Frustrated to tears......? Me too.

by Zinzani
(South Africa)

Noises and smells can be very irritating to me. I am usually the first one to smell or hear stuff. It is no fun, because people do not understand how bad it can be to a person. I also strongly dislike being poked or slapped, the way people sometimes do in a friendly manner. I do, however, like being touched in an ordinary way, like hugging.

There is a bird living about 3 houses away from me, who sits in his cage and makes the most awful noises. It's like a tinny, screeching sound and it used to go on the whole day. Twice I went to speak to his master and twice the master bit my head off for daring to complain. But at least now the bird is quiet some of the time, which gives me a welcome break. The second time before I complained I WAS driven to tears.

Likewise any other repetitive noise will drive me up the wall. In my country we have little insects who sits in trees on a hot day, screaming their merry little hearts out, driving me insane at the same time.

Smells also drive me nuts. I will not walk behind a person wearing certain perfumes. I will either pass them or take another route. If a lady with bad perfume hugs me and my clothes smell of it, I will go home and change. Smells like paint or something like that, will make me flee the building.

Most awful about this whole thing is, it's getting worse as I'm aging. Instead of losing my hearing or sense of smell, It's improving by leaps and bounds. Yes, yes, I should be thankful I suppose and just pray that God will help me to cope with it.

I would just like to relay my empathy to everybody who struggles with this. I know how bad it can be.