Noise phobia?

[stace11]

Hello, I am new here!

I don’t know if what I’m feeling is normal and I’m just struggling to sort out what’s going on and how I’m feeling.

A little background, I have had anxiety for YEARS as well as a dose of PTSD stemming from emotional and mental abuse from years past.

I have a dog, he has severe noise phobia and anything like thunder, lightning, fireworks, weather events etc, he goes OFF. He’s causes massive damage to our house & he’s had to have major surgery once because of his panicked reaction. He’s currently on 2 types of medication to treat his anxiety’s and panics.

So here is my problem.... due to this major issue, I fear that I’m developing a noise phobia myself. I am fine in my busy work place with massive noises & I’m fine during the day. But at night time, if I hear a creek in the walls, a bang in the house, the neighbours closing a car door, even just the house making noises! I’m in a panic. It’s like my heart is pounding, I’m sick. I’m on the verge of having a panic attack! All because someone closes a door across the road?

I can’t sleep, I can’t wind down. At nights I’m soooo on edge. Any and all noises send me back to all the times I have had to work with my dog in his own panic attacks. I just don’t know what to do. At nights when I’m alone I feel like it’s completely running my life, it’s almost debilitating..... I can’t sit down and watch tv after a long day at work because I’m just listening out for any noises.

is it ridiculous to be feeling this way? Am I developing a phobia on top of my normal anxiety and depression? What can I do? This is an every night event.

[smallwolf]

Hi stace11,

Welcome to beyond blue.

Firstly, I do not think that it is ridiculous, to answer my last question. If I told you that a trigger for my anxiety was certain emails, would you think that was ridiculous? Other users have different triggers. And pets do not like loud noises etc as you mentioned in your post.

I did a google search for "noise anxiety" and it does exist and called

Phonophobia (or ligyrophobia)

so if you want to google that you might get some ideas. One way to overcome it exposure therapy.

I can see how this will be overwhelming for you to be constant look out for noises? For myself, if I am _not_ expecting some "noise" and then I hear it, I will jump and my heart starts racing. I was in a library once, minding my own business at a cubicle, and someone came up and said hello and I nearly hit the roof - because I thought the library was empty.

As for what you can do... are you getting any professional help for your anxiety and depression? If so, have you spoke with your therapist about this? If not, perhaps it is worthwhile looking into.

Perhaps you could also find a positive association for a sound. For example, car door closing means someone coming home to relax? Like all things, it might take time to work but....

Peace,

Tim

[geoff]

Hello Stace11, a warm welcome to the forums.

I think Tim has said it well, as I was stuck on replying back to you, going backwards and forwards undeciding, but my one of, my sons has a loud noise on his mobile before he answers it, and that drives me crazy, plus a loud noise while there is peace and quiet suddenly shocks me.

You try desensitisation as I did see Dr. Harry do this for dogs and gradually make them accept a low sound building up to aloud noise, it maybe slightly different but it could build up some resistance.

Geoff.

[romantic_thi3f]

Hi stace11,

I'm sorry that you're struggling with this and hopefully you've found the support and advice helpful so far!

For me personally, while I see how exposure and desensitisation can help, I think the first thing is to give yourself permission to panic and know that it's okay that you're afraid. It sounds like you've had a really rough time with your PTSD and anxiety, so it's no wonder that it's somewhat aggravated from your dog being so scared too. We naturally mirror others reactions, and it seems like your dog has demonstrated such a high fear response you've naturally got some too. Especially with the surgery; I think that would make anyone feel this way.

So, at night when you finish work, what happens? How do you cope knowing that there will probably be noises happening?

I also wanted to add that even though there is phonophobia (which Tim suggested), often in conditions like these it's reactions to noise everywhere (not just specific locations); so it would be at work too, where as I'm kind of under the impression for you it's just at home.

[stace11]

Thank you for your reply Tim. It’s really helpful to know that I’m not alone in my struggles. Of course with my anxiety, I worry that I’m overreacting or that the things that scare me are ridiculous! But in all honesty, if my dog can develop such a severe reaction to noise, then why is it ridiculous to think that I can too?

I do get help for my mental illness but it’s not as often as I probably should considering I work such long hours.

would desensitisation therapy work? It’s only at night, only when I’m at home & the noises are so minor. It’s not like loud noises for me, but trust me, if I know a storm is coming there is a massive amount of panic within me! But I’m caring for my dog during his panic attack that I don’t have a moment to care for myself too. So I think my panic bottles up and waits until I’m finally calm.

[stace11]

Thank you Geoff for your reply!

We are just about to start therapy with my dog to desensitise him to his fears & im absolutely insane with worry. But maybe being with him during his therapy I might get a dose of it myself and see if it helps me at all.

I feel horrible, I’m an animal lover & I actually considered giving my dog away for a moment just because of my own mental state. I didn’t thankfully, but at nights when I’m having these moments it still pops into my head. But I know that it would be worse off for my dog so I just can not do that. It’s not in me, I would have guilt for the rest of my life.

[stace11]

Thank you for your reply!!

You are correct. My noise issues aren’t everywhere, I can deal with the loudest bangs and thuds at work, at home during the day, down the street, etc without a hastle at all. It’s all while I’m laying in bed and there is no noise. It then that every small sound sends shockwaves through my body.

Honestly I never think about what is going to happen later when I get home. It’s not even a concern! I don’t even think about it! Right up until I lay in bed, I’m completely fine, without a worry at all, then I hear a noise. Just a small creek of the house and it’s like high alert.

[smallwolf]

Hi stace11,

I don't think it is ridiculous at all! Not sure of I said in my first post, but my triggers were (sometime still are) notification alerts and emails. Not good if you work in IT. If yours is ridiculous mine must it also. But then, why do I get these reactions.

Are you perhaps used to the noise during the day and night that when you are about the go to sleep it is unnaturally quiet? One thing that I do is put on relax melodies which plays nature sounds to me while I read. It helps to empty my mind also of whatever happened during the day. It is part of a sleep hygiene my psychiatrist put me onto.

Tim

[blondguy]

Hi Stace11

Good on you for being a part of the forum family!

Sensitivity to noise is also a sign that we are generally oversensitised.....its a common part of having anxiety in the first place. I understand you as I used to jump when a car backfired....a door slammed....even a knock at the door would make me jump....I didnt know at the time that my anxiety was spiking....oops

Can I ask if you are seeing a GP or anyone for your anxiety? Once we have have had some frequent counseling the anxiety symptoms do lessen in severity....especially where the sensitivity to noises are concerned

I am sorry that I am a latecomer on your thread Stace. SmallWolf (Tim) has provided some excellent support in his posts above

Being in dog rescue for many years...I understand that our dogs can pick up on our anxiety too

Really hope you can stick around the forums Stace!

my kind thoughts for you and your beautiful K9 🙂

Paul