Those ropes that pull us tightly in

And show that we can live as one,

Branches twined in oaky plaits

Will grow so strong, stronger than

The sloping vines that graze the shining stream.

I was watching This Morning earlier today and they started to discuss a condition called misophonia. I’ve researched this condition before because I’m convinced that I have it, but I also thought that I was very much alone.

But today there were hundreds of people phoning up and speaking about the issue and the problems it has caused them. It sounds really ridiculous because the problem is that we can’t put up with the sounds of people eating or sniffing or breathing.

But it is literally painful for me to hear these noises and it can cause me to feel really angry. I can’t get into relationships because I worry about eating with another person. I hate going out to restaurants and eating at a dinner table with other people. My dad developed a weird breathing issue that meant I couldn’t be in the same room as him for years. It’s so painful I have to scratch at my face to try and ease it.

I listened to these other people who had the same problem and I realised that I wasn’t alone and I’m not a bad person. One lady said that she had asked her doctor for an operation to make her deaf so that the problems went away. The presenter looked horrified but I totally understood as I remembered wondering if I could somehow take my ears off.

My problem hasn’t gone away, but it was really nice to hear people say they have the same difficulty. Sharing our problems really does make us stronger and mine might seem a bit silly, but I drew a bit of strength from This Morning.

Much Love

Rachel xx