Sensitivity To Noise In Public

[lostforgottensoul]

Im in my pain Dr's waiting room and the place echos as it is and there are two talking that have the LOUDEST MOST ANNOYING VOICE. And its so very loud and im huddled in a corner chair, hugging the corner and squinting and moving my head like one does when they are about to get hit with something. And want to run out of here and REALLY want to tell them to shut up!

How does one deal with sensitivity to noise in public when its impossible to stop the noise, go to a quieter place, or escape?

 

[Silver.]

A few years back, my friend bought me a kindle to take with me on appointments. (books work too)
I cannot handle repetitive noise or actions. For example last Monday, there was a woman with her 10 (ish) year old son, inpatient, tapping his foot over and over. (and the clock, ticking endlessly)...NOPE
When I read, I can get engrossed, and that helps to block it out. I often pack my ipod too, so I can use the music to tune out the commotion going on around me.
I still have panic when someone comes in coughing, and move as far away as possible (even engrossed in a book, I must always be aware of who is around me), but those two distractions have made going to appts bearable.
*hope this gets better for you and that you find something that works* x

 

[Deleted member 24866]

ipod or earplugs

 

[Stickler]

You could invest in some cheap, bulky headphones and some soothing nature sounds on your phone?
Was thinking maybe an hour of rain?

 

[Flutterbee]

I use headphones and it helps loads.

 

[Snowflake]

Headphones and cell phone. If I can wait in the hallway or another room, I do.

 

[JEKBreatheandBelieve]

I just posted about noise sensitivity recently, so I can relate! I use my iPod when I can. I am looking into noise-muffling headphones as well. I need something to help, because I will curl up with my hands over my ears if it is too loud. I'd rather stand out wearing headphones than covering my ears and cowering

 

[lostforgottensoul]

Thank guys!

It sounds like headphones is the biggest advice. Ive not found noise canceling earbuds and earbuds is all i have room for in my purse. I could get a bigger purse but im limited to the kind i can get. Its a long story as to why, but i have to have two big pockets, one with a zipper i can lock closed onto something, and one that's accessable. I only found one brand at walmart that works and ive got the biggest one where its stuffed full. So much so that my purse rolls like a ball when i set it down lol. So no room for much else.

If anyone knows of a good brand of noise canceling earbuds, let me know. I'll google as well and search amazon, as just because ive never heard of it doesnt mean its not exisistant.

As to the current ones. I dont know. It seems hard to know ive been called. I cant get much into a book as im dyslexic and its hard to be that into the book. At my therapist's and GP, I have internet so i can be on here or be googling and researching or watching a youtube vid or something. My pain Dr has no wifi nor is there cell phone internet in there. I dont get why, its directly behind Universal. You can see Universal from the windows. Why theres no cell phone coverage on the same back street as an attraction is beyond me. If you have coverage in the park, you should have it directly behind it but nope, not even outside until you drive a few blocks.

So there, internet is out so i have to entertain myself from whats already on my phone. I tried a few hard puzzle games and they can keep my attention to not freak out just being around people but it wasnt helping with that loud eching noise. It was the echoes were almost hitting me.

It is a rather isolated incident as im normally ok there. I apparently put up a good front as i was talking to one of the girls behind the counter (they talk to me like we're friends...or at least this one does) about my recent weight gain possibly being the reason my pain has increased and the weight gain is due to seriquel xr and she asked if seriquel worked and we were talking about it and she said "you always look so happy when i see you, why do you need it? Unless you're pretending." I would say im likely "pretending not on purpose" but i didnt know i looked "happy". I thought i put out "go away, leave me alone, dont look at me" etc but apparently my front is better then i knew.

Anyway, the incident is rather isolated but i thought id ask in case it happened again. Earbuds are my best friend it seems.

 

[Silver.]

Bose ear buds are good (but so expensive!), I don't know of any cheaper brands, as I do okay with regular ear buds.
(I can keep an eye out)
at most of my doctors, I have established with them that they need to come and get me, not call out my name.
because 1. everyone screws up my name 2. I don't like hearing it
(I get the same nurse each time at 2 of my doctors, 1 doctor comes and gets me directly and the last one they do call out, but some is better than none I think). Might be something to think about asking if you would be worried you missed them calling you.
*also if my hand is having a good day, I sometimes bring my coloring with me (if you do that instead of reading?). (even though I have social anxiety, I don't much give a fuss what other patients are thinking about me)

 

[lostforgottensoul]

also if my hand is having a good day, I sometimes bring my coloring with me (if you do that instead of reading?)

Oh thats a good idea. I just bought a 3rd a THICK adult coloring and the deep color colored pencils that come with it (i didnt like the normal ones). So thats a good idea. Would have to bring a bag with me then though.

 

[BlackbirdSinging]

I don't recommend this but, sometimes I zone out and kind of stare out the window. Probably a better thing that I do is I sometimes hum very softly to myself and try to focus on only my voice. Other times I go in the bathroom just to give my senses a break. Sometimes the sounds make me angry and agitated. Sometimes it makes me anxious and I feel a little claustrophobic and like I need to leave.

It happens a lot at grocery stores with all of the sounds there. And it happens at home too when my mom's dog barks and it puts my nerves on edge and makes me very short.

It probably doesn't help my anger and frustration when at times my mom will stop me from telling the dog to be quiet. She says there are certain things she likes about the dog's barking. Like when it tries to tell her it's hungry. And in the meantime I'm just over here trying not to scratch my eyes out from the affect of it's high pitched barking.

 

[lostforgottensoul]

It probably doesn't help my anger and frustration when at times my mom will stop me from telling the dog to be quiet. She says there are certain things she likes about the dog's barking. Like when it tries to tell her it's hungry. And in the meantime I'm just over here trying not to scratch my eyes out.

My dog knows the command "quiet" and he obeys it well. What's a challenge for me, and him, is my dad & step mom currently live with me (though it sounds like that's soon changing) and their untrained chihuahua whom barks at a floating leaf, dogs, horses, and other animals that resemble them on tv, at commercials with animals in it (and he knows the tune before the animals appear) and when the chihuahua barks, my dog thinks theres something to bark at. So his training slips, especially when not re-enforced when im at work so ive trained my dog all the commands he knows about 5 times over.

My dog has a deep vicious sounding bark. When he's playing tug-o-war it sounds like he is mauling someone. So i get that. Id try to train her dog (without her knowing maybe?) to stop barking by saying "quiet" by positive re-enforcement. Say the command with a treat and when he/she is quiet give the treat and praise and if you do it each time they catch on the quiet means to stop barking means treat.

Though my parent's dog isnt trained, he listens to me because i made myself pack leader and then gave him some commands like that and now if i say "quiet" both dogs stop and my parents are looking at me like "how did you do that?" I used to train dogs though so i dont know but its the only way I could have a bit of peace without the dogs always going nuts.

I don't recommend this but, sometimes I zone out and kind of stare out the window

I do too sometimes. Get lost in my own thoughts.

In a store im more busy calculating "exit routes" which always change as i and others move around the store so my mind is very busy in a store and sometimes end up forgetting half of what i went in there for lol.