Hi, I'm new

[Guest guest]

Hey everyone,

I've been reading the posts for about a week now & wanted to chime in.

I feel like I'm going absolutely mental and I am having a very hard

time developing coping mechanisms for this. I've had this problem for

at least 10 years now (I'm 33) and in the past 3-4 months it has

amplified. Sounds that bug me the most are smacking, mouth-breathing,

slurping, and crunching. But it's very specific - normal eating

doesn't bother me. It's chewing with one's mouth open or slurping

soup/noodles or stuffing one's face with chips or popcorn. Eating one

chip and simply breaking it off then chewing it with mouth closed

isn't an issue. Eating 3 chips at a time so they barely fit in the

person's mouth and having to chew them with the mouth open until they

break into smaller pieces sends me into a fit of rage and anger.

So anyway, here's my problem - my fiancee chews with his mouth open

and chews his cuticles for HOURS. I can't watch TV or movies with him

without obsessing about the sound he is making (he will chew his

cuticles during an entire movie/TV show making a loud wet nibbling

sound). When we eat together, whether it's salad or pudding or soup or

toast, I can't take it. I want to smack him because it is SO ANNOYING.

I think what bugs me the most is that it's entirely controllable. No

one has to chew with their mouth open. It's so easy to just shut your

mouth while chewing.

I've asked him several times to stop chewing his cuticles - he'll stop

for about 30 seconds and say " sorry " then the hand goes back up to the

mouth and he starts it again. I've told him about 4S and he seemed to

get it, but I don't think he realizes how annoying it is.

I feel like I can't be around him when we watch TV, go to movies, sit

on the couch, go to a restaurant/bar, eat any meal or snack - that's

at least 50% of the time we spend together.

I don't know what to do. Obviously this is MY problem and MY issue but

I am having a harder & harder time coming up with ways to cope. He's

sitting next to me on his computer right now eating jello and I want

to knock the bowl out of his hands and scream.

Thanks for listening.