Today i'm doing research in the lab over at the medical school campus and the other student that sits next to me has a cold today and keeps sniffing really loudly. It's killing me because every time she sniffs I feel the overwhelming urge to do my sniffing tic!
My sniffing tic seems to by one of my tics I have the least control over as I hardly ever feel the premonitory urge before it happens, so it's certainty a strange feeling and something very new for me to feel the urge SO strongly today as I sit next to a person who keeps sniffing and setting me off. I feel really awkward having to sniff repetitively every time she sniffs. It's pretty embarrassing because although she may have some idea that I have TS, I haven't talked to her about it and I have no idea how much she knows about "being set off" and about how Tourette's works.
It's getting to the point where every time she sniffs, I feel the urge so strongly and try to hold back so much that it sets off multiple motor tics in addition to the sniffing that eventually happens even though I try to hold it back. I'm supposed to be in the lab for another two hours, but I don't know if I can take another two hours of this!!
It's crazy how tics can seem to "jump!" When I watch the movie, "Front of the Class," I have to suddenly suppress my blinking tic, even if I wasn't blinking when I started watching the movie. I hope whatever is making her sniff goes away soon for your sake!
ReplyDeleteA sniffing neighbor can drive you nuts, even if you don't have TS or a sniffing tic!
ReplyDeleteNot sure if these ideas would help, but here goes --
- set a package of kleenex in front of her
- explain to her the effect it has on you, the way you explained it to us
- listen to music or white noise with headphones (tune the radio between stations for easy white noise)