4th Of July

[Joan]

So I love the reason behind the 4th here in the US...but fireworks, firecrackers, etc bring on flashbacks. Already dreading, have looked for any local areas not having them without success...any suggestions?

 

[Anna Roberts]

You might want to try purchasing some earplugs from the drugstore. Then blast some music if you can and hopefully you'll hear some of the music and none of them fireworks. Alternatively, put on headphones and music to drown out the sounds.

 

[Joan]

can only wear one plug or earbud with music...hypervigelance means I have to hear as well...sucks

 

[Eternum]

Yikes. :hug: if you'll take them @Joan.

I don't have this issue, though if I did, I'd set up a number of things in advance:

- If I had access to a room in the center of a house, away from windows, I'd turn it into a temporary studio.
- Set up a computer, or consoles and a TV with games that require lots of attention and concentration.
- Failing that, a stack of movies or a Netflix binge.
- Make a sign that asks neighbors to "be courteous with fireworks." (Read that in an article from a combat vet with PTSD.)

 

[Friday]

- Set them off, yourself. There's a difference when you know it's going to be happening... It creates a level of control & expectation.

- Acclimate with similar sounds. Pop your own popcorn, bounce balls (carry a blue racket ball, play basketball, etc.), buy a pair of drumsticks & learn beats, practice your pool/billiards break, learn Morse Code, etc.

- Learn to distinguish sounds. At one point in my life I could tell the difference between different manufacturers of the same caliber of weapon... Under ideal conditions. Not always. But absolutely for AK v M16 v SAW v 240golf v .38 v 9mm v .40 v .45 v et cetera. The difference between those & fireworks? Pfft. Forgetaboutit! Cake. Even if a dryer lid slamming down,p could spin me up & out. LOL. But listening for the boom? Intellectualizing it changes things :D I've also gone around listening for the difference between banging screen doors, solid wooden doors, hollow wooden doors, dryers, you name it. Differentiating the sounds of different fireworks? Fun fun. Also pretty. Although I'll often do it with my eyes shut, just to test myself. Expectation is a part of this, as well.

...

Alternatively? Go camping back of beyond. Take a long train ride or airplane ride (ambient noise + being 30-40,000 feet -or hundreds of miles- away nixes the likelihood of even a shizzer of sparks much less here comes the boom! ). Sailing/Boating trip. Scuba Diving. Sound Proofed Hotel Rooms. Music Studios. Concerts/Clubbing (drowns out the noise in sensory overload). Go shooting. Medicate & sleep through.

 

[Eternum]

Wow, @FridayJones, those are all amazing suggestions. Why you got to be so awesome?

 

[StellaBlue]

I've also gone around listening for the difference between banging screen doors, solid wooden doors, hollow wooden doors, dryers, you name it.

I really like this. I have three adolescent / teenage boys - things are constantly banging - toilet seats, cupboard doors, balls bouncing - even when they're not moody or angry...and I'm constantly jumping out of my skin (I wish literally, because that would scare the beejeeses out of them :)). I think I'll give this a try.

On additional suggestion for the 4th - if you are on the border or wealthy enough to travel - it's a US holiday - go to another country! (That said, on my first trip to the UK, I was staying in London and totally freaked when the firecrackers started - turned out it was Guy Fawkes day...who knew? [obviously not me]).

 

[joeylittle]

can only wear one plug or earbud

Which challenge do you want to take on - pushing the boundary of your hyper vigilance and completely covering/blocking outside sound, OR finding a coping strategy for the loud sounds?

If you have a reasonably safe environment, where you can go sound-deprived for 5 hours, I'd think it might be worth a shot.

Just my 2 cents. Only you know what will be safe for you. But sometimes we have an opportunity to pick a challenge, and they encourage growth.

 

[StellaBlue]

But sometimes we have an opportunity to pick a challenge, and they encourage growth.

Beautiful.

 

[Mark JT]

With your hyper-vigilance, perhaps get a cple of trusted friends to sit there and then you know that you are safe. Then you can put the headphones and drown out the noise of the fireworks. Like what @FridayJones has suggested though. Facing your fears is extremely difficult to do but once you have accomplished the smallest of feats, you can build on that. Good luck with it all. Fortunately for me sounds arnt an issue, its images for me.

 

[Changing4Best]

Would being up close and seeing the fireworks help at all?

 

[Joan]

Thank you for all the suggestions. I have searched many options....I first thought I would escape to a remote place where a friend is staying, but has not worked out. I thin I am going to try to go to a movie...while that is difficult, think it is a better option than a night of FB with fireworks.