It was a Sunday much like any other for me, my husband, and two of our children. We arrived a little bit late, so we slipped into the back row as the praise team was leading, and everyone was standing and singing. We attended a very upbeat contemporary church. The music is always a part of the service that I enjoy so much. As we joined in on the singing, I began to close my eyes and worship the Lord. The mood of the service was happy and exciting, and it was hard not to be lifted up. As the tempo increased, the instruments led into a guitar solo. Suddenly, it was as if I was hearing the most deafening pitch on the planet, while I was biting into tin foil, and fingernails were screeching down a chalkboard!

I remember it seemed to take an eternity to exit the building and drive home. I could only think that it must be some form of a migraine. I don't remember much else about that day or how long it all lasted. It was the beginning of many attacks to come. It was also not to be the only time I had to make an immediate exit from church. I was struck two more times before realizing that it was the vibration and the pitch of the music that set my nerves off. My family members were learning to recognize that when I grabbed their hand as I was sinking into the seat, they needed to help me exit the church quickly. Very soon, everyday activities began triggering attacks. Simply brushing my teeth, drying my hair, or applying makeup were often causing severe, unmanageable attacks of pain.