topic Noise anxiety in Anxiety

Noise anxiety

PeggySue92 — Tue, 25 Sep 2018 10:35:07 GMT

Hi all, this is my first time posting and I suffer from noise anxiety.

My noise anxiety only exists in my own home, I work in a noisy office environment and this is not a trigger at all. In the past we have had noisy neighbours, air-con units, loud music etc all causing me to think about when the noise will happen again and this causes me to worry about constantly. Even to the point of missing out on enjoying things because I need to try and control situations.

At the moment we are in our own house and the neighbours have a dog that barks ALL THE TIME. It’s sensitive to everything and anything and is causing me anxiety because we cant go out to our backyard without being aggressively barked at. The issue has been brought up with the neighbours and they are aware that the barking is disturbing me and my family but not a lot has been done.

I'm tired of worrying and thinking the worst of what ‘might’ happen.

I'd like to hear from anyone that suffers the same type of anxiety and if they have tips on how to deal with it.

Thank you.

Noise anxiety

geoff — Tue, 25 Sep 2018 20:03:57 GMT

Hello PeggySue, and a warm welcome to you.

Being annoyed by noises can sometimes be known as Misophonia, although I'm not qualified to say, but a dripping tap can affect how I feel, it annoys me while dripping in the background.

If you've spoken to your neighbours about their dog constantly barking and nothing is done, then you can go to your council and report it.

This may cause negativity and could affect on how you feel, as you have told us, but you can put some earphones on, playing music that you like, the more relaxed you are in other areas of your life, the better you will be at dealing with these triggers.

Go and do something away from where you are and try to turn the negative into a positive, something you like doing to get rid of this persisting noise.

If people around you are agitated this is only going to worsen how you feel, try and step away.

Another option is by having desensitization therapy which a psychologist can help you with or you can teach yourself.

Let us know how you get on.

Geoff.

Noise anxiety

Peppermintbach — Tue, 25 Sep 2018 20:13:24 GMT

Hi PeggySue,

I hope it’s okay if I extend a very caring welcome to you here. I feel the barking must be causing you so much distress and frustration. Noise anxiety sounds very debilitating...

Sorry, I don’t have noise anxiety personally so I have no personal experience to share. The only thing that I can think of is perhaps noise-cancelling headphones that could help block out the barking?

I’m not sure if you feel this is a helpful option or not, but perhaps it’s something you might like to consider...

I’m thinking, and only if you feel up to it, you might like to write in again to let us know how you’re holding up (since your opening post) with the barking dog and your noise anxiety. It sounds so stressful. Or you could write about how things are going generally...anything you wish to talk about, really...

Kind and warm thoughts,

Pepper

Noise anxiety

Doolhof — Tue, 25 Sep 2018 23:54:05 GMT

Hi PeggySue92,

Welcome to the community! I too have noise anxiety but have never thought to label it as that before! It makes sense now giving it a title.

My husband and I have moved house 4 times due to barking dogs driving us both nuts. We have tried talking to neighbours, offered to take bored dogs left at home all day for walks, offered to have the dogs in our yard when I am out gardening (neighbours said NO).

We moved to the country, living on 5 acres hoping that might help. The neighbours didn't have dogs when we moved here, now they do.

We have involved the council and still nothing has been done. I am afraid some people do not understand just how debilitating, distressing and upsetting a barking dog can be on a person with mental health issues.

The garden used to be my safe place, my spot of tranquillity, where I could relax and unwind. Not any more.

I have tried all kinds of devices, radios, booming stereos, ear plugs, head phones, psychology, tried to tell myself it is just a dog barking, all with limited success. Especially so on days when my depression is prominent and all I need and want is some peace and quiet to calm my mind.

I'm not of much help sorry! Just thinking about barking dogs makes me depressed and angry! Ha. Ha.

Cheers from Dools

Noise anxiety

Leilems — Sun, 23 Jun 2019 00:26:45 GMT

Hi PeggySue,

This is my first time posting as well. I’ve been doing some online research about noise anxiety, as mine seems to be worsening, and I stumbled across your post. I feel some comfort in knowing I’m not alone in this experience, so thank you for sharing.

For the most part, like you, my noise anxiety mainly occurs at home, with neighbours’ dogs barking, but can also occur in shopping centres, if kids are squealing indoors, and at work when multiple colleagues try to talk over the top of each other. It’s awkward at home because I love fresh air and having the windows open, but with the dogs barking I feel like I have to lock myself in a prison. I have tried talking to my neighbours, but as soon as you even mention their dog, no matter how polite you’re being, they get angry and defensive. I’ve read that particular noises can be extra anxiety inducing if you’ve had a bad experience with them before (like you’re already on your guard), which is certainly the case with me and yappy dogs. I had many sleepless nights in a former house because of a dog.

Like some others, I have noise cancelling headphones. They can be really good but don’t work in all situations. I’ve also read that plugging up your ears more often can make you even more sensitive. From what I’ve seem there’s sound desensitisation therapy available too, but haven’t tried it (am wondering if I can find out more about this and take a dyi approach). If the barking, or other noise, gets really bad I jump in the car and get away somewhere quiet (if I can). I find walking really helpful, more so than meditation - although I’ve heard some find meditation quite useful.

I do wonder if there’s some hereditary element, as my mum was very sensitive to noise and had anxiety more generally, but I haven’t looked into that yet. Like mum, I also have more general anxiety, especially social anxiety and anxiety related to being in crowds. I’ve never taken medication for this, although have considered looking into it several times. I don’t know if typical anxiety meds also help reduce noise anxiety, but this is something I may look into.

I wish I could be more helpful. I do hope you find some strategies and tools that work for you.

best wishes, leilems

Noise anxiety

Steve_W — Mon, 24 Jun 2019 01:34:06 GMT

That sucks it's something at home as that's where you should be able to feel relaxed decompress and unwind. I've lived with loud neighbours and honestly the answer I'd recommend is noise cancelling headphones. Bose Quiet Comfort II's are amaIng for this.

If it's not in your control then blanking it out with something else isnt a perfect solution but it really helps if something distracts you to the point of feeling on edge against your will.

Noise anxiety

Steve_W — Mon, 24 Jun 2019 01:38:29 GMT

Hi PeggySue92,

That sucks that it's happening at home, that's where you should be able to unwind decompress and relax. I've had noise disturbances from neighbours before, and honestly when it's outside your control I've found a solution in noise cancelling headphones.

Sure it's not a perfect solution but if the trigger is unrelenting and causing you problems then a straight down the middle proactive blocking of something with sound to drown it out can work wonders over time. Bose Quiet Comfort II's are amazing for this! Maybe give them a go?

Noise anxiety

Geoff55 — Sat, 17 Aug 2019 06:22:26 GMT

Hi all i suffer from noise anxiety quite severly i think i did not know that such a thing really existed untill just recently.I have dealt with it most of my life i am now 55 ,noises that effect me are from people eating loudly, snoring,sub woofer bass scraping noises ect, they make me feel anxious irrate and somtimes ill to the stomach.

I somes feel that my anxiety getting worse as i grow older,my only fixes for this are trying to get out of the enviroment,although somtimes this is not possible,or playing music through head phones some times not always possible.Somtimes trying to explain this to people is met with a reaction like ~ your just strange or wierd get over it ~

i know my post was not much help but in a way it helped me and i wish everyone with this thing all the best

Noise anxiety

Geoff55 — Sat, 17 Aug 2019 08:16:25 GMT

Sorry to add to my own post but thought i just say this, it is sad to know that others are affected by this and comming to realising that it is not only me.But discovering this post has helped

Noise anxiety

Elli J — Thu, 05 Sep 2019 11:36:08 GMT

Hi Geoff55 and others

I can definitely related to this and its called Misophonia.

My issue developed when I was pregnant and hated loud noises because of it. It didn't help that our neighbors decided to build an "entertainment area" right next to my bedroom and newborns later.

I even felt bad to complain because I believed that they should be able to enjoy their house. But after 2 years of suffering, people thinking I was a crazy new mum and countless weekends of planning an escape to someone else house. I was in fight or flight mode constant.

I was diagnosed with depression and probably postnatal undiagnosed toooo.

In the end we moved and it caused trauma to me, my relationship and resentment all round.

Problem with moving is Misophonia moves with you. The lack of control, anger, frustration and having to confront people who are inconsiderate sucks.

Im currently trying to find help by Hypnosis and reluctantly medication.

To everyone who suffers, I believe you and get it.

Irony is I work in a Kindy. But I expect noise and can adpat to the loudness. Always the way.

Noise anxiety

cake my day — Sun, 29 Sep 2019 06:23:10 GMT

Hi Elli J's

im glad i found these post because it made me feel like i wasn't the only one who suffers and that am not alone. I ahve neighbours who are just inconsiderate when it comes to the amount the noise they make. eg imagine your just relaxing in you room and you hear constant banging which comes from a ball hitting against a metal shed. yep thats what i go through and to be honest it is exhausting. I feel like a prisoner in my own home from the constant noise.

But the root of it all comes from the noisy party people who lived next to my family decided to have and it went on for hours! even days! although that ordeal is over i still feel the effects todays of what happened.

I feel the same way but noise cancelling headphone seem a bit much to be honest because there are people who just cannot afford it. I think by the end of the day it's all about the considerate nature of those who share the same space as you.

people just need to be considerate but you can't always get lucky with people who live next you. But i'm glad i came across these posts in a sense its comforting to know i'm not imagining things and going crazy from it!

Noise anxiety

Philomena — Mon, 07 Oct 2019 21:34:38 GMT

Hi Peggysue92

Put on your headphones and listen to some music so you don’t hear the noise. Or maybe go out for a walk enjoy nature.

It does get a lot troublesome with noise around you and when others do not understand. There are some situations in life that cannot be changed and you need to accept it maybe . This may be the first step to overcoming your anxiety acceptance of the situation .

Try to get involved in some activity that you like so that you are occupied with it and you don’t pay attention to the noise.

When things can’t be changed you have to work out something to be occupied with that could help you overcome your anxiety.

Noise anxiety

CourtneyJ — Wed, 23 Oct 2019 05:55:10 GMT

I relate so much to this.

There's certain sounds that take me from perfectly calm to aggravated in just a few secs. My whole body tenses and I get so angry it's like I'm going to explode and lash out physically. It's worse in confined spaces (like the bus) where it's amplified to the extreme. Repetitive things like sniffing, coughing, chewing or music with a deep bass line.

And then when the sound passes it's very hard to calm back down (mostly because I'm waiting for the annoying sound to start again).

For me distraction is the key. Stick in the headphones and listen to something else

Good luck!

Noise anxiety

Pip20 — Fri, 10 Jul 2020 04:29:04 GMT

I can relate to all of the comments.

I had is so bad I convinced my hubby to move to 6 acres in the bush, in hope to help me. This bought about a whole new level.

In general things were quieter, but now everything seems even louder and it's endless, now there are constant chainsaws, motorbikes, wood chopping, a lot of fire crackers, ride on mowers, whipper snippers that last for 6 hours straight, it's endless.

People think they have 5 acres and can just do anything, one neighbour is constantly riding their motorbikes around and around the 5 acres.

I have had to resort to noise cancelling headphone in the bush.

At least when I was in the city, I had the convenience of the city even though it was constantly noisy, and now I still have constant noise and no convenience. 2 hours drive to nearest doctors etc.

I feel so overwhelmed some days, I cry for hours, I feel I have made the worst decision ever. I uprooted our lives to try and help me, and now we can't afford to move back.

The chainsaws start at 7am in the morning and things don't stop until it's dark (I am grateful for winter as it gets dark quicker) I feel like I am always on edge, and the slightest noise tips me over, I instantly get very anxious and stressed as soon as it starts.

This morning it started at 6.30am, the neighbour has trucks and excavators on the block, I am totally overwhelmed.

Noise anxiety

Joshua76 — Tue, 28 Jul 2020 04:34:33 GMT

Hi PeggySue

Thank you for sharing your experience. I suffer from the same anxiety you describe, and it is very hard to manage. Reading the experience of you and others, on this discussion forum, has at least made me realise that I am not alone. What I have found helpful is to try and take some control; complaining to the Strata Committee and Building Manager, for example, and ensuring some action is taken. I had previously avoided noise cancelling headphones because I thought it was a sign of failure, but the reality is they work, and while it may not be fair to have to do this, it provides some control over the situation, and some peace and quiet.

Noise anxiety

JanHalen28 — Thu, 27 Aug 2020 00:41:24 GMT

Hi everyone. I've just joined, looking for an answer to my noise trigger which is loud music. It's a glorious sunny day outside but these are the days that put me on edge because my neighbors come out and crank up their stereos. Before 8am this morning I was asking one of them to turn down the music he had blaring from his car in the carport. No sooner had that stopped music starts thumping away on from the shed on the opposite side! I know the music can't hurt me but when it starts I get a physical reaction like a fight response (shaking, upset stomach). If my trigger is so specific could desensitizing therapy treat it? I work in a factory and can cope with some noise and I don't even get bothered if the neighbors have the occasional party...maybe my beef is the reason for the noise?

Noise anxiety

Pip20 — Mon, 31 Aug 2020 06:30:50 GMT

Hi JanHalen28,

I think you hit the nail on the head with you comment "maybe my beef is the reason for the noise?"

That was my thinking for ages, WHY, why do these people do this etc and another big thing was I would get frustrated and a little mad at myself for reacting to these noises, I felt silly for reacting so badly to specific noise that never seemed to bother my husband or anyone else, which caused me more anxiety.

Last week my clinical physiologist said to me, to be kind to myself during these times, accept that it upsets me and that it's OK, to stop being mad at myself for reacting as I have it really bad and I psychically react to it (heart beats faster, upset stomach, headaches etc)

I really thought I was alone in all of this until I saw this original post, but noise cancelling headphones are rally my savour.

Noise anxiety

Uphillbattler — Mon, 31 Aug 2020 12:56:35 GMT

Sorry Pip20 - the "quiet country life" is a myth. It's only as quiet as your worst neighbor. We are on 17 acres but there are still motorbikes and shooting. I can't believe how inconsiderate people are to their neighbors - and yes I suffer from noise anxiety. I think I get worst as I get older and it becomes more debilitating. I will try noise cancelling headphones but you still know the noise is there. Hell is other people I'm afraid.

Noise anxiety

Pip20 — Mon, 31 Aug 2020 23:17:59 GMT

I'm with you on that Uphillbattler,

I really thought moving to the country for a quieter life would help, but you are so spot on. The gunshots shock the crap out of me.

I feel so bad some days for uprooting my husband and my life in the city. I grew up in the country and loved every bit of it, but I must have been in my younger life "Bubble"

Noise anxiety

Guest_245 — Mon, 14 Sep 2020 05:38:17 GMT

Hello, this post hit a nail on the head for me because I feel I get a bit like this. For me, I tend to get irritated when someone is chewing an apple or really smacking their lips. I have heard there is word called " misophonia" which means hatred of sound