Thank goodness!

[Guest guest]

All of my life I have been called hypercritical and grouchy because of my sound

triggers. It started before I can remember with coughing, sniffling, breathing

sounds and eating sounds. My sister forwarded the NYT article to me as a joke

and I was soooooo greatful that there was someone out there who understood.

Eating dinner as a family was torture and I was constantly scolded for plugging

my ears at the table. Earplugs have saved my sanity many times. My two oldest

children suffer from it also. I rarely go to movie theatres and I have withdrawn

from classes because there was a breather, throat-clearer or sniffler in the

class with me. I skipped a significant portion of my SAT exams because the kid

behind me cleared his throat continually. I am constantly told to " just ignore

it " but believe me, I would if I could. I can not hold phone conversations with

one of my closest friends because the sound of her exhaling her cigarette smoke

makes me crazy (she doesn't smoke around me in person). I have yet to find

anything that provides any relief besides avoidance. My husband is constantly

annoyed because I let such " little things " ruin things for me. My mother keeps

advising me " don't sweat the small stuff. " this is not small for me. I also

suffer from touch, light and olfactory sensitivity as well. I don't know what

would constitute taste sensitivity but maybe I don't want to know. That way at

least I can find solace in one properly functioning sense. It has been a great

relief to know I am not the only one who is driven to tears and rage because

someone is crunching trail mix.