Re: Anyone else? Sound sensitivity (for lack of a better word)

[Guest guest]

The people above us just moved out, thank god - we had the same problem

with them, especially the stomping. It was so bad it would shake my

computer monitor when they really got going. Anyway, I am sound sensitive

as well. The stomping gave me the worst headaches, and so does loud noises

or sometimes even sudden noises. On bad days even loud talking makes me

want to pull my hair out in pain and frustration. I am bipolar, not PTSD

but I have noticed a tendency in people with bipolar/ptsd and other

similar issues to be sound sensitive. Granted that's not exactly

scientific study material, lol, but for what it's worth...

I have found that having some sort of white noise on lightly in the

background helps to counter the sensitivity for some reason - I prefer

ocean waves or thunderstorms.

> **

>

>

> Wondering if anyone else experiences sensitivity to sounds like I do.

> Even though I feel like I have a very good grasp on my PTSD and am

> well on the road to recovery, I am still struggling with this. Not

> entirely sure it's related to abusive childhood, though.

>

> My biggest issue with sounds at this time comes from our upstairs

> neighbors in our apartment. We've called the police due to screaming,

> yelling & what sounded like her being bashed against walls/floor...

> what we could hear was clearly domestic violence. We've complained to

> management several times in regards to the noise which also includes

> her yelling at her kids at all hours of day/night and the damned

> stomping! The stomping is absolutely insane. It drives my husband

> nuts too. She has a 2 year old up there and I swear that kid just

> romps all day long from sun up till sun down and sometimes in the

> middle of the night we're awoken. Management always says " they don't

> have carpet up there " . My reply is always, " maybe you should put some

> carpet up there. " (I feel strongly that would help). We also pay our

> rent on time every month and were even paid ahead for a while.

>

> We also get lots of bass booming music and loud TV from them.

>

> I can see how the stomping could be connected to PTSD due to my nada

> stomping down the hallway after me to physically abuse me. But I seem

> to be overly sensitive to the other sounds from up there, like the

> bass... which I'm dealing with right now (mixed with the stomping).

>

> We've made recordings with my iPod and everything, filed numerous

> complaints. I feel like this is my problem, like management doesn't

> seem to think it's a big deal, even though we've had things fall off

> of our walls (pictures) due to the stomping.

>

> Aside from the neighbor issues, I also have issues when TV or music is

> too loud in my house. And too loud to me seems to be a normal level

> for most people, I guess. My husband gets frustrated with me when I

> ask him to put in headphones or turn down the computer when he's

> playing video games. Sorry, but I have no desire to hear that stuff

> at that volume. I don't even listen to my own music or play my games

> at that volume.

>

> I have tried ear plugs (both while awake and asleep). When I sleep

> with them, I always have nightmares about being mute and then drowning

> (Really weird!). And I frankly don't feel comfortable wearing them

> asleep or around the house anyway in case I do miss something like a

> knock on the door or a phone call.

>

> I'm just seriously frustrated with the noise here and the lack of

> action by management to do anything to remedy the situation. We have

> to give 60 days notice before we leave, per our lease, and then pay an

> early termination fee on top of that. So moving right now is out of

> the question. Lease is up July 1st, so i will be giving them 60 days

> notice on that, but I'm not paying extra fees so I can leave. That's

> not cool.

>

> Anyway, I just wondered if other people here are sound sensitive like

> this too. It's not like it hurts me, though often it startles the

> crap out of me (especially the really loud stomping/jumping). The

> bass is just extremely annoying when I'm trying to think or whatever.

>

> Feel like I'm losing my marbles, that's for sure.

>

> Mia

>

>

[Guest guest]

Noise makes me just way too stressed out and crazy, too. As a young working

person, one of the first apartments I moved into was on a middle floor and I

experienced similar grating noisiness from my upstairs neighbor that you

describe: loud music and a lot of stomping at all hours. I think it was the

stomping noises that triggered ptsd flashback-like episodes for me; my nada

would stomp down the hallway loudly when she was really mad at me, and coming to

rage at me. Her rages usually included screaming, name-calling, denigration,

threats, shaming and sometimes physical abuse.

And like you, the only solution I found was to just move. There are some

battles you can't win, and it seems to me that having obnoxious, loud, probably

pd upstairs neighbors is one of those no-win scenarios.

After that early middle-floor-living nightmare, I always chose to live on the

top floor, and I do try to be a good upstairs neighbor and NOT stomp or play

music loudly. I've lived very peacefully in my upper condo unit for many years

now & have nice neighbors who also (apparently) crave peace and quiet. It makes

a world of difference to have the serenity of quiet at home; for me, anyway.

Best of luck to you hanging in there until July, when you can leave without

incurring extra fees. I agree with you: having horrid, noisy upstairs neighbors

is a real quality-of-life spoiler and very crazy-making. And best of luck to

you finding a top floor apartment that is to your taste and budget, or a

single-family house to rent with nice neighbors all 'round.

-Annie

>

> Wondering if anyone else experiences sensitivity to sounds like I do.

> Even though I feel like I have a very good grasp on my PTSD and am

> well on the road to recovery, I am still struggling with this. Not

> entirely sure it's related to abusive childhood, though.

>

> My biggest issue with sounds at this time comes from our upstairs

> neighbors in our apartment. We've called the police due to screaming,

> yelling & what sounded like her being bashed against walls/floor...

> what we could hear was clearly domestic violence. We've complained to

> management several times in regards to the noise which also includes

> her yelling at her kids at all hours of day/night and the damned

> stomping! The stomping is absolutely insane. It drives my husband

> nuts too. She has a 2 year old up there and I swear that kid just

> romps all day long from sun up till sun down and sometimes in the

> middle of the night we're awoken. Management always says " they don't

> have carpet up there " . My reply is always, " maybe you should put some

> carpet up there. " (I feel strongly that would help). We also pay our

> rent on time every month and were even paid ahead for a while.

>

> We also get lots of bass booming music and loud TV from them.

>

> I can see how the stomping could be connected to PTSD due to my nada

> stomping down the hallway after me to physically abuse me. But I seem

> to be overly sensitive to the other sounds from up there, like the

> bass... which I'm dealing with right now (mixed with the stomping).

>

> We've made recordings with my iPod and everything, filed numerous

> complaints. I feel like this is my problem, like management doesn't

> seem to think it's a big deal, even though we've had things fall off

> of our walls (pictures) due to the stomping.

>

> Aside from the neighbor issues, I also have issues when TV or music is

> too loud in my house. And too loud to me seems to be a normal level

> for most people, I guess. My husband gets frustrated with me when I

> ask him to put in headphones or turn down the computer when he's

> playing video games. Sorry, but I have no desire to hear that stuff

> at that volume. I don't even listen to my own music or play my games

> at that volume.

>

> I have tried ear plugs (both while awake and asleep). When I sleep

> with them, I always have nightmares about being mute and then drowning

> (Really weird!). And I frankly don't feel comfortable wearing them

> asleep or around the house anyway in case I do miss something like a

> knock on the door or a phone call.

>

> I'm just seriously frustrated with the noise here and the lack of

> action by management to do anything to remedy the situation. We have

> to give 60 days notice before we leave, per our lease, and then pay an

> early termination fee on top of that. So moving right now is out of

> the question. Lease is up July 1st, so i will be giving them 60 days

> notice on that, but I'm not paying extra fees so I can leave. That's

> not cool.

>

> Anyway, I just wondered if other people here are sound sensitive like

> this too. It's not like it hurts me, though often it startles the

> crap out of me (especially the really loud stomping/jumping). The

> bass is just extremely annoying when I'm trying to think or whatever.

>

> Feel like I'm losing my marbles, that's for sure.

>

> Mia

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks Annie. Sorry you had to endure a similar situation. The

reason we chose a 1st floor apt is because of hubby's kids. His 5

year old son gets kind of wound up and runs so I didn't want us to be

having issues with whomever would have been below us.

But I do think a top floor apartment will be better when we move if we

can't afford to rent a house. We eventually want to buy a house, but

right now that's just not an option.

Mia

>

>

>

> Noise makes me just way too stressed out and crazy, too. As a young working

person, one of the first apartments I moved into was on a middle floor and I

experienced similar grating noisiness from my upstairs neighbor that you

describe: loud music and a lot of stomping at all hours. I think it was the

stomping noises that triggered ptsd flashback-like episodes for me; my nada

would stomp down the hallway loudly when she was really mad at me, and coming to

rage at me. Her rages usually included screaming, name-calling, denigration,

threats, shaming and sometimes physical abuse.

>

> And like you, the only solution I found was to just move. There are some

battles you can't win, and it seems to me that having obnoxious, loud, probably

pd upstairs neighbors is one of those no-win scenarios.

>

> After that early middle-floor-living nightmare, I always chose to live on the

top floor, and I do try to be a good upstairs neighbor and NOT stomp or play

music loudly. I've lived very peacefully in my upper condo unit for many years

now & have nice neighbors who also (apparently) crave peace and quiet. It makes

a world of difference to have the serenity of quiet at home; for me, anyway.

>

> Best of luck to you hanging in there until July, when you can leave without

incurring extra fees. I agree with you: having horrid, noisy upstairs neighbors

is a real quality-of-life spoiler and very crazy-making. And best of luck to you

finding a top floor apartment that is to your taste and budget, or a

single-family house to rent with nice neighbors all 'round.

>

> -Annie

>

>

>

> >

> > Wondering if anyone else experiences sensitivity to sounds like I do.

> > Even though I feel like I have a very good grasp on my PTSD and am

> > well on the road to recovery, I am still struggling with this. Not

> > entirely sure it's related to abusive childhood, though.

> >

> > My biggest issue with sounds at this time comes from our upstairs

> > neighbors in our apartment. We've called the police due to screaming,

> > yelling & what sounded like her being bashed against walls/floor...

> > what we could hear was clearly domestic violence. We've complained to

> > management several times in regards to the noise which also includes

> > her yelling at her kids at all hours of day/night and the damned

> > stomping! The stomping is absolutely insane. It drives my husband

> > nuts too. She has a 2 year old up there and I swear that kid just

> > romps all day long from sun up till sun down and sometimes in the

> > middle of the night we're awoken. Management always says " they don't

> > have carpet up there " . My reply is always, " maybe you should put some

> > carpet up there. " (I feel strongly that would help). We also pay our

> > rent on time every month and were even paid ahead for a while.

> >

> > We also get lots of bass booming music and loud TV from them.

> >

> > I can see how the stomping could be connected to PTSD due to my nada

> > stomping down the hallway after me to physically abuse me. But I seem

> > to be overly sensitive to the other sounds from up there, like the

> > bass... which I'm dealing with right now (mixed with the stomping).

> >

> > We've made recordings with my iPod and everything, filed numerous

> > complaints. I feel like this is my problem, like management doesn't

> > seem to think it's a big deal, even though we've had things fall off

> > of our walls (pictures) due to the stomping.

> >

> > Aside from the neighbor issues, I also have issues when TV or music is

> > too loud in my house. And too loud to me seems to be a normal level

> > for most people, I guess. My husband gets frustrated with me when I

> > ask him to put in headphones or turn down the computer when he's

> > playing video games. Sorry, but I have no desire to hear that stuff

> > at that volume. I don't even listen to my own music or play my games

> > at that volume.

> >

> > I have tried ear plugs (both while awake and asleep). When I sleep

> > with them, I always have nightmares about being mute and then drowning

> > (Really weird!). And I frankly don't feel comfortable wearing them

> > asleep or around the house anyway in case I do miss something like a

> > knock on the door or a phone call.

> >

> > I'm just seriously frustrated with the noise here and the lack of

> > action by management to do anything to remedy the situation. We have

> > to give 60 days notice before we leave, per our lease, and then pay an

> > early termination fee on top of that. So moving right now is out of

> > the question. Lease is up July 1st, so i will be giving them 60 days

> > notice on that, but I'm not paying extra fees so I can leave. That's

> > not cool.

> >

> > Anyway, I just wondered if other people here are sound sensitive like

> > this too. It's not like it hurts me, though often it startles the

> > crap out of me (especially the really loud stomping/jumping). The

> > bass is just extremely annoying when I'm trying to think or whatever.

> >

> > Feel like I'm losing my marbles, that's for sure.

> >

> > Mia

> >

>

>

[Guest guest]

I am the same way Mia. I hate living beneath someone else for the same reasons

you do - every noise they make intrudes into your space and if they are

inconsiderate with a loud child or stereo it's just torture. This is not just

about your sound sensitivity - it is a real problem that you could legitimately

involve the police in or pursue some sort of civil action against the landlord.

I guess that sounds pretty extreme, but the options are there and it's a shame

for you to have to move and pay extra fees. In some apartment complexes they

will allow you to transfer within the complex without penalty - maybe you could

do that to get away from the noise?

Bringing it back around to KO issues, I think growing up with an unpredictably

angry caregiver just sets a kid's nervous system on high alert. And for some us

it stays that way permanently it seems. I love the quiet too.

Eliza

>

> Wondering if anyone else experiences sensitivity to sounds like I do.

> Even though I feel like I have a very good grasp on my PTSD and am

> well on the road to recovery, I am still struggling with this. Not

> entirely sure it's related to abusive childhood, though.

>

> My biggest issue with sounds at this time comes from our upstairs

> neighbors in our apartment. We've called the police due to screaming,

> yelling & what sounded like her being bashed against walls/floor...

> what we could hear was clearly domestic violence. We've complained to

> management several times in regards to the noise which also includes

> her yelling at her kids at all hours of day/night and the damned

> stomping! The stomping is absolutely insane. It drives my husband

> nuts too. She has a 2 year old up there and I swear that kid just

> romps all day long from sun up till sun down and sometimes in the

> middle of the night we're awoken. Management always says " they don't

> have carpet up there " . My reply is always, " maybe you should put some

> carpet up there. " (I feel strongly that would help). We also pay our

> rent on time every month and were even paid ahead for a while.

>

> We also get lots of bass booming music and loud TV from them.

>

> I can see how the stomping could be connected to PTSD due to my nada

> stomping down the hallway after me to physically abuse me. But I seem

> to be overly sensitive to the other sounds from up there, like the

> bass... which I'm dealing with right now (mixed with the stomping).

>

> We've made recordings with my iPod and everything, filed numerous

> complaints. I feel like this is my problem, like management doesn't

> seem to think it's a big deal, even though we've had things fall off

> of our walls (pictures) due to the stomping.

>

> Aside from the neighbor issues, I also have issues when TV or music is

> too loud in my house. And too loud to me seems to be a normal level

> for most people, I guess. My husband gets frustrated with me when I

> ask him to put in headphones or turn down the computer when he's

> playing video games. Sorry, but I have no desire to hear that stuff

> at that volume. I don't even listen to my own music or play my games

> at that volume.

>

> I have tried ear plugs (both while awake and asleep). When I sleep

> with them, I always have nightmares about being mute and then drowning

> (Really weird!). And I frankly don't feel comfortable wearing them

> asleep or around the house anyway in case I do miss something like a

> knock on the door or a phone call.

>

> I'm just seriously frustrated with the noise here and the lack of

> action by management to do anything to remedy the situation. We have

> to give 60 days notice before we leave, per our lease, and then pay an

> early termination fee on top of that. So moving right now is out of

> the question. Lease is up July 1st, so i will be giving them 60 days

> notice on that, but I'm not paying extra fees so I can leave. That's

> not cool.

>

> Anyway, I just wondered if other people here are sound sensitive like

> this too. It's not like it hurts me, though often it startles the

> crap out of me (especially the really loud stomping/jumping). The

> bass is just extremely annoying when I'm trying to think or whatever.

>

> Feel like I'm losing my marbles, that's for sure.

>

> Mia

>

[Guest guest]

What a yucky situation!!!

I saw the title of this and had to respond. I have always been noise sensitive.

Actually my nerves are on edge a lot.

Having a spirited child who LOVES to make noise has helped desensitize me a lot

to those issues. :-) But I still have a hard time with banging, clanging,

radios, etc. It gets on my husbands nerves when we are in the car that I cannot

talk to others unless the radio is off. Its like sensory overload to hear a

radio and try to gather my thoughts at the same time.

I am a light sleeper, cats/dogs snoring, clicks in the night always wake me up.

I think Eliza is absolutely right - growing up walking on eggshells forms your

nervous system to be a bit over sensitive!

> >

> > Wondering if anyone else experiences sensitivity to sounds like I do.

> > Even though I feel like I have a very good grasp on my PTSD and am

> > well on the road to recovery, I am still struggling with this. Not

> > entirely sure it's related to abusive childhood, though.

> >

> > My biggest issue with sounds at this time comes from our upstairs

> > neighbors in our apartment. We've called the police due to screaming,

> > yelling & what sounded like her being bashed against walls/floor...

> > what we could hear was clearly domestic violence. We've complained to

> > management several times in regards to the noise which also includes

> > her yelling at her kids at all hours of day/night and the damned

> > stomping! The stomping is absolutely insane. It drives my husband

> > nuts too. She has a 2 year old up there and I swear that kid just

> > romps all day long from sun up till sun down and sometimes in the

> > middle of the night we're awoken. Management always says " they don't

> > have carpet up there " . My reply is always, " maybe you should put some

> > carpet up there. " (I feel strongly that would help). We also pay our

> > rent on time every month and were even paid ahead for a while.

> >

> > We also get lots of bass booming music and loud TV from them.

> >

> > I can see how the stomping could be connected to PTSD due to my nada

> > stomping down the hallway after me to physically abuse me. But I seem

> > to be overly sensitive to the other sounds from up there, like the

> > bass... which I'm dealing with right now (mixed with the stomping).

> >

> > We've made recordings with my iPod and everything, filed numerous

> > complaints. I feel like this is my problem, like management doesn't

> > seem to think it's a big deal, even though we've had things fall off

> > of our walls (pictures) due to the stomping.

> >

> > Aside from the neighbor issues, I also have issues when TV or music is

> > too loud in my house. And too loud to me seems to be a normal level

> > for most people, I guess. My husband gets frustrated with me when I

> > ask him to put in headphones or turn down the computer when he's

> > playing video games. Sorry, but I have no desire to hear that stuff

> > at that volume. I don't even listen to my own music or play my games

> > at that volume.

> >

> > I have tried ear plugs (both while awake and asleep). When I sleep

> > with them, I always have nightmares about being mute and then drowning

> > (Really weird!). And I frankly don't feel comfortable wearing them

> > asleep or around the house anyway in case I do miss something like a

> > knock on the door or a phone call.

> >

> > I'm just seriously frustrated with the noise here and the lack of

> > action by management to do anything to remedy the situation. We have

> > to give 60 days notice before we leave, per our lease, and then pay an

> > early termination fee on top of that. So moving right now is out of

> > the question. Lease is up July 1st, so i will be giving them 60 days

> > notice on that, but I'm not paying extra fees so I can leave. That's

> > not cool.

> >

> > Anyway, I just wondered if other people here are sound sensitive like

> > this too. It's not like it hurts me, though often it startles the

> > crap out of me (especially the really loud stomping/jumping). The

> > bass is just extremely annoying when I'm trying to think or whatever.

> >

> > Feel like I'm losing my marbles, that's for sure.

> >

> > Mia

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Totally. I can't do screaming, I can't do it and I can't listen to it. It just

brings me back to a place that I don't want to be. Of my Mom always telling me

how worthless I was, or my Mom yelling at my step dad. I would say try to

address what is triggering those feelings that you notice when you are

uncomfortable when you hear the noises that set you off. Hope this helps.

>

> Wondering if anyone else experiences sensitivity to sounds like I do.

> Even though I feel like I have a very good grasp on my PTSD and am

> well on the road to recovery, I am still struggling with this. Not

> entirely sure it's related to abusive childhood, though.

>

> My biggest issue with sounds at this time comes from our upstairs

> neighbors in our apartment. We've called the police due to screaming,

> yelling & what sounded like her being bashed against walls/floor...

> what we could hear was clearly domestic violence. We've complained to

> management several times in regards to the noise which also includes

> her yelling at her kids at all hours of day/night and the damned

> stomping! The stomping is absolutely insane. It drives my husband

> nuts too. She has a 2 year old up there and I swear that kid just

> romps all day long from sun up till sun down and sometimes in the

> middle of the night we're awoken. Management always says " they don't

> have carpet up there " . My reply is always, " maybe you should put some

> carpet up there. " (I feel strongly that would help). We also pay our

> rent on time every month and were even paid ahead for a while.

>

> We also get lots of bass booming music and loud TV from them.

>

> I can see how the stomping could be connected to PTSD due to my nada

> stomping down the hallway after me to physically abuse me. But I seem

> to be overly sensitive to the other sounds from up there, like the

> bass... which I'm dealing with right now (mixed with the stomping).

>

> We've made recordings with my iPod and everything, filed numerous

> complaints. I feel like this is my problem, like management doesn't

> seem to think it's a big deal, even though we've had things fall off

> of our walls (pictures) due to the stomping.

>

> Aside from the neighbor issues, I also have issues when TV or music is

> too loud in my house. And too loud to me seems to be a normal level

> for most people, I guess. My husband gets frustrated with me when I

> ask him to put in headphones or turn down the computer when he's

> playing video games. Sorry, but I have no desire to hear that stuff

> at that volume. I don't even listen to my own music or play my games

> at that volume.

>

> I have tried ear plugs (both while awake and asleep). When I sleep

> with them, I always have nightmares about being mute and then drowning

> (Really weird!). And I frankly don't feel comfortable wearing them

> asleep or around the house anyway in case I do miss something like a

> knock on the door or a phone call.

>

> I'm just seriously frustrated with the noise here and the lack of

> action by management to do anything to remedy the situation. We have

> to give 60 days notice before we leave, per our lease, and then pay an

> early termination fee on top of that. So moving right now is out of

> the question. Lease is up July 1st, so i will be giving them 60 days

> notice on that, but I'm not paying extra fees so I can leave. That's

> not cool.

>

> Anyway, I just wondered if other people here are sound sensitive like

> this too. It's not like it hurts me, though often it startles the

> crap out of me (especially the really loud stomping/jumping). The

> bass is just extremely annoying when I'm trying to think or whatever.

>

> Feel like I'm losing my marbles, that's for sure.

>

> Mia

>

[Guest guest]

I suspect this is the case....as far as I know I was never shouted or screamed

at (I seem to have a lot of blocked memories) and our home was always quiet. But

I am EXTREMELY noise sensitive. We lived in a condo where they were doing

concrete restoration for a few years and I almost had a nervous breakdown over

it, having to go on tranquilizers just to live in our own home. Between that and

the noise of the elevator, etc., I almost lost it.

I can't abide loud televisions, loud music (yet love, love, love music, just not

too loud) and screaming children. The neighbor on one side has some little

sausage dogs that yip for hours on end and they drive me mad. Y'all may remember

about a year ago when we had teenagers renting the house next door who were

having screamfests all the time and I was driven to desperation over it.

Thankfully we have quiet neighbors there now.

Lawn equipment, loud chewing noises, noisy stores, they just cause me to be

strung out in a way I can't even describe. I keep reading reviews on

noise-canceling headphones, thinking I should buy some for when I'm on my

computer and hubby is watching TV, especially as his hearing is getting a bit

bad so it's too loud for me.

There's actually a sound-sensitivity disorder, but I can't recall the name right

now.....

So it's not just you, Mia.

> Bringing it back around to KO issues, I think growing up with an unpredictably

angry caregiver just sets a kid's nervous system on high alert. And for some us

it stays that way permanently it seems. I love the quiet too.

[Guest guest]

I am incredibly noise sensitive too. If there is an erratic noise that I cannot

control, I lack the ability to choose to not attend to it. If I am trying to

sleep or to concentrate, and I can't control noises around me, I am driven to

despair. I sleep with a fan for white noise to drown out other noises. If

there is a noise around me associated with a person who I am not completely at

ease with, such as the snoring, throat clearing, or farting (sorry) of my now

ex-husband, I go positively bonkers. This particular one, I think stems from my

Nada being so intrusive in my personal and emotional space and so insensitive to

her impact on me. If there is an overall din of noise related to people talking

or music or equipment running, etc., I find that my nervous system revves up to

meet it, even if it is not something objectively concerning. It is frustrating

and limiting.

I wonder what can be done about it other than trying to control the environment

we are in? Have others who have had this issue learned useful techniques?

HC

>

> > Bringing it back around to KO issues, I think growing up with an

unpredictably angry caregiver just sets a kid's nervous system on high alert.

And for some us it stays that way permanently it seems. I love the quiet too.

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

<< I am incredibly noise sensitive too. If there is an erratic noise that I

cannot control, I lack the ability to choose to not attend to it...

Â

I wonder what can be done about it other than trying to control the environment

we are in? Have others who have had this issue learned useful techniques?>>

Â

I too have had the noise sensitive issues you  mention and I believe for the

same or similar reasons re: my nada.Â

Â

One thing that has helped me in these noise/din situations one cannot control

is to affirm " noises will not distract me, noises and sounds only enhance my

deeper, healthier level of mind. " Â This is taken from the Silva Method

(formerly Silva Method of Mind Control) and enhances my meditation and when I

need to relax or to deal with others' sounds in close quarters and ambient

sounds ( TV, traffic, sirens), but this technique/trick will work for you

anytime if you " set it up " with the expectation in advance in a relaxed state.

Â

You can change the wording to anything you like, viz, "  noises will not

distract me, noises and sounds only enhance my sense of calm. "   ThisÂ

should work, with practice, to address the point about your nervous system

revving up to match the din, as well.  Try it, I got to sleep early last

night despite  others' sounds in close quarters and someone watching a

movie!

To: WTOAdultChildren1

Sent: Monday, February 13, 2012 8:50 AM

Subject: Re: Anyone else? Sound sensitivity (for lack of a

better word)

Â

I am incredibly noise sensitive too. If there is an erratic noise that I cannot

control, I lack the ability to choose to not attend to it. If I am trying to

sleep or to concentrate, and I can't control noises around me, I am driven to

despair. I sleep with a fan for white noise to drown out other noises. If there

is a noise around me associated with a person who I am not completely at ease

with, such as the snoring, throat clearing, or farting (sorry) of my now

ex-husband, I go positively bonkers. This particular one, I think stems from my

Nada being so intrusive in my personal and emotional space and so insensitive to

her impact on me. If there is an overall din of noise related to people talking

or music or equipment running, etc., I find that my nervous system revves up to

meet it, even if it is not something objectively concerning. It is frustrating

and limiting.

I wonder what can be done about it other than trying to control the environment

we are in? Have others who have had this issue learned useful techniques?

HC

>

> > Bringing it back around to KO issues, I think growing up with an

unpredictably angry caregiver just sets a kid's nervous system on high alert.

And for some us it stays that way permanently it seems. I love the quiet too.

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I think what you are speaking of is more of a sensory issue.

And can be linked to mercury exposure. It's one of the problems that highly

sensory sensitive kids have such as kids with autism.

You may start to try some detoxing of heavy metals in your system. Cilantro is

a heavy metal natural remover.

There are programs that have been developed using neuro science and auditory

science such as The Listening Program...it can be tailored to your particular

problems and is helpful in beginning to integrate your hearing. For children it

is recommended to do by itself. For adults you will also need some therapy or

journaling because our we develop memories involving sound. Such as you would

with a love song you'd associate with a time and or person.

> >

> > > Bringing it back around to KO issues, I think growing up with an

unpredictably angry caregiver just sets a kid's nervous system on high alert.

And for some us it stays that way permanently it seems. I love the quiet too.

> >

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

I've heard that desensitization therapy works on phobias, but I haven't heard

whether that therapy or any other therapy works on hyperacusis / extreme sound

sensitivity, or not.

I'm also not clear if hyperacusis is the same thing as the exaggerated/extreme

startle reflex that I used to have if a sudden, unexpected noise occurred near

me, which I'm guessing is a c-ptsd symptom. I still have a somewhat

exaggerated startle reflex, but much less pronounced that it used to be. I

think its because I'm just not as anxious and stressed as I used to be.

So, I'll be interested to hear about treatments or therapies for sound

sensitivity, that will be very useful for a lot of people, I'm thinking.

-Annie

> >

> > > Bringing it back around to KO issues, I think growing up with an

unpredictably angry caregiver just sets a kid's nervous system on high alert.

And for some us it stays that way permanently it seems. I love the quiet too.

> >

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

Though I do feel I am sound sensitive, my husband is not. He agrees

that the level of hideous noises we must endure on a daily basis are

far above acceptable. He's lived in several apartments and says this

is by far the worst when it comes to noise. So, a while ago, I

started recording them with my iPod touch. Wasn't sure if I was

picking anything up because it's an iPod... not professional

recording equipment.

Lo & behold, it DID pick up PLENTY of the noise issues from upstairs,

including today's bout of loud music, 2 year old stomping around so

hard my apartment rattles, and the lovely noises what sounds like the

kid pushing a chair across the floor for 5 minutes straight. Ever

heard that noise from an upstairs apartment? It's like nails on a

damn chalkboard. And it got the really LOUD stomping... the kind that

a few months ago caused pictures to fall off my walls. (There's loud,

louder & really loud when it comes to this stuff!)

So, I have made a CD for management and typed a letter. We're going

back in there tomorrow (for like the 6th or 7th time now) to complain

and want much more immediate resolution. 8 months of complaining

about this crap is far too long to not have anything done.

I'm truly surprised how much my iPod captured. No, it's not perfect,

but hey it's far better than we expected. Just never got around to

listening to the recordings until now.

I'm thinking if they won't help us out here, maybe a lawyer will. We

have evidence, after all.

Wish us LOTS of luck.

Mia