Yep...
My light-and-sound hypersensitivity has hit the point where I have to go to school in sunglasses and earplugs... and while they help a ton (with earplugs, I can actually block out ambient conversation! Woo!), I can't go through all my classes wearing them, especially the earplugs.
You see, I live in upstate New York, where there are two vocal ranges: soft-spoken (rare), and obnoxiously loud. I swear, I don't know if its just the fact that I'm sensitive to sound or what, but at times it feels like people shout at the person right next to them when they talk.
And I am required to participate in class discussions (which are a joke, but that's a topic for another time), so I have to keep the earplugs out, because most of the soft-spoken people I encounter are the ones with the actually interesting opinions.
Other fun things that are (tentatively) connected to my sensitivities are the fact that I can't drive a car (I get behind the wheel, and I go into a long, drawn out anxiety attack), and I can't be in groups of people without effort (it varies depending on the day; sometimes, I can attend a decent size party and not feel the utter horrific crush of people until I'm an hour-and-a-half in, and sometimes I start stressing out when a group goes above four people.) I can also smell the stench of humanity in practically every public place; I have almost no sense of smell otherwise.
However, on a "he's abso-bloody-lutely out of his mind" note, I'm going to the Anime Boston convention this Spring; you see, my facial hair looks almost exactly like Ikari Gendou's, so... I feel obliged. Wish me luck!
EDIT: This started out as a small rant; I'm sorry it didn't stay that way. If anyone wants me to move it, I will.
