[littleowl2006]

Hello lovely people,
I was just wondering if anyone else suffers from a similar phobia as I do.
Ever since I was a child, the sound of a firecracker or any loud bang made me jump, tear up and fear for my life. I have seriously considered moving away from my part of the city to a quieter area because the kids in my neighbourhood throw firecrackers at any occasion.
I feel completely paralyzed whenever it happens. I am already so scared of new year's eve and the time around December because I know it is going to be bad again. Once I even had kids behind me who lighted a firecracker in a narrow train station that I was in and I had a nervous breakdown and could not get myself together for the rest of the day. So far I don't know anyone with a similar problem, and my friends just think that I am "afraid", but that's not it. I cannot control what's happening and it is a lot more physical than just being afraid of something but knowing that nothing is going to happen.
I would be so happy to know if there are people out there who feel the same and to read about how they cope with this!

[Smileonmyface]

not exactly the same. firecrackers bother me a lot and cause anxiety. but i can relate in that when i was a child my parents had this burglar alarm installed that would often go off by mistake late at night or early in the morning. i was terrified of the loud noise it would make. i would cover myself with my blanket and cover my ears until my dad would turn it off.
i get very agitated now when people are partying outside late into the night down the hill from our house. the best defense i have found is white noise in the form of a fan blowing or the air conditioner on. or the tv, radio, or music to drown it out and be a distraction.
hugs.

[francisR]

Littleowl 2006

I don't have that actual phobia. But I don't like firecrackers or fireworks either. Moving to a quieter area might be helpful. The thing is that being paralyzed with fear has become a knee-jerk reaction to firecrackers. Perhaps learning to respond in a different manner would be helpful. This would demand rehearsal. That is visualizing yourself responding calmly and distracting your mind by thinking of something else. You would need to practice this over and over again so that it becomes the new knee-jerk reaction to the experience. Other than that. Perhaps seeing the CBT therapist to give you more coping skills would be helpful. I really hope and pray this does get better for you in the future. Take care. I hope and pray you have a really great week. God bless and best wishes from your friend Francis

[August7682]

I know how you feel about it. I feel exactly the same way about lightening, and Ive experienced the same type of things. Mine started after I witnessed someone being struck on the beach, so I thought it might be ptsd but I never thought about it being a phobia possibly.

[magical loser]

i really REALLY cant stand the sound of the stupid thumping bass everyone else seems to love so much. it turns my brain to mush and i cant even think

[littleowl2006]

August7682, what helps you when you are in this situation?