talk about gum commercial-style every time

we visit them. " My kids just love Bubblelicious-Trident-Bazooka-

Bubble Gum! " I usually try to remain away from their conversations. I

really like them, but I fear they will start up that talk again and

make me feel like a freak. Another thing my wife does is she writes

gum on the grocery list in extra large letters for me to buy for her

when she runs out. TRIDENT GUM. Yeah, like I cannot see it anyway.

I would really like to get rid of this problem and join the human

race, but I have not been successful. I thought going deaf would be

the answer, but then I would not be able to enjoy playing guitar for

my wife and kids. The trade off is almost equal at times, though. My

father-in-law is deaf, but he had a coclear implant put in. I thought

why would anyone ever do that!? Then I thought, he does not have this

problem.

If anyone has any advice on what to do about this, please let me

know. I am alone in surround sound.

Thanks for letting me vent.