I think both my parents are going deaf, because they have to BLAST the tv volume. I'm constantly asking them to turn it down because it causes me physical pain to be in the same room with it so loud.

My dad seems to be fairly sympathetic at times, but does say that he cant hear it unless it's up that loud. My mom has no sympathy and gets very very very very ticked off everytime I ask her to turn it down a notch or two.

It's weird tho, because I can listen to loud music in my room. (I've got my iPod in the fancy radio I got for it, and the music is up loud right now...I'm listening to swing music and American Indian music right now.)

I have noticed when I'm in a store and it's really crowded and loud (like shopping two days before Christmas in a popular store when there's a big sale on) I cant handle all the noise and people. I start feeling like my skin is crawling and really anxious. I get a little bit of shopping cart rage if people crowd me too much too. I try not to shop when it's busy like that. Freaks me out.

Me, too. I get panicky if I feel like I can't get to the exit fast enough! I've gotten to where I rarely ever go into the grocery store or any other type of store for that matter on the weekend or in the evenings. Too many people there during those times. I go during the day (preferably mornings) throughout the week.

One thing I have never understood is the desire to bring the entire family (spouse and kids) along to grocery shop. Even when my kids were young I went alone. I enjoyed the time by myself and didn't have to battle with them over things I wasn't going to buy. I understand some people can't do this and I sympathize with them....it's tough to shop with kids.....but these families of five and six who try to shop together on a weekend....I just don't get it. Maybe that's the only time they get to be together.....so that I understand. I just know I personally couldn't do it.

I don't shop at Kroger anymore due to the loud music they insist on playing. It's so loud that I can't concentrate on what I've come to buy. Publix is much quieter and they don't blast the music....in fact, I don't even recall there being any music. I'll have to pay attention next time I'm there.

This sums up me---But add heat to the situation Total over stimulation.

This is the one issue that few really understand and consistently attempt me into bad situations for myself--

Me too! I'm undiagnosed but I've found myself telling everyone to quiet down. I hear more than 1 or 2 sounds and it's total overload for me!

I used to play music at work and now I can't stand to have that extra noise going on.

I have sensory overload, which continues to get worse over the years.

Count me in. Between the loud TV (DH has hearing loss) and 3 ADHD boys it really gets unbearable at my house. To add insult to injury my red bone coon hound mix will start baying at the boys.

Yes, yes, yes!!! It makes me crazy, and has for years. I didn't know it might be an MS thing until I was dx'd in '07. I guess its aural overload or something, but I cannot have a coherent conversation if the TV/radio is on and people are talking to me. It's like I don't know what to listen to. I always had this to a lesser degree, but the couple of years prior to my dx til now has gotten so severe, I will leave the room and if someone wants to talk to me, they've got to follow me, or turn off the damn tv.

I can't stand noise, any kind. It's hard teaching when it is so bothersome.

The worse it gets, the less able I am to process anything.

Since it's so close, I do most of my grocery shopping at Wal-e-world..These days I get dizzy almost as soon as I walk in the door, a combination of lighting and sound. What I do now (even at night) is walk in with my hearing aids turned down and my sunglasses on..They must think I'm a druggie or something, but it helps. At least I can get my grocery shopping done!

I wear my sunglasses into WalMart sometimes. People do give me weird looks when they see me with the sunglasses on. I've gotten weird comments at times too...sometimes not-so-nice comments. I give them back some even-more-not-so-nice words that describe what I think of those people. (yes, I can be a little...mouthy...at times.

I even had one store (Target, I think) that had their LP (Loss Prevention) employee following me around once. I knew he was the LP person because I'd seen him before, ambushing a shoplifter who was trying to make it out the doors with something.

Just because I want to wear sunglasses at night (why am I hearing a catchy song from the 1980s in my head?) doesnt mean I'm shopping with less-than-legal intentions. Geeze.


I sometimes get the dizzy spinnies when going into certain stores, sometimes it barely affects me or isnt even noticable. I can tell when I'm not feeling all that great, the lights affect me more. (and the people and crowds annoy me more. Especially screaming kids on Wheelies shoes who crash into me and knock me down and then blame me for them crashing into me. That's really freaking annoying, altho that might not be totally related to the lights bugging me)

Oh well, I'm starting to really enjoy internet shopping! Especially when I can get free shipping!