Just wondering if anyone else here suffers from 4S?

Per their website (which I can't post a link to because I'm a new member):

"Selective Sound Sensitivity Syndrome or 4S is an intense and immediate emotional and physiological reaction (possibly rage, frustration, sadness, or panic) upon hearing certain sounds - most prominently noises associated with oral functions such as eating, breathing, chewing or other noises such as typing sounds or pencils scratching."


I always thought I was crazy for thinking this way but now I know there are tons of others out there with this same affliction. I just found this a few months ago and had my "Hallelujah!!" moment. It's not just me!!!

The same sounds that are oblivious to others make me run in the bathroom and cry. At every job I've ever had, every class I've ever taken, or any public place I've ever been at, there's been a gum cracker or food smacker sitting right next to me. (Others don't even notice the sound if I ask them) Crunching chips totally puts me over the edge.... It's like absolute torture. I dealt with non stop gum cracking all through high school and to this day cannot tolerate even the THOUGHT of gum chewing. I even freak out if I can't hear it but just see the person's jaw moving back and forth.

It also makes you think that the person is crunching and smacking deliberately just to mess with you and upset you on purpose. I get so angry I want to choke the person to death and wish terrible things on them.

I would LOVE to hear from others that suffer from this. It's making my life hell and always has. It usually starts around the age of puberty and NEVER goes away. As a kid I either ate dinner in my room, or wore headphones to the dinner table because my dad smacks really bad. My mom always knew I was quirky and never thought anything of it. Growing up I never understood it, thought I was crazy, and just tolerated it. Now as an adult it's even worse. At work I have to wear earplugs if anybody is eating near me and making noise. I also have to keep a fan running constantly to drown out their eating sounds. The coworker that sits next to me is a horrible trigger... Everything about him bothers me - his voice, the way he drinks, how he swallows, talks with his mouth full, crunching, etc. And he's NOT doing anything wrong nor making alot of noise. Plus he's a nice guy and I like him alot. It's just me and this damned 4S.