Hey there. So i just came from my college 3-D sculpture course, in which lots of heavy machinery and blades are in use. For some reason, as soon as the heavy machinery and saws came on i started to feel this overwhelming sense of panic, doom, and became extremely hyper-vigilant. Do any other members have the same reaction to high-pitch, loud, screeching noises? i feel very disappointed with myself for leaving despite class not being over, and ashamed that i didn't just have the balls to tough it out. My teacher was also rather displeased, and made me feel like i was just overreacting. i don't know. i guess i'm just inferior to my classmates. Sorry for rambling.
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Do Loud Noises Incite Panic?
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You aren't inferior. Some people just can't handle a lot of environmental stimulation. I'm not sure if it's due to my PTSD since I know I've never handled loud noises well, but I think it kicks my startle response into gear. For me it's not just highpitched noises: I also can't due soundpressure since I'm really easily overstimulated. As a composer/musician this was really impacting my life and my work and I stumbled on a solution that works for me at least.
Several companies make musician grade earplugs. They're custom fit and the filters can be changed out to make reductions of different decibel levels. You can also get fairly cheap universal fit ones in one reduction to try them out. The custom ones are a tad pricey- around $200 depending on where you get them, but since they are made to fit your ears perfectly you can easily talk in them without distortion and they're almost impossible to see.
Not sure if you were looking for solutions or just support, but it's seriously worth some research. My life completely changed once I got mine and got used to using them. I never went to movies or loud places and as soon as I had a tool to help me my social life improved a lot. Now if I don't go out to meet with friends it's at least more as a conscious decision and not because I'm worried I won't be able to handle the noise. I also feel like it provides just enough of a barrier between me and the outside world to help ground me when I'm anxious anyway. After all our hearing is one of the hardest senses for us to block out through mental effort.
In a shop sort of setting most instructors would probably be okay with heavy duty hearing protection too. It really doesn't take a lot decibel wise to risk hearing damage, and any teacher who won't take that concern seriously is just unsafe. Particularly for college students who need to be really protecting their hearing for later in life. Might be worth an ask if you don't find it's effecting you in other areas of your life. But no, you definitely aren't crazy or inferior or anything else. It took me a really long time to be okay with the fact that I just have a different capacity for audio input than a lot of people. And I'm sure I upset a lot of people having to leave social situations or (worse for me) concerts. But that's okay- I was taking care of me the best way I knew how and they don't get to judge what's an overreaction and what isn't. It was real for me in those situations that I had to leave for my own well-being. You just have to honor you and all your little quirks.
:hug:s if you'll have them.
Several companies make musician grade earplugs. They're custom fit and the filters can be changed out to make reductions of different decibel levels. You can also get fairly cheap universal fit ones in one reduction to try them out. The custom ones are a tad pricey- around $200 depending on where you get them, but since they are made to fit your ears perfectly you can easily talk in them without distortion and they're almost impossible to see.
Not sure if you were looking for solutions or just support, but it's seriously worth some research. My life completely changed once I got mine and got used to using them. I never went to movies or loud places and as soon as I had a tool to help me my social life improved a lot. Now if I don't go out to meet with friends it's at least more as a conscious decision and not because I'm worried I won't be able to handle the noise. I also feel like it provides just enough of a barrier between me and the outside world to help ground me when I'm anxious anyway. After all our hearing is one of the hardest senses for us to block out through mental effort.
In a shop sort of setting most instructors would probably be okay with heavy duty hearing protection too. It really doesn't take a lot decibel wise to risk hearing damage, and any teacher who won't take that concern seriously is just unsafe. Particularly for college students who need to be really protecting their hearing for later in life. Might be worth an ask if you don't find it's effecting you in other areas of your life. But no, you definitely aren't crazy or inferior or anything else. It took me a really long time to be okay with the fact that I just have a different capacity for audio input than a lot of people. And I'm sure I upset a lot of people having to leave social situations or (worse for me) concerts. But that's okay- I was taking care of me the best way I knew how and they don't get to judge what's an overreaction and what isn't. It was real for me in those situations that I had to leave for my own well-being. You just have to honor you and all your little quirks.
:hug:s if you'll have them.
- Post starter
- #3
Thanks for the advice, i'm going to look into the ear phones. The over stimulation makes sense, i've been really easy to startle even when it's fairly quiet. It's kind of strange how certain noises really get to me and others don't. For example, i keep my music on really loud because, it helps keep me from thinking too much, and distracts me from nasty thoughts. On the other hand, noises like construction, machinery, groups of people talking, crashing noises, screaming, etc really freak me out.
D
Deleted member 1860
Yes, it is common.
franciemarnie
Diamond Member
Balls have nothing to do with it. Your survival brain works automatically. If it senses a threat, and loud noises are often interpreted as threat, it will work to protect you and get you the hell out with stress hormones, etc.
When I used to walk home from work through the busy Chicago streets, I would remove my hearing aids and boy did that make all the difference. It was like muffled snow sounds then. I was still alert visually, but wasn't set off into fight or flight.
When I used to walk home from work through the busy Chicago streets, I would remove my hearing aids and boy did that make all the difference. It was like muffled snow sounds then. I was still alert visually, but wasn't set off into fight or flight.
Seasounds
Diamond Member
Yep, I agree, with all of the above.
I get annoyed with the inconvenience with being so sensitive, yet sound sensitivies come with the brain's hyper-alert system, just trying to protect us.
I get annoyed with the inconvenience with being so sensitive, yet sound sensitivies come with the brain's hyper-alert system, just trying to protect us.
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Friday
Sponsor
I sometimes love loud noise.
Other times it makes me see red.
It's not that sometimes I'm ballsy, and sometimes I'm not. Although it is that sometimes I'm edgy, and sometimes I'm not.
http://www.guitarcenter.com/Vic-Fir...1@ADL4GC-adType^PLA-device^t-adid^44639487282
These are my hands down favorite ear plugs. Designed for drummers, you can still hear everything perfectly / no muffle / still have conversations... But they eliminate the cracks and the bangs of upper register and the booms of the low. It's like turning the volume down on the world. $20
Other times it makes me see red.
It's not that sometimes I'm ballsy, and sometimes I'm not. Although it is that sometimes I'm edgy, and sometimes I'm not.
http://www.guitarcenter.com/Vic-Fir...1@ADL4GC-adType^PLA-device^t-adid^44639487282
These are my hands down favorite ear plugs. Designed for drummers, you can still hear everything perfectly / no muffle / still have conversations... But they eliminate the cracks and the bangs of upper register and the booms of the low. It's like turning the volume down on the world. $20
I suffer from noise sensitivity usually, hyper sensitivity at times. At my worst I can't even eat potato chips because the noise is totally overwhelming. A train or car with the super loud base boomin going by and I'm paralyzed until it passes, in danger of collapsing. A loud bang or pop and I panic until either a few seconds have passed or I identify the source. I'm ready to kill until I identify the source, or a few seconds have passed and I can figure out I'm not in immediate danger.
My problems are a combination of the obvious - PTSD, and not so obvious - fibromyalgia. Both can cause noise sensitivity. Together and both acting up... I'm totally screwed. I can't stand any noise. I used to work around military jet aircraft (right next to them even at full throttle) and heavy industrial machines.
My problems are a combination of the obvious - PTSD, and not so obvious - fibromyalgia. Both can cause noise sensitivity. Together and both acting up... I'm totally screwed. I can't stand any noise. I used to work around military jet aircraft (right next to them even at full throttle) and heavy industrial machines.
midnightblue56
New Here
For me, yes. I jump all the time. I have finally managed to learn how to contain my scream/squeak that originally accompanied the jump.
desiderata310
VIP Member
YUP YUP YUP!! Right here! Had all sorts of problems with noise in therapy and other places too. Over stimulation is a bitch.
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