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Loud sneezing or making sounds while eating makes me go mad. What to do in such situations without making anyone feel embarrassed?

Profile: Anonymous
Anonymous on Aug 6, 2016
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Take deep breaths, inhaling and exhaling. It's okay to get annoyed but you do not want to embarrass anyone, so politely ask them to not sneeze so loudly or make sounds while they eat.
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Profile: Anonymous
Anonymous on Aug 28, 2016
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you can always excuse yourself and take a break on the restroom/outside the room,take a breath and just try calming your thoughts
Profile: SharonD
SharonD on Sep 23, 2016
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I have it too! I usually focus on something or start humming softly and try and distract myself. It might help you too.
Profile: Anonymous
Anonymous on Sep 28, 2016
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You could be dealing with misophonia, which is a reaction to regular noises. Probably working on a way to tune it out would be best without embarrassing anyone and short of seeing a therapist.
Profile: SoulEmbrace8
SoulEmbrace8 on Jul 29, 2016
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Maybe i would just change my place or silently walk away from people making the sounds without saying anything
Profile: CopperSkies
CopperSkies on Aug 9, 2016
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Most of the time these are things that people either can't control or don't realise that what they are doing can be irritating for some others. If this is something that is really bothering you, the simple thing to do would be to remove yourself from the situation without making a scene.
Profile: Nisee96
Nisee96 on Sep 10, 2016
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Breathe I have the exact problem and I have learned that breathing helps me. Also maybe distract yourself with something else.
Profile: Anonymous
Anonymous on Sep 13, 2016
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Excuse yourself and let your anger out into a pillow or something. I'm glad you're concerned with the other person's feelings of embarassment.
Profile: NyanEar
NyanEar on Oct 6, 2016
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Visit a professional or a talking forum about Misophonia. That's all I can say. I've read that using background noise also helps a lot, to go over the sounds.
Profile: Anonymous
Anonymous on Oct 12, 2016
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Honestly, I have this exact same problem! I personally choose to ask them politely, "If possible, do you think you could chew a little softer?" or, "Maybe sneezing closer in your elbow would make it a little quieter!"
Profile: AmyyDaniellee
AmyyDaniellee on Oct 26, 2016
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Always carry earphones, simply put in your earphones if you can when you're in that situation. If not, politely remove yourself from the situation and go back when you have calmed down
Profile: funnyHeart83
funnyHeart83 on Nov 6, 2016
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Concentrate on your own meal, if this doesn't work you can excuse yourself, go to the bathroom, take a few breaths. Maybe finish you're meal quickly and clear up, get busy to avoid getting worked up. The clattering will drown out the other sounds.
Profile: Anonymous
Anonymous on Feb 18, 2018
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This phenomenon is actually incredibly common and is called 'Misophonia'. As your negative reactions to these sounds is completely out of your control, I would advise you to subtly remove yourself from the situation wherever possible. If this isn't an option and your distress is very obvious, it might be worth explaining your condition to the offending person.
Profile: Rioz
Rioz on Apr 22, 2018
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If it was in a place you can avoid. the most easiest way is to leave the place. But if you had to stay, you can ask kindly for the person to not munch and anything else that bothers you, Explain to them that it makes you feel annoyed and mad so they can understand and feel less offended
Profile: Anonymous
Anonymous on Jun 26, 2020
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sound sensitivity is a common thing. It can be incredibly frustrating to feel this annoyance, especially since many people wouldn't understand it. Breathing exercises and coping mechanisms help. Try continuing the 7 Cups journeys to find some. Feeling compulsion can leave you feeling very lonely, and make you feel like you are not understood, which I understand must hurt a lot. It is good to reach out for help. You are not alone feeling this way. If you know the person well enough, you can always explain the situation to them and kindly let them know, and make sure they understand that it is nothing personal to them.
Profile: sunnyTurtle7874
sunnyTurtle7874 on Jan 23, 2021
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This is completely understandable and expected. Feeling irritated by the sounds and noises means that the body is giving the signal that there is a belief inside that needs to be let go of, that prevents the inner peace from happening. Eckhart Tolle suggests to sit with it. Just like during meditation, if a dog barks, if a car speeds up - those are the noises that are outside of our control. Sitting with yourself, observing your own irritability and trying to figure out why this or that noise is irritating - is it the noise itself? is it the memory that the noise brings up? Once the noise is allowed by you to happen, it will be noticeably easier to just accept the existence of the noise.
Profile: somenerdlol
somenerdlol on Jul 31, 2016
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I suppose it depends on who it is and the situation. If they're a friend, you could just tell them in a playful banter-y way. If it's someone in a more formal situation who you're close to, if you're comfortable, you might want to take them aside and talk to them. In other cases, you might just have to either move somewhere else or just try to manage it.
Profile: AuntieGinger
AuntieGinger on Aug 2, 2016
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There are many people who are more sensitive to specific sounds (misphonia). As it is often difficult to avoid either, learn some relaxation techniques for when you find yourself getting irritated by specific sounds. There are support groups as well. Blocking the sound and avoiding are obviously the first line of defense, but not always feasible.
Profile: joyfulApple66
joyfulApple66 on Aug 3, 2016
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Maybe suggest nicely that they could maybe stop chewing so loudly and explain to them how it makes you feel
Profile: kindness5423
kindness5423 on Sep 8, 2016
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I sneeze way to much in class, as in if you combined all of the sneezes of everyone in my class combined I would still have more sneezes. Try dabbing, if you are able to laugh too you can make a joke out of it. In social situations I like to try the perspective of other people and in all reality I don't really mind when others sneeze, if people hate me because I sneeze a lot it's their loss.
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