Never knew there were so many ways to kill a sneezing fit
- Press your tongue behind your two front teeth, where the roof of your mouth meets the gum palate or alveolar ridge. Press hard with your most powerful muscles against your teeth until the tickling sensation dissipates.
- Pinch the tip of your nose just before you sneeze and hold your breath. This may cause your ears to pop.
- Tickle the roof of your mouth with the tip of your tongue when you feel the sneeze coming on. Continue until the urge to sneeze dissipates. This should take 5 to 10 seconds.
- Press the top of your upper lip with a finger.
- Spread the thumb of one hand away from the fingers. Using the sharp edges of the nails on the thumb and index finger of your other hand, pinch the flap of skin between the spread thumb and the fingers.
- Look at the darkest and largest surface you can find. Examples may include a computer screen that is off, or someone’s black clothing. Imagine yourself slowly moving into the blackness, as if you are zooming into outer space and being enveloped in more and more warm darkness. Focus deeply on imagining this, and the “sneezy feeling” will soon subside. Hint: the better you get at this, the smaller the dark surface will need to be. Also, while trying this, avoid looking or thinking of any lights or similarly bright-colored objects. This will be especially effective if you are prone to the Photic sneeze reflex.
- Think very intensely about the spot right between your eyebrows. Keep imagining that something is touching it until the sneezing feeling subsides.
- It is often possible to stop a sneeze late in the build up by sucking the tip of your finger. This works right up until the point when you actually initiate the sneeze.
- Try using your thumb and index finger to firmly squeeze the bridge of your nose, pushing slightly toward the corners of your eyes. If you attempt this too late, your hand is already in front of your mouth and nose.
- Wiggle your ear lobe gently as you feel a sneeze coming on. This can look like you are playing with an earing or something, but does effectively stifle a sneeze.
- Your eyes instinctively close when sneezing. Holding your eyelids open will prevent your body from allowing a sneeze to occur.
- If you see someone about to sneeze or if they state that they feel a sneeze coming on, say “Pineapple.” The absurdity and timing of the word sometimes forces the brain to “forget” about the sneeze.
- Try using your finger to push up on the bottom of your nose as soon as you feel the tingling.
- Using all of your concentration, visualize a grapefruit. Imagine having one in front of you and observing the color, texture, shape, and any irregularities. Think about what happens when you cut it, and the color and amount of juice inside. This should distract your brain from the imminent sneeze.
- Clench your teeth together, but try to stick out your tongue (use the muscle to push against the backs of your front teeth).
- Push fingernail between teeth at gum line, bottom-row teeth are most effective. Repeat as necessary.
- Tap on your forehead between your eyes when you feel a sneeze coming on.
- Try taking a big deep breath in, simple & discreet for those occasions when needed.
- Hold your breath since right before you sneeze you take a breath so if you hold your breath you won’t sneeze.
- For this one you will need a friend. Have him/her stand directly behind you, and then try and imagine yourself eating a very spicy taco. While you are doing this, have your friend flick your ear as hard as they can several times. This will overload the neural sensation preceeding the sneeze.
- Try placing an ice cube in your mouth and pressing it with you tongue against the roof of your mouth. It seems to stop repeated uncontrolled sneezing.
- Chewing a sugar free slightly menthol or spearmint gum helps to stop sneezing fits.
