[Amy22]

Hi, i am 15 years old and I am still scared of loud noises like thundering, fireworks n stuff. This is seriously so embarrassing. I even secretly burst into tears because of continuous loud noise. My parents think a psychotherapy is just a wastage of money. Can I get any ideas about self-help or something. Please help!
PS It isn't that i have not tried to convince myself that noise can do me no harm

Hi Amy...

I don't have a lot of experiance with this phobia... I have others... but I hear exposure therapy (being slowly exposed to the noise over time) helps.... Personally there are some people who are just sensitive to loud noises... (its not like they are afraid but that it really bothers (hurts) them)...

I have 2 boys who at stages growing up would complain about things being too loud... I would let them wear eye plugs to block some of the noise and to soften it... that helped my boys be able to go to movies and concerts, fireworks, etc.

[CantExplain]

Fear of loud noises is very common and completely natural. Things that make a loud noise are often genuinely dangerous.

[adel34]

Hi Amy,
I'm very afraid of loud noises too, like fire alarms and stuff. If you feel you need therapy to help you I think you should do it. It's not your parents that have the phobia! If they have insurance then the co-pay shouldn't be that much.

[Silent_Tears_17]

Im 17 and in high school I wore some of my Dads neon ear plugs to the prom. I have to block my ears before I flush a toilet, and when I work the fire works at the beach I have to wear both the neon ear plugs and a set of "police level gun shooting ear muff things" over them.
Ive never even brought it up in ounsling since I have some other bigger problems... its embarassing but try to do what you need to. If you need ear plugs... use them. If ur embarassed buy the clear ones that are for swimmers. You could also see if your school offers free couseling options.. or talk to a school nurse
Hope this helps.

[Luce]

Have you ever heard of Dabrowski's overexcitabilities or sensory integration issues? Many, many people are extremely sensitive to loud noises, and it is not always a psychological 'disorder', but can be a neurological sensitivity. In other words, it can just be the way a person is 'wired'. I am sensitive to noise, and seek to escape it as soon as I can. There's nothing wrong with that, it's just that my neurons don't cope well with noise.

[Willowleaf]

My son was the same and we worked hard together at gentle exposure to get him used to them. He will never like them, but can now live with them without feeling its a major problem. Do you have someone that can help you? I don't think it is necessarily a psychological problem although a therapist maybe able to help. Other people may also be able to help you if that avenue is not possible. And earplugs are fab. I often have to wear them due to sensory overload and its not a problem.

[retro_chic]

I have this problem too. Fortunately as I have got older I have more or less grown out of it. I still don't like loud sudden noises but I am not afraid of them. As others have mentioned, exposure is probably the best way to treat this. It wont feel pleasant but that's the point. The longer you sit with those feelings the easier it will become to realise that they will pass.

I recommend these earplugs if you want something a little nicer than the foam ones. I have an ex who was a drummer and swore by them. I wore them to concerts too and they were comfortable to me and helped alot...I get "overstimulated" (ie, want to run and hide) easily by prolonged loud noise.

Etymotic Research, Inc. - ETY-Plugs ER20 High Fidelity Earplugs

Hugs to you.

These are very early fears along with the fear of falling. Talk about them with T and eventually your fears will be contained.

[Raging Quiet]

Hi Amy, welcome to PC.

I can totally relate to your post, although I hate loud noises that aren't in my control. Like CantExplain states, I think we all have a flight or fight reaction to danger - and loud noises hardly come with any warning.

Can you remember when this fear started? I really recommend speaking to a counsellor to see if you can work out coping methods and perhaps do some work into why you feel loud noises affect you in such a way.

Take care x