How Do You Handle Noise Sensitivity?

[Deleted member 29311]

Hi there,

I have a question about one of the symptoms and I was wondering if anyone had any tips on how to cope with it.

One of the most difficult symptoms I have to deal with is my extreme sensitivity to sudden noise, which obviously, I can't escape because I can't control people's behavior. My symptoms (especially this one) have cost me a few jobs already.

When ever someone slams a door to a house, cabinet or car, drop a purse on the floor, put their glass of water down on a counter too hard, slap a table or their own body when they express themselves with their hands, etc. (you get the idea I'm sure), it sends an ''electric'' bolt through my being, my body tenses up and I feel rage. I suddenly feel extremely threatened, become very focused on the person who did it, hypervigilent and have to stop myself from doing anything. This happens every time someone makes sudden noise, it happens automatically and I can't control the response. It generally keeps me on edge constantly and if someone persistently makes noise, after a few minutes I can lose control and ''freak out'', although 90% of time I usually walk away from the individual responsible before it gets to that point.

I'm just wondering if any of you experience this and is there anything you can do about it aside from meds?

 

[EveHarrington]

Hi-----

I was going to suggest meds but I see you aren't interested in medication. Are you adverse to taking medication?

 

[ghotiff]

Some workplaces are quieter than others. I got lucky with mine.

What helped me...
- taking breaks from people/areas
- preemptive self soothing
- headphones or earmuffs reduced the impact of the noise
- reminding myself eg "it's just John, he is always noisy, he is just as safe as before"

 

[Deleted member 29311]

Hi-----

I was going to suggest meds but I see you aren't interested in medication. Are you adver...

Hey EveHarrington, I've always been adverse to taking meds, although my life has been spiraling out of control for too long (can't hold down a job, I've almost lost all of my friends, etc.) and I realize I need help right now. I've called back the hospital I've been attending and was prescribed some meds which I'll be starting tonight or tomorrow, hopefully I can find something that helps me cope.

 

[ladee]

@CMan, I understand about not wanting to take medication. But sometimes it helps to settle us down so we can learn how to handle things better. When I am on hyper vigilant alert, my mind is not calm enough to do a meditation or other self care. When I am calmer and can learn these things, then I am more apt to practice them during stress times...
I am hoping you do ok on the meds and that they help... unfortunately we can't control our out of control brain. I am hyper sensitive to noise also, so I truly understand.. I just jump out of my skin and say curse words !! Hope you are feeling better very soon.Gentle hugs for this part of your journey. Glad you are here.

 

[Deleted member 29311]

@CMan, I understand about not wanting to take medication. But sometimes it helps to se...

Hey ladee, thank you for your kind words!

I definitely understand what you mean by meditation and self care. There's times where I feel ''paralyzed'' because of the stress and my symptoms, to the point where I neglect my living environment and everything gets messy and out of control until I start feeling "better''.

I try to make sure I consistently work out every day and perform yoga, it grounds me a lot and helps with stress and other negative emotions.

 

[ladee]

You have a great attitude toward recovery! That is very uplifting to read, and helps me too !! Carry one with the good stuff... gentle hugs if you accept.

 

[EveHarrington]

I'm glad you're willing to give medication a try. Sometimes my system gets so out of whack that medication is the only thing that can calm me down because coping skills just aren't enough. The good thing is that medication doesn't necessarily have to be a permanent thing.

 

[Chem Lady]

Hi CMan.
I have struggled with the sound sensitivity a lot since getting PTSD as well! I also do not take meds and somehow I get along.
I totally understand your description. One day I was crouching by the washing machine and the lid fell and slammed shut. It's painful in your entire body, and instantly I just wept. One day, on my walk home from work a carload of teenaged boys drove past me and when they were right beside me they honked and screamed at me out the window. I broke down right there and it took me hours to overcome. But I also struggle with everyday sounds too. Avoidance helps me build up tolerance for times where I can't control the noise. Our house is very quiet. No unnecessary noise. If my husband wants to listen to music, he uses headphones. We watch tv with closed captioning or subtitles and little or no volume, depending on how I'm feeling. If I'm going somewhere noisier, I wear ear plugs to dampen the sound. I don't care if I look like a dork. I have ear plugs in my purse, back pack, by the bed ... stashed all over. I also unabashedly turn car radios off if I'm in someone else's car or mute their tv during ads! If they don't like it, I guess we won't be friends. The quiet isn't literally hurting them, but the noise hurts me!
And, just to give you some hope: my sound sensitivity has improved over the years. It used to be much worse. Now, as long as I'm rested and not in a triggered state, I can do a lot of things I couldn't before.
I hope you can find some things that help you with this and that it improves with time.

 

[Deleted member 29311]

Hi CMan.
I have struggled with the sound sensitivity a lot since getting PTSD as well! I also do not...

Ear plugs are honestly such a blessing.. I usually wear some although for some reason beyond me, stopped using them for 2 weeks and it made a big difference. Currently using them again.

It's really good that you have a place you can go to that's quiet and somewhat peaceful, I find having a peaceful place to go to every day helps dramatically. I don't know about you, although if I don't have a peaceful quiet place to go back to at the end of the day, I find myself having a lot more of hard time coping with life.

By the way the med I'm starting is called Risperidone.

 

[The Albatross]

I played games with noises the startled or bothered me... at first with the sound muted, then on the lowest volume settings and then gradually increased the volume til it didn't bother me anymore.. as often anyways. I played Collapse. Sort of like a series of exposures.

 

[Deleted member 12723]

I live in an apartment complex that has ancient garages with very heavy wooden doors. One of my neighbors, I do not know who, continually slams the garage door down shaking my apartment. It is difficult for me to cope with that because it is always catching my off guard and I am not prepared yet for when it happens. I am sorry I do not have any tips on how to cope with this yet.