Hi jen,
Same type of issues - different setting.
With me it's restaurants. That's one of the biggest challenges at the moment. Not only do you have to wait in lines and mingle with a crowd, then you have to sit and listen to all the noise around. It used to drive me completely bonkers. What I've learned to do (lately) is to ask for a booth nearer to the back and I try to REALLY focus on the person I'm with. I actually managed to go out to eat with my daughter, and we had a nice visit. I was worn out afterward, but I just re-adjusted my schedule to be a wash day (to give myself time to relax). Using some of the tools I'm learning here has really been helpful. I'm looking forward to the day when my husband asks me out on a date again and I don't turn him down for dinner! I hate that I have so many missed opportunities because of this disorder. I guess as we gain control, we gain confidence. So it's a win-win situation.
Good luck with the cinema. Arteest
Yes I totally get the cinema thing. It can get so loud! As for the TV thing lately it has been getting better but for a while there I couldnt watch the TV. And I love TV. But as your stress levels come down it helps with the noise thing I assure you. Last night I watched two of my favourite shows on TV (which I hadnt watched in a very long time! Plus in the last few months I managed to go to the movies three times I think and it went ok. So as your anxiety is more under control it should help with this too. Hang in there!
-Diva
hi! i can really relate to the hypersensitivity to noises too! recently i've found that there are times when i've been in the university library and i feel as though i'm really freaking out because every cough and whisper feels like an attack against my physiological and psychological composure. It's a very stange and disturbing feeling- and difficult to explain to anyone else.I find watching the television or going to the cinema are hard at times too-does anyone get that?xx
I've noticed a tendency (when my anxiety is up) to be hypersensitive to rustling noises. Loud noises startle me, but the rustling - like a chip bag or opening popcorn or something like that just makes me get the heeby jeebies. My husband and I have kind of put a humorous spin on it (TRYING to deal with it) I tell him he sounds like a giant rat-man and he tells me I have super-sonic hearing. heh
I have noticed if I have soothing sounds around (I prefer to listen to smooth jazz) it can sometimes take the "edge" off my anxious mood. I carry an Ipod with me for those "just in case" times. Not to avoid situations, but to help with all the city "noise" when I'm a passenger (traffic, excessive crowd noise etc.) I keep it low enough to still hear if someone is talking to me. I also meditate and practice deep breathing to relax. Hope you find something that works for you. Good luck.
B. Hunt,
As you can see you're not alone. Use these noises as an opportunity to start practicing challenging your thoughts.
Danielle
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The PC Support Team
Well i know when i am really anxious that noises can really make me anxious and jumpy. It is like i get really hypersesitive to them. When my anxiety is lower tho it does not bother me as much. But that noise sensitivity can be a real pain in the behind! Anyway, sorry i can't give you any tricks to deal with it but i do empathise with you.
-Diva
Does loud noises at times especially in the morning seem to really bother anyone else? I mean man.....It's pretty bad sometimes. This morning at about 7:00 A.M. I was awoken to a bird outside my window. Due to lack of sleep like only 3 and a half hours worth I began to have really bad anxiety and noises really started to crawl under my skin. I only had a small fear of losing control but the fact of getting sick was the only thing that I was worried about at the moment. Since then I have taken 5mg of Buspar and I think 20mg of Phenergan to help with the sickness and to help me sleep. I'm feeling a little better and I hope that I can get back to bed soon. But this is not a first for the bothering of the noises. I have had trouble with noises for a while now. I have even got ear plugs to wear when it gets really bad in the mornings. Just wanting to know if there was anyone else having the same problem.
