too overwhelmed

[Amanda2000]

Covid has taken away my personal space. I'm becoming more and more anxious & depressed.

Home - I'm overwhelmed by my family being at home 24/7. I get very nervous when I hear their footsteps. Urge to run and hide. They're always in my way when it comes to shared-areas like the kitchen and bathroom. I try to avoid them and I don't talk much to them. No privacy to cry.

Work - I work part-time but people seem to have forgotten now that everyone is used to working-from-home. I jump every time my phone rings. I feel "guilty" that I have missed their calls on my non-work days and imagine they're thinking the worst of me. I know it's self-inflicted "fake" guilt but I can't fight off this horrible feeling.

I just want to be left alone. I want to feel some peace and quiet again - both physically and mentally.

[Guest9337]

Hi Amanda2000. Apparently ceiling's are a good place for sound dampening materials when walls and/or floors can't be addressed.

Heaps and heaps of sound noise reflects of ceilings, walls, tiles, any surface at all. So we aim to put sound dampening materials anywhere at all - and the ceiling is an awesome place because it's out of the way. Can even look good too. Primacoustic London 10 kit is what I bought which has done well for our space.

lol, I totally "hear" you about being startled when someone sneaks up whilst I/you are earplugged. Yep. Tonight I had my hoody on and was chatting to wife but hadn't even noticed she'd left the kitchen until I turned around and was startled by the absence of her! Hows' that for sensitive, lol. Startled by someone not being there. gotta laugh at myself.

Good luck with it all, I'm listening to any/all feedback you put up. love dng.

[Amanda2000]

Hi dng, thank you so much for your time and your ideas.

I've come to realise the noise is only a small part of a bigger problem. I seem to be suffering from social anxiety within my own home! If it was machine-noise, it doesn't bother me as much. But the noise generated by people inside my house is like a pre-emptive warning that other people are present. I need a break from people!

I experience social anxiety in a public setting too. I try very hard to hide it. Working-from-home and not having to see people doesn't help that much. If I know I need to speak at an online group-meeting, my hand trembles as I press unmute before speaking. I cannot stop it!

[Guest9337]

You are welcome Amanda2000. People are often quite noisy, easily reaching noise levels of 80 db and/or higher with vocalisations.

I am often startled just by my wife's loud talking.