Yes, that was me.
Is this metaphorical rather than literal—a way of expressing that deeper childhood need to feel truly heard and considered?
If it were me, I'd consider explaining to them that just because you're not always reacting in the way you used to doesn't mean you're not still finding noise unpleasant/stressful. You could also reassure them that when things consistently improve, you'll let them know, so they won't need to keep restricting their behaviour any longer than necessary during your recovery.
That said though, you'd also need to be mindful of needing to move away from the continued side benefit/'secondary gain' that the attention and consideration may be giving your TMSing brain.
I know from experience that it can be quite difficult to "tiptoe" around and keep noise to a minimum. My husband, for example, is a very light sleeper—we joke that he's like a big-eared desert fox—those ears catching the tiniest sound during the late evening, night and early morning. He often wakes up and struggles to get back to sleep. (The irony is he needs to wear hearing aids during the day and often doesn't catch what I'm saying!) I'm more of a 'night owl', while he's a 'morning lark', so I avoid certain tasks and quietly move around the house to keep noise to a minimum so that he can get as much sleep as possible.
I'm not saying any of this about the possible effects on your family to make you feel bad or guilty—far from it because I have found that it's not necessarily that arduous to be considerate and adapt to others' needs in respect of noise. It's just that when I opened up to my husband about my unpredictable symptoms (able to do certain chores or movements one day but not the next, which made no conventional sense but clicked perfectly in mind-body/TMS terms), the explanation actually made things easier for both of us. We agreed he'd handle specific tasks until I said I could take them back or help with them, and otherwise I would just ask for help as needed—that understanding lifted so much weight.
Trying not to react at all can actually build tension, kind of like suppressing a sneeze. I don't know whether others would agree with me, but imo what helps more is allowing the reaction—e.g. the flinch (I couldn't help but flinch when my back was painfully spasming) but carrying on regardless if possible as best you can—the sound registers but maybe doesn't necessarily get to stop you doing what you're doing at the time.
Being careful not to impose by holding back on what you'd like to do (like sharing photos) actually stops you from being your true self. Life already forces us to "play the game" and mask ourselves so much—what a shame to do that here too, where authenticity connects people.
As you know, I'm a Brit, and Brits are absolute masters at polite filler: "I'd love to see your photos!" or "We must catch up!" when they often don't mean it. But the fix is simple—if you want to share, just share them. If the response is meh or nonexistent, don't take it personally.
There are people who genuinely enjoy looking at others' photos (I'm one of them!). By not doing what you want, you miss connecting with those kindred spirits you actually gel with. Suppressing your true self directly fuels mind-body/TMS by creating chronic internal rage, perfectionism, and emotional repression. But then you already know all of this...
"Tension is who you think you should be. Relaxation is who you are." — Chinese Proverb
I think Jan is spot on about philosophy, psychology, and sociology could be your niche. Something perhpas you'd be interested in getting more into or even studying at home possibly as part of you 'getting on with life, despite the symptoms'—that is, as long as it wouldn't be or become a pressure.
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