Friday, January 29, 2010

noise

I gave my daughter a box of those Valentine’s candy hearts to eat and every time she crunches down on one it is like a spear going through my head. 

Next time, remember to go for the softer ones. 

I hate noise.

Hate it. 

Like Jeckyll and Hyde hate it.

I hate crunching, chewing, snapping, typing, clicking, clacking, humming, popping, sucking, clipping, clicking, tapping. 

I have an intense fear of being stuck in an elevator with a bunch of people snapping gum.

Or eating popcorn.

Or typing on keyboards.

Or clipping nails. 

Oh, the torture!

I was thrilled when I saw an article in Time Magazine recently that indicated I was not alone.

But it also indicated that perhaps the best way to conquer the phobia is to face it head on – by being exposed to those noises you hate the most until you mentally figure out that it’s just noise, accept it, and move on. 

I do feel part of my problem is mental, because, with the exception of those candy hearts and an occasional piece of gum, my children’s noise-making tendencies don’t bother me in the least.

In fact, I even think I might say with them I can tune out the annoyances. 

If only this worked with everyone else. 

Fortunately I do just fine when there is plenty of other background noise to distract me (like at a restaurant or noisy family gathering). 

But when it is quiet and all my brain has to focus on is the sound (s) that is when I feel myself getting ready to lose it.  Transform.   

Call it my inner Mr. Hyde I guess. 

So the thought of facing my phobia head on in the hopes of getting past it??

Hmmm.  

I rather like my approach of avoidance better.  And if that fails I fall back to my secondary plan of glaring. 

And thirdly? 

Earplugs are the best invention ever. 

post signature

PS:  No, none of these noises bother me when I am the one making them!! 

49 comments:

wakefield said...

I remember that in high school. You poor thing. My home would make you insane. Does the sound of your own typing make you crazy or just someone else.

Katie Lane said...

No way! My mother is the exact same way. She really can't stand little noises when everything else is quite. I've been yelled at many a time to "stop making that noise!" when I didn't even realize I was making any noise at all. If you find a real cure let me know :)

Liz Mays said...

The worst noise I've ever heard relative to raising children is on field trips on buses. I seriously can NOT stand the sound of sudden screams and piercing shrieks. That is absolute pain for me, literally. It rips my eardrums apart. I'm SUPER sensitive to noise.

I absolutely understand you with this post!

Brian Miller said...

if i have to listen to you eat...there is a big problem. you can buy ear plugs by the case...hmm...

Annie said...

OMG, Teri I laugh a lot with your post because I have the same problem.

Yesterday night, my husband was eating a package of M&M and I hate the sound he do with them. I had a feeling that was near some cows.

Have a nice weekend.

Nicolasa said...

That is very interesting. I sometimes wonder if I am ultra sensitive to noises because I hate listening to people chew or tapping noises or any thing of the like. However, I am not as affected by it as you seem to be.

Anonymous said...

I hate hearing people chew too. So living with two preschoolers who eat everything open-mouthed makes me crazy! Glad to hear I'm not alone.

The Blonde Duck said...

I would jam toilet paper in my ears.

JudyH329 said...

My grandson smacks when he eats with his mouth open! Drives me crazy! Also, people who pop their gum! Good to know I'm in great company!

Anonymous said...

I have perfected the art of selective hearing.

Trac~ said...

I understand completely - I am the same way and sometimes just my kids talking to me drives me insane - (that sounds bad, doesn't it - but I truly don't mean it the way it sounds but some days I just can't stand the noise of anyone talking when I get home after a long day - HA!

J.J. said...

but I soooo love those hearts!!!!!

Lee said...

Sometimes I'm fine with noise, other times the least bit of repetitive sound drives me CRAZY. I know how you feel.

Queenie Jeannie said...

You know how much I love my husband, right? Well when he eats his cereal in the morning and I'm at my computer, I just want to punch him in the face he makes so much noise!!! Slurp, crunch, crunch, crunch.....slurp, crunch, crunch, crunch!!!! UGH!!!

I feel your pain.

Mike said...

The noise that annoys me the most is the useless melody that usually accompanies the mindless babble of some tv commercials! I wish that they could just sell the product without all of the commotion.

Melinda said...

You are not alone!! I hate noise, too ... some more than others. Right now, it's my teenage daughter's music that most grates on my nerves! ;0) Yes. Earplugs. I need earplugs.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today! ;0)

Amy said...

this is so funny. I do not like it when someone eats with there mouth opened. Oh that just gets me..

I saw you already stopped on by for you award. Thanks for being a great blogger..

Tonya @ The Traveling Praters said...

I'm with you on the noise! Can we have a moment of silence puh-leez???!!! Know what I hate? Smacking lips when you're eating dinner- makes me want to puke! Oh,and scraping the plate with a fork? Just rip out my spine! Terrible, it is.

Thanks for stopping my my blog- your's is adorable! Love it!:)

Anonymous said...

All I can think about now is how I want some candy Valentine hearts. My mom usually gets me a bag every year. I love them.

beenomom said...

Those candy hearts themselves are enough to make me cringe. I hate those things and that crunch sound they make, I'm with ya. Like nails on a chalk board!

My son makes a clicking sound with his tongue that sends me through the roof too! I feel your pain!

Anonymous said...

Hmm..very interesting fact I didn't know about you, Teri. Well, I'm glad the earplugs work for ya! Poor thing.

Kailani said...

It must drive you crazy when you go to movie theaters!

Kailani
An Island Life

christy rose said...

Isn't is funny and true that those noises don't bother us when we are the one making them only when someone else does over and over again. I think that is what I can't stand, the repetition of the same noise. :)

Stephanie said...

Ha I had to laugh at this! I told my youngest just yesterday if she didn't suck that candy cane instead of chomping on it I was going to make her throw it out!!
Thanks for making me feel normal. :)

christy rose said...

I have some bloggy love for you over at my place. :)

Daddy M said...

What is funny is that "my" noises didn't bother you until after I said "I do"

Anonymous said...

My husband very recently became the same way with me and it has become a HUGE pet peeve of his he says I make this noise when I eat. I thought I was losin it or he was hearing things...now you have me thinking. Very interesting!

Anonymous said...

I can't stand the nails on a chalkboard. Ugh it gives me the chills just thinking about it.

Molly said...

yesterday my daughter kept scraping glitter off of cardboard with her fingernails, I almost lost my mind.

Iva Messy said...

oh no! i am so very sorry. That actually must be very hard to deal with daily!

Bibi @ Bibi's Culinary Journey said...

That's awful, you poor thing. If that was me I wouldn't be able to live with my kids. They are the loudest bunch there is.

Sara @ Domestically Challenged said...

Agree!! Noises are the worst. I cannot take hearing people chew. I also hate the sound of heels clacking. We are in good company!!

The Blonde Duck said...

I hope you had a good weekend!

Connie said...

The noise level in my house by 5pm....drives me insane. and when my husband is late and/or has called by 5pm....I lose it.

Guess what time it is?

yonca said...

Usually I 'm ok with noise.But my neighbor had a remote control car.
It drives me crazy in summer time.

Cassie said...

I hear ya on the ear plugs! They are lifesavers sometimes!

Country Mouse, City Mouse said...

I hate the sound of chewing!

debi9kids said...

You just described me EXACTLY! My skin CRAWLS when I hear someone chewing in a quiet room.
But. like you, I can tune out my kids when necessary. LOL

Marsha Loftis said...

My husband sucks on lolly pops because he is trying to stop smoking. I hate the sounds he makes sucking on those things. I almost want to say "go back to smoking." :)

Anonymous said...

Back again to let you know there's an award waiting for you on my blog. Congrats!

Kekibird said...

Yeah...no likey the chewing, slurping, crunching, munching sounds at dinner. Especially when we have all 3 boys (9, 5, and almost 4). That's a lot of NOISE!

Jami said...

I just posted about noise the other day, but unlike you, the background noise kills ME. I am happiest when the world is silent. I want some of those earplugs Audrey wore in Breakfast at Tiffany's...uh oh...I smell a new post topic coming on!

tee hee. Cute blog, BTW. I'll be back!

James (SeattleDad) said...

I have to have background noise when I work. Mostly KEXP.

Helene said...

I totally get where you're coming from. I can't stand when people are make those smacking noises when chewing on gum. We had a pediatric therapist come out this past week to do an OT assessment on Garrett and the guy was chewing gum...loudly. He kept smacking it in his mouth and then breathing super loud as he was chewing it. It took every ounce of willpower to not say something.

I also hate when my kids eat lollipops or hard candies...they insist on chewing on them, rather than slowly sucking on them...the cracking sound of their teeth against the hard candy is like nail's on a chalkboard.

The Blonde Duck said...

The song from white Christmas inspired the dancing post!

wife.mom.nurse said...

What you describe reminds me a bit of what firehubby had after his ear injury...except when you said you are comfortable in larger groups.

You know, I have that when I am PMS. I climb up the walls with all of those things!

I could not imagine having it all the time.

(I have been known on bad days to use my husbands ear muffs :)

Unknown said...

Ha Ha Ha! Hilarious for sure!

Megan said...

I totally understand!!! When it's quiet, noises bother me too. Although some bother me even when it's not quiet. ;0P

Patricia said...

*LOL* I don't think it's so much a phobia as it is an irritation. My daughter barks like a dog and it irritates the heck out of me... suffice it to say she's not allowed to bark anywhere in my vicinity. *L*