[LenaT]

I've been searching the web for answers and to find any ideas on helping my 'noise' anxiety.

I live in a 'quiet' country subdivision, but about once a week I literally freak out from the stupidest things (all noise related). I don't know if its because I use to live in a large city (but it never bothered me then) and living at home with my parents my dad, who was hard of hearing, would blast his television all night and I had to try to sleep through that.

I have neighbors on one side of me that rev up there cars and have loud cars coming and going all hours of the night sometimes. There are people that have loud snowmobiles that go by in winter, there are 'booming' cars that goes on for hours. I have areas around me where people come up 'camping' and blast music all day long for a weeks time and that drives me crazy to the point I'm mean to my husband and son (who are perfect), I cry all day, I am shaky and panicky, I feel a sense of urgency and fear, and even when the music is turned off, its still playing in my head, and I just sit and anticipate it starting again, so I can't even function properly. On a good stretch of days where I don't here anything-its like I'm happy and back to my normal self. I am a generally happy person but when noises start I turn into this mean scary monster to my 2 year old and I don't want to be like that anymore.

I try to do things like turn on a fan, shut the windows, focus on playing with my son and that helps a little, but I don't know if this is something I should approach a doctor with. I'm scared I may have to take medications and I don't want to be wacked out with a small child in my care all day.

Right now I'm dealing with the noisy campers. No matter how much I remind myself they'll be gone by the end of the week, I just simply shake and panic for days and I can't control myself.

[Sabrina]

I suffer from pretty much the same thing as you, perhaps not to the same extent though.

Oh, by the way - a very warm welcome to PC.

I cannot handle repetitive noises such as dogs barking (my own poor dogs get told to keep quiet often enough), my son's incessant chatter gets me very anxious sometimes, lawnmowers, hammering, neighbour's music, like you, revving cars and motorbikes that are forever going up and down my quiet street, sometimes even the sound of wind and hard rain is too much to bear. The most confusing is the sound of birds .... sometimes I just can't handle all that chirping!

I could handle a rock concert though ..... doesn't make sense!

Very often, when the family have left for work and school, I work in total (except for outside noises) silence. I work from home so that makes it easier! It helps me to cope sometimes.

I can also become quite the nasty just because I am anxious from noises. My son, who is 9 now, understands .... even though I am forever on at him to turn the volume down on the TV.

I cannot explain why this happens. Very often I tell myself to just back up, I'm being unreasonable but I just get very anxious with too much noise all around me. Perhaps it is because my own head is noisy enough!

Don't be afraid to go to a doctor. If it is affecting your daily life to such an extent, that might be a wise thing to do. It isn't fair to you that you should be crying all day!

I understand your fear of being wacked out on meds with a young child - but not all meds should wack you out, even if it is often a "trial & error" sort of process.

Please get help if you are so afraid. I really do understand where you are coming from and what you are going through!

[LenaT]

Thanks so much for replying. It almost makes it all make sense when someone else suffers from this stuff too. I have such a problem with TV noise too, my husband thinks I'm crazy I turn it up and down throughout the program (In my mind I rationalize it that It will wake up my 2 year old who is on the other side of the house). I wish that stupid volume bar would be invisible so people didn't know how often I'm adjusting it. haha.

And the funny thing is, this kid sleeps through anything at night so I know its me not him.

Have you gone to the doctor for this yet? Are you on any medications? I haven't taken any of those steps yet (well- I have gone and my GP diagnosed it as depression and gave me Prozac which, after reading the side effects, I chickened out of taking)....But I go in a couple of weeks for a pap smear and I think I'll mention that I want to see a psychologist.

If I have the guts to say something.

[Sabrina]

I know it is scary, but I think you are doing the right thing by telling your doc you would like to see a psychologist. Remember, that a psychologist will try to discover the root of the problem and provide therapy for you but cannot subscribe meds. For that, you will have to be referred to a psychiatrist.

I have been diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety Disorder though I believe myself to be in recovery right now. I do still suffer from panic attacks and a lot of anxiety but not that it affects my life adversely. Or not that I think so anyway. So to answer your question, I haven't sought help on this issue specifically, it was just part of the whole diagnosis picture. I have been on many, many meds but have been, by choice, med free for more than 2 years.

One of the strangest things about this noise anxiety is that I can get extremely lonely with total quiet! Yet I crave it! It is such a paradox and one I still cannot understand!

I really think you are doing the right thing by seeking extra help to get you through this. It can be very frightening and disconcerting indeed!

Does your husband support you? Have you been able to talk this through with him? If so, lean on him and let him provide comfort when you need it! (Easier said than done though, I know!)

You are brave to talk about this and seek answers!!

[LenaT]

>>One of the strangest things about this noise anxiety is that I can get extremely lonely with total quiet! Yet I crave it! It is such a paradox and one I still cannot understand!

I really think you are doing the right thing by seeking extra help to get you through this. It can be very frightening and disconcerting indeed!

Does your husband support you? Have you been able to talk this through with him? If so, lean on him and let him provide comfort when you need it! (Easier said than done though, I know!)>>

That is so odd that you say that I totally feel like that--when its quiet I cannot stand it so I put on a fan or background noise, usually TV, or I call someone. And thats the thing (I don't know if I mentioned this) I moved from the city to the country and I sometimes crave going to the city to shop or whatever, just to be in the city is like 'relaxing' even though there is a ton of noises all combined into one.

My husband is very supportive, he gets plenty of calls at work with me crying on the other end, but then at the end of our conversation I feel much better.

[Sabrina]

I often find myself at a shopping mall, just milling about - trying to absorb what I think is daily life and normal. So yes, it can be relaxing at the same time. Unlike you, I don't call anyone though. A ringing phone almost always sets my heart racing!!

It is all so confusing, isn't it?

I am so happy for you that your husband is supportive. That must really help a lot.

Please think about getting further help. And Lena, please know that PC is a wonderful community where you will receive a warm ear and plenty of support. Please do keep posting.

Feel free to PM me anytime!!

[TheBlueQueen]

I generally dislike both total silence and total noise at the same time, so I understand the whole paradox thing.

For me, a lot of noises are "triggers" for me... such as sirens (police, fire, ambulance), firecrackers (the ones that sound like gunshots), random people just yelling to each other on the street (day or night), and the sound of cars either driving down my block or pulling up near my home. There are many more, but I don't think I need to go further with the examples.

The point is you are not alone and many of us suffer from "noise anxiety" for various reasons.

[SeptemberMorn]

Lena and Sabrina, my husband I both turn into meanies with some noises but we're both different. LOL My husband has bursts of rage when we have some of our grandkids over. He feels it coming on and goes to his room. He's hard of hearing so he plays the TV and the radio way too loud for me. I can feel the over stimulation coming on and I'll ask him to turn things down.

I play with the TV volume and the radio volume, too. The commercials on TV get twice as loud as the program! They've got to make sure you can still hear them even if you leave the room, I guess. ggrrrr

It took me a while to figure out that for me, it was overstimulation of the nervous system. I'm already taking anti-depresants and anti-anxiety meds. Wouldn't do without them, but some noises do get to me almost immediately! Thank goodness the kids screaming and yelling don't get to me, though!

[SeptemberMorn]

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The point is you are not alone and many of us suffer from "noise anxiety" for various reasons.

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I think you're right, BlueQueen.

I do have noise anxiety as well as 'too much going on" anxiety and I wonder if they're related. Mix them up into a trip to a mall or crowded busy Christmas shopping or a grocery store with a screaming child or too... and it's too much.

I used to go to craft shows with my sister. Eventually we had to drive separately so I could leave when I became overwhelmed with the noise and people. Recently she visited and we went to a Hard Rock Cafe casino. I'd never been to one and after about 10 minutes I had to get out of there.

I'm hard of hearing so it's very frustrating just to communicate on a daily basis.. at work, outside of work. I like that when I get home I get to control the volume. Mostly I like it quiet. Sometimes my poor kitty has jumped when I've talked to him because it's been so quiet!

But I'm like you: I'll turn on music or the TV, but I'm constantly adjusting the volume. Actually, I think it is that there is no quiet time on broadcasts, whether that is radio or TV. (CD's I can handle. It's just songs with space in between). It is the incessant flow of noise from TV, radio, the casino, busy malls.... that seems to be the issue for me. I need a quiet break here and there.

Interesting topic. Thanks!

[moodyblu]

Not really that uncommon to be noise sensitive.
Look up "The Highly Sensitve Person" by Elaine Aron...website....Read about it ...and perhaps yourself.
Knowledge is power.
Take care...and turn the volume down...comfortably.
m.b.