“Selective Sound Syndrome…”

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Shared by Kristina Smedley

“Selective Sound Syndrome…”
 
There have been times in my corporate job where I leave a meeting thinking, “Dang! That person is about to crack!”
 
It’s in their face – Red. Scrunched.
Somewhere between pissed and annoyed.
 
It’s in their voice – Fast. Overwhelmed. Interrupting.
No time to hear anything but what they are saying.
 
I can’t imagine how they must feel.
Heart pounding. Anxiety raising. Starting to sweat.
 
They probably can’t think. They just want to run away.
Or yell!
 
I was going to say this seems unimaginable to me.
But then I remembered…
 
Pen tapping.
Foot tapping.
All tapping!
Heavy breathing.
Snoring!
Loud chewing.
Gulping.
The sound of bass from a distance.
And other repetitive sounds and motions.
 
As soon as I hear these sounds, I’m immediately triggered.
 
I quite literally can’t think or hear anything else.
 
I’m likely at any moment to snap at you against all attempts to control myself.
 
My heart starts pounding so hard that I seriously just have to walk away.
 
Or turn on music.
(That’s our solution during dinner.)
 
Or stuff a sock in your mouth.
(That used to be my solution to snoring.)
 
Or grab your pen. Kick you under the table. Glare!
 
And apparently, this is a thing!
 
Many years ago, after *possibly* being annoyed at living with me (as an adult), Mark started doing some research.
 
Diagnosed!
Misophonia – Selective Sound Syndrome
 
I know, I know.
Misophonia sounds like Me-So-Phony, which is a little odd, but it’s really a thing.
 
Check it out… WebMD says “Misophonia is a disorder in which certain sounds trigger emotional or physiological responses that some might perceive as unreasonable given the circumstance. Those who have misophonia might describe it as when a sound “drives you crazy.”
 
Yeah, my list is a little ridiculous.
Maybe unreasonable at times.
 
They really do make me feel like I’m going to crack some days!!
 
I promise I’m not just being a brat.
Or having too high of perfectionist standards.
In fact, I would love to never notice these sounds again!
 
 
But for not, little life hacks and a lot of deep breaths are my best, most peaceful solutions… especially right now as I listen to someone’s bass pounding as they stop at the stop sign in front of our house!
 
(I guess we’re all a little odd in our own special ways.) 😉
 
#MindfullyEvolving

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