Anonymous wrote:I think for most people it’s a nervous habit they don’t realize they do and when it’s pointed out, even kindly, they blame allergies, a cold, etc. The habitual nature becomes obvious to others when the volume and/or clearing activity increases with stress or other factors.

This is the kind of throat-clearing that makes people crazy, and in an intense workplace, it really is a problem. I understand moms of kids with anxiety worry--clearly genetic, but things like throat clearing and constant humming and singing, really should not and cannot be tolerated in a workplace where the vast majority of people aren't doing that and need to be able to focus. To those who are defending it: imagine a nurse or anesthesiologist standing in surgery throat clearing the entire time. A lab assistant in the middle of a research project. Even a co-worker in the next cube over while working on a difficult coding project. It's not fair and needs to be treated.

And please stop sniffing also. If you are sniffing, your body is trying to rid itself of something and you are trying to sniff back in. Get a tissue and blow your nose.

My guess is allergies and it’s been going on long enough that they don’t notice that they’re doing it. Coughs can linger after a cold, and sometimes seem to tip over into tic territory, but usually it goes away after a few weeks. If this person hasn’t always been a constant throat clearer, it’ll probably go away soon.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nobody is clearing their throat because they want to and think it’s fun.

then why don't they do something about it?

Because sometimes there is nothing you CAN do about it. Believe me, I’ve been to every doctor out there. I would love to stop having a tickle in my throat. It is what it is.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Like a lot of things, this is only annoying when it's constant in my opinion. Same with coughing or the sniffles. This is actually how I determine if my kids (or I) are too sick with a cold to be in public. If we'd be coughing, sniffling, or clearing our throats so frequently it would be annoying, stay home. If you're down to the occasional sniffle or cough, but it's like once every couple hours or something, not continuous, you can be around other people.

The constant thing is true, but it only takes ONE time for you to snarfle snot up your nose and swallow it for me to hate you forever. You know who you are.

this is about once every 3-5 minutes.

Anonymous wrote:Like a lot of things, this is only annoying when it's constant in my opinion. Same with coughing or the sniffles. This is actually how I determine if my kids (or I) are too sick with a cold to be in public. If we'd be coughing, sniffling, or clearing our throats so frequently it would be annoying, stay home. If you're down to the occasional sniffle or cough, but it's like once every couple hours or something, not continuous, you can be around other people.

The constant thing is true, but it only takes ONE time for you to snarfle snot up your nose and swallow it for me to hate you forever. You know who you are.

My 9 yo does this. It's a tic. Let me know when you find the cure for ocd/tics

Aren't they doing something about it by clearing their throat? It's allergies.

My husband does this. It’s a tic, fixating on it makes it worse.

I think for most people it’s a nervous habit they don’t realize they do and when it’s pointed out, even kindly, they blame allergies, a cold, etc. The habitual nature becomes obvious to others when the volume and/or clearing activity increases with stress or other factors.

Anonymous wrote:ppl who do this: what gives? is it a nervous habit? constant phlegm? do you realize you're doing it? Do you realize it drives everyone else crazy?

Seek psychiatric medication or therapy to improve your ability to focus your attention ignore important noises.

Anonymous wrote:It’s post nasal drip. Allergies or ending cold.

that goes on for years?

It’s post nasal drip. Allergies or ending cold.

Dh has allergies and does this even when medicated. I'm used to it, but I'm very conscious of it when we are out and about, worried that people like op will be irritated and/or think he's ill.

Have you never had a cold, op? The post nasal drip is maddening and sometimes you have to clear your throat. Imagine having that forever, it's worse for them than for you having to listen to it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nobody is clearing their throat because they want to and think it’s fun.

then why don't they do something about it?

1) Don't have insurance to go to dr.
2) have prominent allergies to a lot of things and allergy meds don't always help.
3) Side effects from meds so they don't go on them
4) underlying medical conditions that are difficult to get a handle on at certain times of the year (like asthma)
5) Can't take time off work to go to the doctor.
6) Are afraid of the doctor

and my personal fave.
7) they are deliberately doing it to annoy tf out of you, OP. And I cheer them for doing so.

Get a life.