Sound

[WildMermaid]

Are there certain sounds that make you feel like you might crawl out of your skin? For me it is any rhythmical bass pumping through the walls as it sounds like an out of control terrified heartbeat. If it keeps up much longer I may have to go find the neighbor that is doing it. Maddening. Does this happen to you? If so what sounds trigger it?

 

[desiderata310]

Car doors, big trucks with 'flow master', unidentified bumps/knocks/doors slamming..
Essentially, anything I can't automatically identify OR anything SUDDEN I am not expecting: my cat jumping off the bed upstairs (he's a big fat cat, he is quite the presence), the sound of people fighting... not all raised voices.
Sound in public places that are so loud that they mask everything else. This one is hard. I listen to music to drown out everything so I sometimes put myself at a disadvantage NOT being able to hear but it's a measured risk. Put me in a public setting with loud music that I can't control and I feel very overwhelmed but also very vulnerable: I can't HEAR someone coming up behind me and I didn't put myself in that position(even with headphones in I can hear my environment, it just takes the edge off)

you get the picture...

 

[Beachlife09]

Good idea for a thread! It most certainly happens to me. Hmmm... i'd have to say the sound of glass breaking, silverware clinking (really any metallic sounds), buzzing, and most of all beeping (especially rapid)... i have a love/hate relationship with my microwave now because of it. :O_o:

 

[Nam]

Electrical humming/zapping sounds. Any child in physical pain, especially if they are trying very hard to toughen up. Any kind of yelp. It could be a dog, another animal, or human. Warm air blowing by my ear. Lastly, anything that is sudden and loud: gun, toaster, explosives. (I have a new toaster that is so nice. It lets me know when it's done (beeps. sorry @Beachlife09 ), then it raises slowly. OMG how I hated my last toaster.

Even though these are stressful to experience, there are so many sounds that soothe me. Rain, ocean, water...even in a pool. A child sleeping (yes, there is a sound...lol) And of course, classical music, especially piano and cello. I just have to make the sounds that soothe me louder in my head to cancel out the nasty noises.

 

[WildMermaid]

@desiderata310 oh yes I understand the cat one! We have a huge kitty name Louie and he's like his own personal earthquake when he jumps from the kitty tree in the living room, scares the crap out of me! Oh my goodness @Beachlife09 yes buzzing and the beeping of a microwave! *nods same* Also, high tinny on the edge of hearing sounds and murmuring from a low TV will nearly make me crawl out of my skin. >.<

Do you think this sensitivity is common with those us with PTSD? Nobody had mentioned it so I have to ask.

 

[WildMermaid]

@Nam (nice to see you *waves*) same electrical sounds anything suffering at all. It is really nice that you added the soothing sounds as well. :) water is the sound that comforts me too streams, rivers, ocean, fountains, sometimes rain

 

[Beachlife09]

Do you think this sensitivity is common with those us with PTSD?

Most definitely. Sounds are listed as a basic trigger for PTSD sufferers.

 

[jaccat]

I've been struggling with the sound of a door creaking in my neighbour's house that I can hear every time I go into my bathroom, and sometimes from in my kitchen too. If it's his bathroom door there's something seriously wrong with him! Every time I hear it I want to jump up and scream Haven't you heard of WD40?

I've also been struggling with the sound of my fan assisted oven lately, to the point where I switch the power off while the oven is still hot so I don't have to hear it. It's never bothered me before. I don't know why it does now.

Any sudden loud noise late at night is likely to majorly startle me, whether it be a car backfiring outside, my cat knocking something over, or the house creaking, which it does every night.:meh:

 

[WildMermaid]

Yes yes yes @jaccat! Creaking doors alone cane send me into dissociative territory. My bedside lamp has an unexplained buzz and I can't have it on for more than a minute as the sound sets my teeth on edge. My poor husband and kids don't understand the sound thing, so i often just have to leave the room when it is too much. lol.

 

[Wen]

Sounds are a huge trigger for me! Because of multiple MVA's the sound of a car crash (metal on metal) can cause me to scream, jump, cry...etc. Even other metal vehicles like trains and planes can do it to me if the sound is similar. Once an unexpected car crash in a movie caused me to scream and jerk my head to the side so bad that my neck was sore for days. Loud unexpected noises, especially popping balloons has always scared me, but crashing cars takes the cake. Guess I wont be watching the new Fast and Furious movie - ever! :nailbiting:

Also my own Therapist changed offices because a neighbor therapist who worked with kids, would get so loud. I don't know what was going on, but I would hear yelling thru the walls and it would start to throw me into anxiety/panic mode. My therapist felt bad and had me sit far from the wall and try to calm me down, but changing offices really did the trick:tup:

 

[PlainJane]

Lots of the above bother me. I often go into public with my sunglasses and earplugs or headphones too.

Electronic sounds are big.

I think the most disturbing sound, that sends me over, is footsteps. In a quite setting and footsteps begin, gives me goosebumps thinking about it.

 

[WildMermaid]

@Jane1991 footsteps. :( yes. this. I can ever hear them over the squeak of my wheelchair (also maddening) as I used to be a silent walking type, even in heels lol.