[Polykronic]

Anyone else having trouble handling unexpected neighborhood fireworks?

I used to live where private displays were illegal, so I didn't plan ahead. Laying awake now, terrified and hyper alert.

I have "complex PTSD;" I can't imagine how hard this might be for a veteran! I'm so used to listening carefully, though, in case my brother was coming to attack me, that these nights have become really scary.

[Open Eyes]

(((Polykronic))),

I hear you, but usually people set off fireworks at dark and run out of them by midnight. What I do is have the TV on, the AC on, and a FAN on and it drowns out the noise so I can rest.

Open Eyes

[beauflow]

((PolyKronic))

hopefully you can find something to tone down the outside-- I like Open Eyes suggestions.. I tend to have a fan on (MY S/O HAS to have a fan to sleep due to noise he hears) but I have found the fan help a lot... some times I put on classical music to help sooth if I can or ambient (that is just to sooth on hyper days for me-- which are not the fun hyper like a kid)

[Polykronic]

Thanks!!! The AC is a brilliant idea; we have a wall unit and it's really loud, so it just might work.

My dog has one of those Thunder Shirts ; I wish they made human ones!

[skeksi]

I definitely keep the tv on and the volume up on the tv. It helps me to know what time the local organized fireworks go off, so I can expect them. And I know local families will probably start at dusk and continue until about 10. Knowing that the noises are going to happen for a set period of time helps a lot.

In past years, what has really helped me is leaving the house! Last year I had dinner out with a friend, and we drove around to find a parking lot where we could see local fireworks from afar--that was great because we were far away from houses, which is where the unpredictable firework noises come from.

I'm glad I'm not alone tonight, sitting with the hypervigilance--you guys are doing it too!

[misscath007]

Yes to what everyone else has suggested. I always have a fan going in my room to drown out outside noises. I hate the noise of fireworks, people think I'm joking when I say that. I don't think it's PTSD related, I have always been terrified of loud noises since I was a kid! I will never go to a fireworks display, although I have been dragged there in the past by ignorant people who never realized how terrifying I find the noise.

Hope this year will not be too much for you.

[skeksi]

I'm still hearing them in mY neighborhood...tired but not going to sleep until I know I won't get woken, scared, by more. Hope everyone else is faring well tonight.

[toesquasher]

Yay!!! Someone just like me who hates fireworks!!!! Yay!! I thought I was the only one. Not that I'm glad for the cause of hating fireworks; I just thought I was crazy all these years. It was a family pastime to figure out how to startle me.
I'm not going to see fireworks this year but I understand about the unexpected daytime ones. I've had to deal with those myself today.
Just wanted to let you know you're not alone.
Toe