Re: Does anyone have a calming method?

[Guest guest]

I have found even a good friend gets upset if you say something. I have mentioned it and clearly a person got offended. Apparently some people just can't survive without gum when watching a movie, ballgame, etc. It depends on how sensitive they are. Sorry, no good answer. To: Soundsensitivity Sent: Wednesday,

May 23, 2012 7:13 PM Subject: Does anyone have a calming method?

A good friend was sitting next to me and chewing gum. It was bothering me and I felt bad that I was bothered. Has anyone found a way to calm themselves and overcome this?

[Guest guest]

Deep breathing (as quietly as I can), telling myself that this will pass, trying

to think some beautiful thoughts. If you are talking to the person it won't be

so easy to do this, but this these are a few things I try to use when I can't

escape the situation. If I can go to the bathroom for a few minutes and cry a

little, I sometimes come back with enough calm to endure.

And if I've had coffee that day, calming myself is very difficult, so I try to

avoid caffeine overload.

>

> A good friend was sitting next to me and chewing gum. It was bothering me and

I felt bad that I was bothered. Has anyone found a way to calm themselves and

overcome this?

>

[Guest guest]

I wish there was something that we could offer that calmed us completely and

every time, but that's the problem with this disorder -- it is uncontrollable,

and the panic or anger just comes if you are forced to hear the noise.

The only means I've had in coping with trigger sounds, esp. at work, is to find

a job/employer who lets you wear earphones/music all day. For me, even custom

ear plugs do not block out all noise. And I've tried the same things, like

breathing, meditation, chanting to myself, etc, but nothing short of complete

trigger noise obliteration (something louder like music) works for me.

>

> A good friend was sitting next to me and chewing gum. It was bothering me and

I felt bad that I was bothered. Has anyone found a way to calm themselves and

overcome this?

>

[Guest guest]

When it comes to gum, I've found the old adage " If you can't beat 'em, join 'em "

to be useful. If I'm chewing gum, I can barely hear anyone else's disgusting

chewing noises over my own disgusting chewing noises.

[Guest guest]

I have found a little relief by trying to identify which muscles are tense at

the moment and trying to deliberately relax them. It is usually the muscles in

my face and neck. But until the trigger goes away I will not actually calm

down, and if I think about it (consciously) replaying what an idiot the offender

is, I won't calm down.

[Guest guest]

Bob's relaxation technique helped me a lot before I went the avoidance route. I

found I had to stop working or talking and just focus on relaxing. The pain

decrease was amazing.

---- Bob H wrote:

> I have found a little relief by trying to identify which muscles are tense at

the moment and trying to deliberately relax them. It is usually the muscles in

my face and neck. But until the trigger goes away I will not actually calm

down, and if I think about it (consciously) replaying what an idiot the offender

is, I won't calm down.

>

[Guest guest]

Just last night I was reminded of another trigger I have - the pitter patter of

raindrops on plastic/metal. The only rooms in my house without windows are

bathrooms, and after having spent one night in the tub when traveling (to get

away from a snorer), I knew I didn't want to repeat that experience.

So I tried what I noticed worked in the past - I consciously focused on

something else entirely. Trying to relax wasn't going to work. I prayed " loudly

in my head " as a way to help me focus on those words rather than the sound of

the rain. I managed to fall asleep... several times... but I kept being woken

up, maybe by the change in the rain's rhythm? Then of course the idiot neighbor

showed up around midnight with bass blasting in his car, apparently in no hurry

turn the darn car off and go inside. I instantly visualized throwing stones at

his car, or (less violent, but likewise unlikely) going to the car and turning

it off myself.

Having said that, praying (in my case, the ry, which comes with lots of

repetition of formulaic words, so no need to pause and think of what to say

next, thus loosing the edge of distraction) did finally help me fall asleep. I

remember waking up this morning happily surprised that after the few false

starts, I was finally able to sleep through the night.

What I've realized is that my sanity is more important than even sleep (a big

favorite of mine!), so where in the past I'd freak out over the prospect of lost

sleep due to triggers, now I am willing to get up and watch TV or do anything

else that will drown out the trigger noise, even if it means I lose sleep.

As for muscle tensing/relaxation, from my yoga experience, I've never been very

good at maintaining the process long enough, but I'll remember to use it in

conjunction with my prayer method next time.

>

> I have found a little relief by trying to identify which muscles are tense at

the moment and trying to deliberately relax them. It is usually the muscles in

my face and neck. But until the trigger goes away I will not actually calm

down, and if I think about it (consciously) replaying what an idiot the offender

is, I won't calm down.

>