Disgusted By Sounds

[Casey_03]

I am so disturbed by the sounds of co-workers eating in my office that i am considering quitting. I don't know if I am just extra sensitive to sound, but the guy who sits right next to me slurps his tea constantly all day, as loudly and obnoxiously as he can. He is just as disgusting with eating lunch, I feel like I am sitting next to a wild animal. I have asked him to please try to close his mouth when he chews and be a bit more civil, but it hasn't helped. I get just as annoyed when the girl right across from me loudly eats her apples each day. I mean, it bothers me so much I have to get up and leave while they eat. I somehow doubt that normal people have this kind of reaction to other people eating. I've always been annoyed by people chewing gum loudly, but now it seems like eating of any kind just disgusts me so much I have to leave the room. Does anyone else get this? Is this a PTSD thing?

 

[Mallaky]

Yeah it is. Can be.

I have it too. I am insanely sensitive to sound and light, so much so that is can send me into a fit of mad rage, or autism-like meltdowns. Very scary when it started happening. I kind of adapted with earbuds, those foam cone things, that I wear at home and outside. For example public transport was hell before I had them. When I watch a movie or something with my hubby, I wear headphones to drown out all peripheral sounds. That periphal part is important, as its for me mostly noise and light from behind or beside me. Makes me think its all part of the hypervigiliance.

When I get stressed, it gets worse. When I feel good, it can even go away.

I fully understand why you want to quit, it can send me into full blown PTSD terror episodes, but maybe try less drastic options first.

 

[Anarchy]

It could be that you are dealing with so much that the filters which normally screen things like background noise are not working.

are you having difficulty with things like understanding speech when there is background noise, concentrating when there are things like flashing lights or other visual distractions?

if so, it is very much a PTSD over arousal thing. Autistic spectrum people get it too, probably for the same reasons.

possible solutions; a bit of mindfulness, gentle concentration on each breath... boundaries - they are outside of you.
______________
I don't have a reliable source for this, but I gather that Stalin's deeply traumatized son*, got so much grief from the british officers he was in a WWii prisoner of war camp with - over the mess that he got the blame for leaving the toilet in, that he killed himself by jumping into the electrified fence around the camp.
- you could try giving them both some grief....:sneaky:
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*his dad used to variously murder and send to the Gulag his school friends and their families to punish him

 

[Mallaky]

Suicide and murder- Good for a laugh since 1945
Ha. Ha.

Jesus H. Christ dude @Anarchy

 

[scout86]

I don't know the cause, but I can be kind of the same way. I usually deal with it by looking for some sort of distraction. Like maybe playing the drums on your desk with a couple pencils? Not only can you distract yourself, you might be able to passive-aggressively annoy your coworkers!

 

[Anarchy]

Suicide and murder- Good for a laugh since 1945
Ha. Ha.

Jesus H. Christ dude

Casey is a war correspondent, fair enough I'm taking a very big guess, but that guess is that she can spot and does appreciate gallows humour.

 

[illusionist]

My partner, who does not have Ptsd, absolutely detests hearing people eat....drives him insane. I've known of a few people in my lifetime who are like this and appear perfectly normal people. From my experience it's not just something that can get to us.

 

[Fadeaway]

I wish you could see how enthusiastically I am nodding my head in agreement right now. Sound kill me. At the same time, I am so afraid to use anything like ear plugs because I am afraid I won't hear someone sneak up on me, or miss sounds that alert me to danger. It's a catch 22. There is something about the sounds of plastic grocery store, garbage bag, or any type of plastic that can rustle bags that really, really set me off. It;s like nail on a chalk board.

 

[Bees Are Awesome]

I have hated eating and mouth noises since I was a little girl. I have to leave the room. It annoys me so badly I get angry. When I wouldn't get up in the morning my mom would come into my room and eat loudly. That definitely got me out of bed. Lol The universe has a sense of humor as I am married to the loudest eating and drinking guy in the world. Like when he is drinking his coffee, one sip consists of slurping, loud swallowing and a little sigh or ahhhh after. :banghead::banghead::banghead:

I feel for you Casey. I wou, do have to do as you do and leave the room.

 

[Mallaky]

Its very nice to see so many people having issues with that. Well, that did not come out right. Its very nice to know im not alone with that.
For the longest time I thought it was just a wierd and unpleasent, and at times even frightening, quirk of mine. The more you know!

@Anarchy: Now, listen dude, I dont want to try police anything or anyone, or be overly confrontative about a minor issue or anything, but your answer just did not sit right with me. Your explanation felt like a slap in the face. You see, Casey is not the only one reading this public forum about PTSD, now is she? I dont think it is in good taste or good spirit to make off-hand jokes about rape and abuse here, I am sure you agree, especially not with an explanation like "Well, thread-opener wasnt raped." I mean.... what to say really? Discovering the suicide of my brother is a big part of my PTSD. He hanged himself. So I guess I really dont

appreciate gallows humour.

Needed to express that. Done. All good.

 

[Neverthesame]

Eating sounds don't bother me too much, good thing too, being a noisy eater myself. I do however find the sound of lips smacking (kissy noises), rage inducing.

I don't know why, I can't stand it, even when it's me making the noise.

That, and people who drag their feet. I hate that too. Scrape, scrape, scrape. Just want to shout "Pick up your damn feet!"
I don't, but I really want to. Lol

 

[Chava]

Yes, could be over-arousal thing (also an autism-spectrum thing, as noted above, but that's not saying that's where you are). I have cptsd and am hyper-sensitive to sound. If I start dissociating, every sense gets a little numb or blurry, except my hearing gets much more acute. Then if I can't get grounded, sounds start to get cluttered and chaotic and I get really confused. I've had to leave group situations because of this.

But also, I do just hate the sounds of people eating. I had a relative who I could NOT handle being around when they ate. Wild animal, like you say. But the main thing was my hearing was already over-sensitive and I was amped up (over-aroused). So it might be finding a way to cut back on general anxiety or over-arousal, if that makes sense. Allow yourself to wear ear plugs for a period if that's helpful. Get out of there during lunch and give yourself some quiet alone time (many times I appreciate leaving the group for lunch so I can get some quiet...even if to just step outside the building for a bit). Or allow yourself to take a short but mindful walk....or go to the bathroom and just have a minute of quiet. With the loud eating, it's also one of those things that once you notice it, it's hard to un-notice, unfortunately.

Sorry I don't know your story, but I'd mention to a doctor as well. I'm not a big fan of meds, but gabapentin (I'm taking for pain) has actually taken me down a notch in terms of tolerance for external chaos. For other people anti-anxiety meds and other things help. Or mindfulness practices.

I have to go easy on sugar. I also have a spikey ball I can squeeze or press with my feet. I amp up so easily. Letting out tension in little doses helps, as well as getting quiet when I can....and even just if a few minutes, really using it to help myself come back.