Totally new to this....

[Helia]

Hi, I am totally new to this but about half and hour ago I decided to do a bit of an internet search to see if my phobia is common and I ended up here...
Ever since I can remember I 've been deeply effcetd by human noises, sniffing is the worse but I can't cope with eating or breathing either.
It's difficult to explain what it does to me when I hear the noises but it is like I lose control, I can't focus on anything else and ever other noise is drowned out by this one noise. I start to panic, I start to shake, my chest gets tight and I feel really claustrophobic. I also start to have uncontrollable and involuntary tics until I manage to calm myself down.
I have spent most of my life avoiding public spaces and when I can't avoid them I always have something to stick in my ears. Blue tac is much more effective then any ear plugs on the market so if you see someone with a big blob of blue sticking out their ears then say hello...
It really effected my time at school and university and I only got through by learning to lip read and take lectures that involved out of class research that I could do on my own.
It has caused so much trouble with my family in the past who have struggled to understand why I can't watch films with them or why I struggle to eat with them and although my partner is very understanding it is difficult when we suddently have to leave shops or get off trains.
I know that everyone who has some kind of phobia normally thinks they are on their own but I have never heard of anyone else who has the same kind of problem.
Are there others out there? Does anyone recommend any techniques to stop me reacting so badly?

Thanks
Helia

[petal]

Dear Helia :)

http://bestsmileys.com/welcome/11.gif

Welcome to the forum!

It seems that your phobia has caused you many problems and it's great you're wanting to address it. It's an usual phobia but I'm sure you are not alone.

Have you talked to your doctor about your phobia? No doubt you have as you've had it for quite a while. If you have talked to your doctor about it, what did they suggest you might do? Have you considered seeing a counsellor or psychologist about it?

Well done for getting through university considering you had this phobia. You should be very proud of yourself for sticking uni out and getting your qualification. That's a wonderful achievement that you've managed through difficult c***umstances.

You'll find friendly and caring people using this forum and chat. You'll find support here.

I look forward to speaking with you more.

Wishing you all the best
Petal http://bestsmileys.com/cats2/17.gif

[libby]

Hi Helia and welcome

http://bestsmileys.com/welcome/7.gif

In a strange way I think that everyone has a phobia of something(s), it's when it starts to effect our every day life that it becomes a problem. What I always think Helia is that these other people with phobias are not stronger than us or smarter than us, but that our symptoms are stronger than theirs.

There is a phobia for probably anything, so don't think that your alone :blink:

I know that when I get anxious, I can't stand noises of any kind least of all loud ones :unsure: It seems to make my anxiety ten times worse, I don't know if that is the same as you. I also get twitches (thats wot I call em), I can't control them, they just go on there own after a while.

I've just looked up on a phobia list and the fear of noises is Acousticophobia, fear of loud noises is ligyrophobia and fear or noises or voices is phonopohobia, sometimes it helps to put a name to these phobias.

I don't know if there is one specific thing that we all should or should not do, regardless of what our phobia is because our symptoms are mostly the same, so it's how to get rid of the symptoms, or get through them, that is the answer!

Relaxation, breathing exercises, there are some good books and cd's that you can buy that could be of help. JK (owner of the site) has put recovery and relaxtion links on the forum under 'Book & Tapes & CD's, you can download them, it might help.

I wish you the best, take care

Libby
xxxx

[dino]

DEAR HELIA http://bestsmileys.com/hello/7.gif
FIRSTLY A HUGE WELCOME TO THE FORUM ,FIRSTLY AS PETAL SUGGESTED I HOPE YOU HAVE SPOKEN TO YOUR DOCTOR REGARDING WHAT IS GOING ON AS SOMETIMES A COURSE OF COUNCELLING ETC MIGHT BE ABLE TO GET YOUR SYMPTOMS UNDER CONTROL
SECONDLY GIVE YOURSELF A HUGE HUGE PAT ON THE BACK FOR MANAGING TO GET THROUGH UNI AND GETTING THT QUALIFICATION
I MYSELF HAVE AGORAPHOBIA,ANXIETY AND PANIC AND EVERY LITTLE NOISE MAKES ME JUMP OOT O MA SKIN ,DUNNO HOW BUT IT DOES AND DONT LAUGH BUT I USED TO STICK TOILET ROLL IM MA EARS TO TRY BLOCK OOT THE NOISES UNTIL ON DAY I FORGOT IT WAS THERE WENT IN SHOWER AND LOST A PIECE WAY DOWN IN MA EAR ,HOW NUTTY WAS THAT LOLhttp://bestsmileys.com/silly/21.gif
LIKE LIBBY HAS SUGGESTED TRY DOWNLOADING THE RELAXATION TAPES HERE ON THE FORUM I AM AT THIS MOMENT GIVING THEM A TRY
HOPE TO GET A CHANCE TO MAYBE MEET YOU IN CHAT ONE NIGHT
LOVE DIANE (dino)
XXXXXXXXXXXX
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[Gord]

<span style='color:red'>Hi, Helia</span>

<span style='color:blue'>I too would just like to add my warm welcome to you on joining our lovely community!

An unusual phobia this, but as the others have said give yourself a humungous great pat on the back for working your way through university! Wow! Lip-reading!!

As Libby says, the exact things we have our phobias and anxieties about may all be very different for each of us, but the underlying state of mind is pretty much the same, with all the symptoms, as well as the various techniques for coping with it and accommodating your routines to your problems.

Also, most phobias swell and fade in intensity as our stress levels rise and fall, so whatever help you are, rightly and sensibly, going to get from the professionals, all the various stress management and relaxation techniques you will be advised about here, and in chat, can only add to your armoury of weapons for dealing with this.

All the best, and I hope to meet you in chat soon!

Love</span>


<span style='color:red'>Gord</span>
<span style='color:green'>xxxxx</span>