So I've never posted in this section ...

[TooShy]

I'm reaching out to all you "mental block" people ...

1) Are you happy (or comfortable) with your block, or do you (like me) desperately wish you could overcome it?

2) If the latter, do you believe that if you could sneeze just once in front of someone, it would rid you of your block?

I always believed this, but it was not the case. I've had my mental block FOREVER, like 30 years. Twice in the past eight years I managed to sneeze just once in front of someone (both times at work; one hidden, one not.) Both times I told myself "This is it. From now on, no more mental block." However to this day it remains stronger than ever.

So my mental block is driving me crazy, and I just need to vent. I'd love to hear from others about their experiences! Thanks. :-)

[BelieveInRollins]

for me it REALLY depends on the situation.

Like sneezing in front of the family of course for most people on here is a big EW NO lol so in that aspect im thankful to have a strong metal block.

but in front of friends that i love and trust, i really wish sometimes it would back off. it did the other day however and i was shocked that i managed to sneeze in front of them even when im alone sometimes my mental block will stay in and ill focus too hard on the sneeze that was coming and then it would go away >_>

[TooShy]

See, I think I could sneeze at work or in other situations if I could be SURE no one would look at me. I theory, I don't so much mind if someone *hears* me, but the thought of someone seeing my face/eyes makes it pretty much impossible for me. Which of course makes me think I will never, ever be able to overcome this block.

[Zebra]

I agree, it's the thought of someone seeing my face. I'm scared in case I look really unattractive or in case it sounds discusting to other people because I analyze sneezing so much. It would feel like getting naked in front of everyone or something . I didn't realize that I had a block until reaching the forum. I thought that it was out of choice because I could avoid drawing attention to myself. Now however I DESPERATELY want to get rid of it. I don't have allergies so usually I have a build up which is so annoying because even acknowledging that I have to sneeze completely kills it. I think if I manage to sneeze in public I will feel a sense of acheivment and I won't be so scared but I don't believe that my mental block will instantly vanish. I think it's a working progress. I can't even sneeze in front of my best friends who know about the fetish because I feel pressured. I set it as my new years resolustion to sneeze but half the year has already gone and still no luck! I'm thinking about trying some theories that have been mentioned here before like faking or inducing just so people can hear. It's just the fear of doing something embarrassing like sneezing really messily or something. And family is a definate NO too.

[stevie_sloth]

Hmm. I have had my mental block I think since I was about 5 years old or so. I was aware I found sneezing very...enjoyable back then...but never in front of anyone, and the very few times I was unable to hold a sneeze back, I was mortified and did NOT want any attention on me at those times. Ugh!

Anyway, so I AM able to sneeze in front of people...but only in highly controlled circumstances. On webcam videos I can sneeze freely and enjoy it immensely. I can sneeze on the phone but only with a very few people and still I have to really work my way up to it. I can sneeze in public but only if (a) nobody is very close to me, ( nobody is looking right at me, and © if I am in a sneeze-enjoyment mood (meaning for me, public sneezing is a bit of a turn on. Like a sort of exhibitionist type of thing. And if I'm just not in the mood, I won't be able to do it)

Before I ever sneezed in front of anyone, I too thought that once I did it just ONCE, the block would be gone if and when I wanted it to be. But no.

[alias]

I'm not sure if I have a mental block, or just a very stubborn, non-sensitive nose. Either way, I don't like it. I think I used to sneeze more in the past, but that was when I was more embarrassed about all things related to sneezing, so I taught myself to suppress the urge to sneeze. This worked too well I think, because now I rarely sneeze naturally. I can't remember the last time I sneezed in front of someone other than family. I actually don't mind the if family hears me sneeze or vise versa.

Over the past year or two I've noticed that occasionally I'll get the urge to sneeze and try to coax it out, but it kinda melts away and I get super mad. I really want to be able to sneeze in front of people. And I just want to sneeze more often in general. :/

[Sniffle Lover]

I kind of have a small mental block with sneezing like it's not my favorite thing to do in front of people. But if I do have to I usually try to stiffle it to the point that you really can't hear it. I have a bigger mental block blowing my nose; I won't do that in front of people. And it's to the point where I really don't even do that when I'm alone. I try to avoid that for as long as possible, so there's a lot of sniffling and if absolutely necessary some nose wiping.

[Juliemlr]

1) I wouldn't say I'm happy about it, but it doesn't bother me. It actually seems like my mental block has developed into physical one - I hardly ever get sneezy except when I'm alone in my own apartment ((or maybe it's just because my flat is really dusty:)).

2) No, I don't think so. In the past around 18-20 years, I have sneezed three times in front of friends (a few more times in front of family, but I try to avoid that as well) and once in public, which I don't think anybody noticed.

I would get a bit uncomfortable, though, if someone asked why I never sneeze.