I just want to take a second out to thank everybody for the outpouring of good will and kindness I’ve been privy to over the last 24 hours. Whenever one of these stories about me and my misophonia come out (ICYMI: here’s the link), I worry about the internet and the way things get with commenters and such, but so far it’s been all empathy and love-branches.
I’d like especially to thank my fiancée, Ana, who is constantly supportive, and all of my fellow misophones, including ones I’ve known for decades who didn’t know we both suffered the same way. This connection to all of you is so important to me, and I know that even though there’s nothing good about misophonia, we can take heart that we’ve found each other and know that we’re all not crazy, or if science proves that we are (and I think we’d gladly all take whatever pill proves it), we’re at least not alone.
I know this is just the beginning of this whole thing — it could be that the commenters just haven’t gotten around to it yet, and I’m in for a hard time — but I wanted to say something warm and fuzzy while I felt it.
Thank you,
Paul
Maggie
Thank you so much Paul for your open, honest sharing! I’m 39 and since Highschool have been plagued by family and partners smacking, grunting, breathing, chewing, sipping etc etc! And just today, after another meal where I wanted to strangle my partner, I looked up “irritation and chewing” and interviews with you came up!!! I am so relieved and happy to find others like me and to know it doesn’t mean more than a disorder. That might sound weird as disorders are usually not wanted but I always end up doubting my relationships thinking the irritation and anger are about our compatibility. So this is perfect timing as my current partner is really amazing. I’m inspired to explore more now and try some techniques I’ve been curious about but too embarrassed to try. Reading about you and others has me feeling less alone and like I can share this with loved ones and thus experiment with it. Also, I write music as well and I love how you’ve applied that therapudic expression to misophonia. I might have to try that!! Thanks again for putting yourself out there!!!! :) Maggie (www.maggiemcgovern.com)
Paul Tabachneck
Thank you for this comment, Maggie! I’m sorry that it’s taken me so long to reply but I wanted to really sit down with it.
It doesn’t sound odd at all. As I said in my interview with Chris Eakins (musicitup.podbean.com/), life before and after learning there was a word for what I, what we have, is like night and day. Just the word means so much.
I watched your front page video, and may use a variation on that gimmick for my next Song Monkey video! (youtube.com/strumcrystrum/)