Managing hyperarousal around Guy Fawkes Day (fireworks)

[bellbird]

Hi,

I'm looking for suggestions for navigating fireworks season.
I live in NZ so buying fireworks is legal, but only around/?on Guy Fawkes Day (5th of November).
I've just heard some going off, which has led to me writing this post.

Generally speaking, how do you manage unpredictable (in the sense that I realise that it's fireworks season, but I can't anticipate the exact second when one is going to go off) triggers/stressors?
More specifically, how does one navigate such a fireworks season, without driving themselves insane or skipping the country?

This time last year I remember was challenging, but as some things have happened between now and then, it already feels that this year is much more difficult.
My hyperarousal and hypervigilance are in full force and we haven't even reached Guy Fawkes yet.

 

[blackemerald1]

Hey @bellbird - I can understand this predicament.

I lived in a place where people went tropo with fire-works every year and if it was all on one day - I would have tolerated it. But no... they set them off for days before and weeks after. (to use them up) Which was illegal.

The only thing that helped me was talking to my neighbours and finding out who was going to be setting them off each year and a roughly when. That sort of kept things manageable though one set of feral neighbours went all out one year and it wasn't good. I was lucky though bc there was a lot of land between me and most of the neighbours.

Hope you go okay. I don't think there is any easy answer. :hug:

 

[bellbird]

But no... they set them off for days before and weeks after. (to use them up) Which was illegal.

It's so frustrating, right? I -think- it's illegal here too.

The only thing that helped me was talking to my neighbours and finding out who was going to be setting them off each year and a roughly when.

I was lucky though bc there was a lot of land between me and most of the neighbours.

Ah, yeah, my problem is I live smack bang in the middle of a residential area. Blocks of houses for miles.
And sound seems to travel well here; probably because the town is so flat. Every weekend they have stock car racing well over the otherside of town a few suburbs away and I can still hear them (not a stressor; just to illustrate).

Hope you go okay. I don't think there is any easy answer. :hug:

Thanks, appreciate your response :hug: