It's hard to believe that just a couple of weeks ago marked my one-year anniversary of my move back to Vegas. It's been such a wonderful new chapter in my life. In fact, I'm happier than I have been in many, MANY, years. I'm in a climate where I'm able to breathe again. I left behind some toxic people in my life. Most importantly though, I'm working at a company where I feel valued, respected, appreciated, am able to focus my efforts on designing creative projects. The one aspect of my new job that has taken me a while to get used to having is that my work hours and stress levels are at a "normal" level, allowing me to actually have a personal life.
One of the benefits of having a personal life again is that I'm finally able to be social and make new friends. In fact, I probably doubled the number of FB friends in the short time I've been back due to having joined fun activity groups (like my acapella choral group). It's a bit strange having to start from scratch again and explain my misophonia to coworkers and the new people I meet, but for the most part people are pretty understanding and really try hard to be aware of my potential triggers.
It's somewhat refreshing, although I'll admit that one person I know has actually taken that consideration to the extreme by constantly asking me if I'd mind if he eats in front of me in his office. (I swear this person is non-stop eating something every half hour). I've tried to tell him that he doesn't need to ask if it's okay, just eat if he is that hungry. I do my best to tolerate triggers as best as I can. I mean, a person has every right to eat food in their own office. I usually only ask people to stop if I'm forced to stay in a situation where I'm unable to use my typical coping tools. I feel like I need to figure out some way to get him to stop asking me if something will bother me. I find that if I don't notice something it doesn't bother me, but as soon as someone brings it to my attention, that's where my focus will go.
It's sort of like if someone says, "Don't think about a white rabbit." I think the majority of people who hear a statement like that will start thinking about a white rabbit. For me, asking if something might bother me, or asking if I hear something, will spark the trigger. Sometimes it makes me wonder if the person is truly trying to be considerate or if the person may know that pointing triggers out to me actually triggers my condition. I'm hoping it's not the latter, but having been in situations (and hearing other sufferers' accounts of situations) where some people use a person's misophonia sensitivity against them, deliberately creating triggers to make a sufferer uncomfortable - just for the "fun of it," I'd rather not know.
One of the benefits of having a personal life again is that I'm finally able to be social and make new friends. In fact, I probably doubled the number of FB friends in the short time I've been back due to having joined fun activity groups (like my acapella choral group). It's a bit strange having to start from scratch again and explain my misophonia to coworkers and the new people I meet, but for the most part people are pretty understanding and really try hard to be aware of my potential triggers.
It's somewhat refreshing, although I'll admit that one person I know has actually taken that consideration to the extreme by constantly asking me if I'd mind if he eats in front of me in his office. (I swear this person is non-stop eating something every half hour). I've tried to tell him that he doesn't need to ask if it's okay, just eat if he is that hungry. I do my best to tolerate triggers as best as I can. I mean, a person has every right to eat food in their own office. I usually only ask people to stop if I'm forced to stay in a situation where I'm unable to use my typical coping tools. I feel like I need to figure out some way to get him to stop asking me if something will bother me. I find that if I don't notice something it doesn't bother me, but as soon as someone brings it to my attention, that's where my focus will go.
It's sort of like if someone says, "Don't think about a white rabbit." I think the majority of people who hear a statement like that will start thinking about a white rabbit. For me, asking if something might bother me, or asking if I hear something, will spark the trigger. Sometimes it makes me wonder if the person is truly trying to be considerate or if the person may know that pointing triggers out to me actually triggers my condition. I'm hoping it's not the latter, but having been in situations (and hearing other sufferers' accounts of situations) where some people use a person's misophonia sensitivity against them, deliberately creating triggers to make a sufferer uncomfortable - just for the "fun of it," I'd rather not know.
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