What is Noise Anxiety?

Why is a mechanical and/or wild human sourced noise cynically narrated as something normal There is absolutely nothing normal with the recent chaotic wild narratives visited upon victims.

You can add me to the list of noise anxiety sufferers. I think all humans have noise anxiety to a degree. That's why most of us can't stand the sound of nails on a chalk board or gum snapping or a jack hammer. Some of us though, have a more severe sensitivity and normal, every day noises we should be able to block out, we aren't able to because they are intensified. I also think that most of the time, the offending noise is on purpose (such as when living in an apartment with other people). Other times, it's just oblivious, rude people who don't think before they act. Like, gee, if I wear these high heels on my hardwood floor, is it going to disturb my neighbor downstairs? If I play my music really loud, is it going to bother my neighbors? Some feel it's their right because it's their home and they pay rent. Therefore, they can do whatever they want and if you don't like it, move.

My sensitivity started when I moved to my first apartment. I lived on the second floor (no one above me). They elderly man downstairs used to play his 60's music all day, even when he wasn't home. It wasn't so much the loudness, but he cranked up the bass. It used to vibrate through my couch when I'd lie down and try to watch TV. It was always there in the background, that low thumping. I asked him nicely if he could turn it down and he ignored me. Spoke to the landlord a few times and the answer I got was, "you have to give him something" or "that's apartment life". I hate when they say that. I want to ask, "do you consider it apartment life if I were to play drums at 2:00 am or turn my car alarm on over and over at 2:00 am? I mean, since you're saying that living in apartment means putting up with loud noise from neighbors, then I have a right to be one of those noisy neighbors."

I tried everything to deal with that jerk. I even got my old stereo from the 1980's with the big wooden speakers and flipped them over so they were on the floor and blasted the bass but it was if he didn't hear it or care. He'd also hammer and do projects during the day and evening that drove me nuts. After seven years of his crap, I moved. Now I'm in the heart of downtown in a city and though there is a lot of street noise (motorcycles, car stereos, sirens), and though it bothers me, it's the noise inside the house that bothers me the most. Once again, noisy neighbor upstairs. This time, a single female. She always chooses to move furniture around when I'm in bed or walk around with heavy shoes and when she takes the shoes off, drops them on the floor so it sounds like a bowling ball. The house was built in 1850 so it has thin walls and you can hear all conversations.

Now the owner of the unit downstairs turned it into an Airbnb. So I have different people here every week and it's driving me nuts. Their conversations are loud enough to be obnoxious but I can't hear every single word. They also clomp around on the hardwood floors, bang the doors each time they come and go, and sit out back in the summer talking loudly. I get so enraged, I could kill them. The girl upstairs brought her nephew to live with her last summer and he ended up staying for a whole year. He, being a single twenty-four year old man, had many girlfriends and of course, he was in the room over mine. So I had to listen to them having sex almost every night.

I asked her in person several times, in a nice way, if she could tell him I hear him, even sent her a text one morning at 3 am because they had woke me up and kept me up, and all they did was laugh and mock me (because I could hear them clearly talking in their living room).

Now, one might ask, what about the noise you make? Do you think you don't affect anyone? No. I don't. I always think, if I move this chair across the floor, is it going to bother someone? So I lift the chair and put it down. I walk around my house in slippers, socks or flip flops; never shoes (partly because I don't want to scratch the floor). I keep my TV on low, even though I have a sound bar. I never play my stereo because I feel if I do, they will put theirs on louder to retaliate. So I sit here planning how to get back at them and it causes so much stress.

Then there are the jerks that park in the hotel parking lot out front and slam their car doors. Why in God's name do you have to open all four or five doors on your vehicle and then slam each one of them? Why do you have to stand around your car talking at 12:00 am when there is a home right there with people that probably are trying to sleep? Rudeness. Inconsideration. It's all about me. That's why.

People are just jerks in general who care only about themselves and not about how their actions may effect others. And then you get if you don't like it, move. Really? Where? To another apartment with more jerks? And spend another $6,000 for that pleasure (first, last and security). Buy a house? Sure, that would be great if I had the money. I'd go deep in the woods somewhere with no neighbors if I could, but that's not realistic for me unfortunately. So I sit here thinking of ways to deal with it, sort of like if you can't beat em, join em. I'm seriously thinking of buying a set of drums because at least that would release some of the anger I feel toward these idiots.

I love you guys. I'm not insane! Now if only we could convince our local governments that people throwing auditory trash through our windows is just as bad them throwing literal trash through our windows.

For me, noise anxiety is only triggered by what I deem to be inconsiderate sounds - neighbors slamming cupboard doors shut every 5 minutes, surround sound systems hooked up to party walls, bass from car stereos parked in the street, the sound of movies/games/music played on public transport without headphones. These are all unnecessary noises inflicted on everyone in the vicinity by a person who believes they can do whatever they like.

General city life noises don't bother me at all. Building works, alarms going off, traffic - I notice it, think about it for a second and then can completely ignore it.

I'm not to sure if i have this. I might because like one time I forgot the password to the house alarm so it went off and I freaked out -- literally, I was to the point of tears. My heart pumped really fast and I was shaking. The only thing that made it better was looking at funny cute cats. I'm 12 so is this normal?

One of the triggers I seem to have is when there is a sudden break in music or distortion in audio. I get annoyed when people channel surf when I'm driving. I wish I knew the root cause of this. I know that I was an introvert in my past, but was encouraged to become an extrovert by friends. I at times enjoy being with people and when I'm having heavy stress and anxiety, being with friends often helps me through this however, I feel like I'm isolated more at these times.

My partner has Misophonia, and after reading the comments on here, it makes me wonder. Why does everyone on here who has the issue, blame everyone else for their irrational way of dealing with sound (something that can't hurt you).

@Post 301, whose boss clears her throat: It may be annoying, but maybe she has a medical reason for it

@Post 21, whose brother washes the dishes: Seriously, the sound of someone cleaning up annoys you that much that you want to cause physical harm to your brother.

You have no idea how many times I have heard "Fix your breathing", "Don't move your foot, its making noise", "Quit playing with your keys (While walking in a store with my hands not even in my pocket)". There are a lot of posts here saying "I'm not alone", but just realize, if something as small as a sound ticks you off, you are ticking off someone close to you 10 times more.

Every time I start my computer, people outside shout, yell, and car horns beep. There is silence when I am just doing things but the minute I start looking at the internet, or doing something, this happens. I believe this is not noise anxiety, but it seems to me psychology has an answer to every question.

Should I get therapy then? Or should someone find out why this happens? A normal person might just suspect something.

A couple of years ago I had a fear of listening to music, I didn't know what it was but it was something that came over me at the time, but now I'm listening to all kinds of music that I couldn't listen to before on my Ipod because I convinced myself that I can do it, but I've come a long way since then. I feel like I've accomplished something.

I most definitely have noise anxiety, no doubt about it. I've always suffered from severe anxiety and depression. Lately I've noticed at my work though, the littlest noises or gestures will make me very anxious, angry, and stressed out. For example, there are three people who sit around me. We work on computers so of course, we use our keyboards to type, but the way these three people type makes me so stressed out, so angry. I cannot stand the noise it makes while they are typing. I try to block it out, I try to put head phones in and listen to music, but I can still picture it and hear it in my head. It literally drives me insane until they're done typing whatever they're typing.

It doesn't bother me when I'm typing, but there's a specific way these people type, and a specific noise each of their keyboards make that drives me absolutely insane. It's something I can't control. It really does take a toll on me, though. It makes me anxious to the point I'm stressed out and angry at this person over something they can't control. It's a work place where we are all on computers. Sometimes I have to go stand outside for a little bit to clear my head. And I feel so much relief when they're on break, not at work, etc.

This is something so small that shouldn't be a problem but really takes a toll on me every day. People may laugh and think I'm being over dramatic or thinking too much, but that would be because you have never had this or sensed how it makes a person feel.

I live with a 'noise anxiety' partner. Our entire family life revolves around what irritates her. We move constantly as something always becomes unbearable. She is selfish, and my compassion has run dry. She can suck the joy out of a child singing, or a bird chirping. These kinds of people should always live alone not have kids, or date.

I also have a problem with noise and it is the most debilitating thing I have ever experienced. I live in a flat above a betting shop and for the first year the noise from the shop was minimal. But last year they installed Fixed Odds Betting Terminals and since then, I have suffered with the repetitive low frequency noises and sound effects from the machines.

While the sound is not very loud, it is low frequency noise so it can be heard no matter what I do to mask it the noise. The sounds range from beeps, bangs and stupid guitar riffs. When someone is playing these sound effects occur every time the player presses a button. Often once every three to five seconds.

As you can imagine, these machines attract compulsive gamblers and they play for hours every day. The shop is open seven days a week from 8:30 to 22:00. On a bad day, I can hear these sound effects over and over thousands of times a day.

I have tried getting environmental health to take action but every time they have come to try and monitor the noise, no one is playing the machines or the sound is loud enough to considered a statutory nuisance.

It is making it impossible to concentrate on anything. I am always tense and angry and it passes on to my family who don't deserve it. I hate the people in the betting shops and the company for putting me through this for a whole year.

Noise legislation is not geared to dealing with this problem because to be considered to be a statutory nuisance it is what is noisy to a reasonable person and that does not seem to cover low frequency or repetitive sounds. I feel that I am having a mental breakdown. No one takes it seriously. I need psychiatric help.

This is complete baloney, however there are some interesting points in this so-called article! The problem with us down where we live is loud freaking ATVs -- the racing kind and the people who own them use threats and harassment and tear your property up and you find stuff going missing and your pets getting sick and your cars getting flat tires and home doors being unlocked when you go to town and being stalked and finding stuff messed with and on and on and on! That’s when you get the anxiety attacks and that’s when you know they know you are and no ne understands you when you are being shot at in every angle, especially when they have brothers and sisters living a half mile apart in every angle around your home! Try living with that and see how it affects your life.

Take all that along with the loud ATV with the aftermarket muffler and put it all together and what do you have? Then they set you up and try to keep you from living your life! Your dog can’t bark, but theirs can! They can ride their ATV, but you can’t. They can tear the roads up and you pay for it and they don’t care because they have money everywhere! They say the cops are afraid of them and it seems like they are and they stick it in your face with the ATVs!

And oh my God, you feel like they want your butt and your home and to rule the area and they do! But I am not leaving and I’d better not find my dogs poisoned or what ever they did (we feel!) again! Now add that all up. This article has good points, but it does not tell the whole story and it does not tell about the other people on this road who are feeling the some thing! But I am now! The ATV rules don’t apply down here and I ask why? How come it seems like certain people can do what they want and do all the damage they want to do? Now put it all together and how come when I go out to ride stuff they don’t like it but they get to do what ever they want and no one seems to care?

They are loud. You can hear them all the way to the highway 1 and half miles a way and they threaten us if we ask them not to do spins in front of our home. Even my front trees are getting damaged and we are tired of the crud and this is what the problem is, not the noise. If only they would put the mufflers on! They take them off! And they know when the cops are coming our way; they have their radio on to hear them! It is not fair to all the young kids riding at the camps and having to obey the law!

I live in a house with six other family members and their constant laughing and loud talking is driving me crazy. It doesn't help that I have social phobia/anxiety and can hardly stand to leave the house, and the only other option is to stay home and be subject to constant noise made by annoyingly happy people. I have been depressed for years with no hope of recovery, and experience intense feelings of misery when I see other people's happiness.

Wearing earplugs does make the noise at home bearable, but only while they are worn. I hate my life and would commit suicide but I don't trust anyone to look after my cat properly. I can't even leave my room when there's a risk of running into a family member. I hate myself for being this way, but I can't change for the better.

I really am happy to find this website. I have never heard of misophonia. I certainly have this! Now I can tell my GP that this is my problem! I thought that I was the only noise sensitive person around.

I feel really bad now. A few weeks ago, due to an accumulation of hating noise, I was pushed over the limit and I smashed a window and now I have been labeled as mentally unstable and both of my noisy neighbours are the 'normal' people!

In my whole life, I've never had to deal with this issue because I've lived far enough away from people that I didn't hear their noise. However, for the last ten years I have lived in a duplex and can hear my neighbours’ conversations, door slamming, stereo music etc. I've 'dealt' with it by always going out.

It is ridiculous I finally got some elderly neighbours, two months ago, and I was so happy when they moved in. I’d always had young neighbours. Now I am panicking about the elderly ones because, for 12 hours a day, they blast their radio or TV! They have three speakers attached to their TV and it radiates all through my house.

Due to migraines, I have been too sick to get out, and with 33 degree heat (in my house) and the constant loud TV and lack of sleep, I couldn't cope anymore because I was too scared to talk to my neighbor about it.

I'd been working out for one week? How I was going to talk to them about it? Because they are moody people and it is hard to even get a hello out of them, I decided to say nothing and suffer. I talked to the housing management about it and I was told that I am not allowed to turn my noise up to counteract the neighbours. I said, "If nothing is done I will have a nervous breakdown". One week later, due to me seeing no solutions and hearing the TV blasting from the neighbor, I lost control and unfortunately, the closest thing that I hit with my fist was a window!

I've never done this before and now I have more problems: the noise continues, plus I have the cost of the window repair, and being labeled as 'crazy' by my doctor. He said that I have self harmed and need counseling for anger management and anti-depressants and that I needed to calm down.

I said, "All I need is some peace and quiet and decent sleep.” I then told him that I'd doubled my sleeping medication and it didn't work at all and asked for an injection to help me relax. Then I got into more trouble! He said that I am self medicating and suicidal and that he has to prevent me from more episodes! He said that if I went to him after I broke the window, he would have locked me up to prevent me from smashing anything else! Luckily, due to the bleeding hand, I had went to a GP who didn't know me and who is close to my house and he helped me heaps. He gave me a room and let me lie down and turned out the light so I could rest.

I had been wanting to move, but have been super scared that I would get another noisy neighbor, dog barking etc.

I put a letter in my neighbor's letterbox explaining how their noise pushed me to the limit to hit the window. I asked if they could help me to work out what we can do so I can cope with their noise. They ignored me and won't come near me and even at 11 p.m., still blast their TV next to my bedroom. I can't believe how elderly people can be so ignorant.

Actually, it is rather funny because one month ago the neighbor yelled, "That lady never gets off the foghorn.” I then stopped talking on my phone because it irritates them. My friends said that it is not a fair deal!

Two days ago, another neighbor came and told me that she was having an argument with two other neighbours about their barking dogs and that they were ignoring her. She is very distressed and said that she had to move (has only been here for two months). I said "But you might end up with another neighbor with a barking dog!”

I was thinking the only answer for me, being noise sensitive, is to not live in close proximity to neighbours, so that I can't hear them. Or to find neighbours who also hate noise and live next to them!

I am wondering how many other people have been pushed to the limit and smashed windows due to noise issues. It's not a good solution because it certainly makes matters a lot more complicated!

I think this post is irresponsible in that it doesn't account for a possible medical reason such as neuro-immune diseases such as Lyme and ME as sources of noise sensitivity. In many cases, it ebbs and flows according to factors such as hormones and/or whether one is having a flare up of the illness.

I think I suffer with noise anxiety, and I'm also sensitive to light. I've suffered with depression since I had my son in 1993, and never had any proper help with it. I was quite bad, too. I tried lots of different medications, then in November 2008 my Dad passed away. Not long after that, I started to notice that I would become anxious in crowds of people and would try and not go near busy places, and then I stopped going out as much, partly because of an issue with my neighbor which didn't help.

In 2012, someone finally took me seriously after more medication and again it not working, and they sent me for an assessment with a psychiatrist who diagnosed me as having mild to moderate depression and anxiety which is significant enough to become agoraphobia.

Due to the noise from my neighbours in my last home (and trust me, they were noisy and rough) I moved home. I thought everything was OK at first, but then they blasted me out of my home four days on the trot with loud music. I spoke to the housing manager who dropped a hint to them about the music and they turned the bass off, which was better, but then I started to notice the other noises. It sounded like one of them was walking around like they were heavy, slamming doors which shook the walls in my home (it's a flat above us). Then in July, the mom decides she would go on holiday and trust her 17 year old daughter on her own. Wrong move. The girl had a party two nights in a row, and the second night they decided it would be OK to spit on my window, throw a cigarette end in and throw food outside my bedroom window. I ended up calling non emergency police, but the banging went on through the night, until about 6 a.m. or so. Again, I reported it to the area manager who came to see me and then went to see them the following week.

Everything was OK for about six weeks, and then suddenly it all started again with the banging around, the shouting, etc., so I just kept writing it down ready to send to my area manager. After a while, I reported it to her again, and again she tried to help, but this time they purposely banged around the flat and put loud music on. Then later, she had her friends in, four of whom did the stuff I mentioned to my home the last time.

My son heard glass breaking, banging around, and it was early hours, so I went and checked the garden. They had been throwing bottles in, one of which smashed. So again I reported it to non emergency, they came and did a risk assessment later on that day because of my mental health and I reported it all to the patch manager. It took her about three weeks, but finally, she spoke to them again last Monday. Once again, it was all OK until yesterday. Someone was up there and it was like they were just walking around the flat constantly and to be very honest, I started to get very angry and snap at my son, who luckily is 20 years old and understands quite well. I did feel like they were doing it on purpose at one point.

Now the problem is, I can't wear ear plugs because I suffer with tinnitus and it becomes louder when I use things like that. I feel like I'm doomed and that sometimes I might overreact to the noise. I've always had issues with noise, but it seems they've become worse since moving here. I'm not thinking. Should I just move?

The doctor is trying to re-refer me for CBT, but not for the noise anxiety because I've not spoken to the doctor properly about it. Is there anything else that can be done? I'd love just to be able to sit here and ignore the noise, but I just can't seem to do it. I told you the story above so people can understand what's going on with me. I just want some peace. I don't go around making a lot of noise.

When I was thinking of the constant cheering that I heard in the background of those songs, and that's when I got the urge to shout and that's why I did it in the first place. I was overreacting because it was beyond my control.

For me, it's my husband pounding around the house like he weighs 500 pounds, or slamming doors and cabinets and slurping his coffee. I can't understand why my family is so loud all the time.

What happens if you only experience noise anxiety occasionally? Sometimes I'm okay with loud noises and sometimes I'm not. Like if I'm at a concert or whatever I'm totally fine with it. However the next day my sister can be playing the piano and I can get so scared, like my heart will beat really fast and I have to lock myself in my room to drown the noise out. Same with people switching on the television too loud. I don't get annoyed; I get genuinely frightened. The next day though I'll be okay with it. It comes and goes.

Also I find I only get noise anxiety when I know other people can hear it too. For instance, if I'm listening to music through earphones, I like to listen to it really really loud. But I can't buy CDs and play it on the CD player the same way because I feel like the sound is echoing all over the house and other people can hear it and I get really scared.

I listened to loud music before and it never affected me in that way.

It's called sensory overload when there's too much stimuli coming in, and that's what I'm dealing with right now when I'm using my headphones.

It's so bad that I have to keep the music down from time to time.

If I were at a live concert to see my favorite bands, I would be doing the same and I would be cheering them on, too.

I love music but I hate it when they hit the high notes. I still love my music and that's why I hate to delete what I have on my Ipod, even though it's difficult to tolerate different ranges and different sounds.

There are some normal people that hate that too. They also hate loud musicians and screaming fans.

I love music but I hate loud musicians and loud cheering fans in the background. I hate to delete what I have on my ipod because of that.

It makes me shout, and it makes me lose control until I'm out of my mind over things I hear that are annoying.

I am a child abuse survivor (in my 40's now) and a residual issue I have is anxiety due to loud / sharp noises. The anxiety seems to come and go with varying intensity. For instance, I can go for months with very little or no anxiety or stress. But other times I'm not as fortunate.

During these events, my heart rate increases, I get headaches, have trouble concentrating, become easily agitated and have a overwhelming urge to immediately leave my location or stop the offending sound by any means.

It's difficult to manage, but helpful to know others successfully deal with this.

I don't know. Personally, I think people are too inconsiderate of the environment they're in, Like the office, or in a house that has walls made of paper.

Different cultures, I guess. (Japan vs western civilisation).

My boss constantly clears her throat, makes loud coughing noises like she's about to die (she doesn't smoke) and makes these "aahh" and "mmm" obnoxious moaning noises. It is so bad at times I don't even want to turn around in fear of what's going on.

I just want to pull my hair out every time I hear any of that. The throat clearing is literally every every 10 seconds! It sounds more like a moan throat clearing rather that a natural throat clearing, if that makes sense.

I love my job, but she makes me want to puke. I turn my radio up kind of loud, but that does not even put a dent in it. I suffer from migraines frequently and I know I have more than I normally would because of her!

Is there anything being done to help children at early age to identify noise problems?

I didn't realize until age 55 that I had noise problems. Looking back now, I can say that I remember some problems, but I wish I had known at early age that I had these problems. It got so bad I quit my job. I found out later by looking at info on the internet what was going on.

I can't stand lawnmowers, weed eaters, blowers, refrigerator hum, popping gum, chewing, loud people, and yippy dogs.

The problem with this post is that it doesn't delineate between normal and abnormal noise sensitivity. Being sensitive to the noise from a 747 jet engine that is two inches from an unprotected ear is not noise anxiety. There are such things as bad neighbors. There is a reason why libraries require quiet. When taking an exam at school, they do so in a quiet environment.

If you rev your Harley (with a bad muffler) all the time inside your apartment and the neighbors complain, the problem is with you, not with your neighbors.

This article describes what I am going through at work perfectly. I thought I was going crazy. Every time certain songs play, it became like nails on a chalkboard, my heart starts beating faster, and I fill with feelings of rage and anger. Headphones have been helping, but I feel that I am alienating myself from my coworkers when I have them on. The headphones helped me to regain control of my mental well being throughout the day. Unfortunately, I can't always get them on if I'm in the middle of something. I'm working with a therapist for anxiety, but that hour is precious, and I feel I am wasting it griping about the music at work when I have much more serious issues to deal with. Glad I found this article just to show I'm not alone, because I feel very alone.

I have a small child who is terrified of loud noises. It doesn't help that my teen neighbor above me has late night parties and the neighbor above him is a DIY nut.

I have to find ways of getting him to come out from under his bed because of the noises.

Thank God I am not alone! My Dad used to freak out when my sister would constantly sniffle, and I didn't get it. I didn't really notice my noise sensitivity until I moved into this duplex (Although my last house was 200 yards from a train and no one else seemed to mind while I hated it.)

I have fibromyalgia, so I'm already sensitive to noise, light, smells, energy, etc. I stopped going to bars or the movies because it's too loud, but I didn't start feeling insane until I moved here. I was on 13 medications and went off 10 of them, stopped coffee and quit smoking cigarettes and pot so I was doing well until I couldn't handle the banging anymore. (between two and six people banging, screaming, etc with no insulation between the walls all day long.) A therapist said I had to say something, and so, after almost two years of me screaming as loud as I could in my own place so I didn't freak on them, I did, but now I'm over or super-sensitive to it. I shouldn't have to blast my TV to drown out noise I can still hear anyhow.

Then they have the biweekly bonfires where the whole family decides to drink and scream until all hours of the night. I come out screaming and I'm the crazy witch next door. Good. Let them think that! I get that people have a right to live the way they want but I don't want to hear it. The landlord warned her and it's been better, except when many of the family are there.

I found the clause in lease that said no loud parties to disturb tenants or neighbors and made sure they read it. Their last party was quieter. If it hadn't been, I would have called the cops. I now have to sleep with ear plugs and I dread taking them out or even getting out of bed. (My dog insists I do, however.) They lock their dogs outside to fight and bang on the sliding glass door while they sit in front of the house and yell and scream and play music, yet they complain about my dog yelping for 30 seconds when I leave the house, which isn't often enough. (I taped him to prove they are liars)

I have been looking nonstop for a new place, but it's difficult on a limited income and with the breed of dog I have. Plus I will never, ever live in a building with others again. Ever. But then I read a few posts where people did move to the country and they are having issues, as well. I've never seriously considered suicide before until now.

I recently noticed if there's too much going on; like at my doctor's office and they have the TV on, someone is talking and they slide open that window to check the sign in list, I want to cover my ears and scream. He gave me a sedative but I was doing so well!!

I'll look into this magnesium taurate because I already take the oxide and it doesn't do anything for it. Someone mentioned B12..my bottle says its cyanocobalamin but they mentioned methicobalamin? Or I'll try the magnolia bark – anything for sanity!

I've also tried to just put myself in their shoes. They are just living and doing what's normal for them; they are a large family. But then I was told a few of them do it on purpose. I just pray that I can block it out and that it will stop bugging me. If I stop focusing on it, I will stop giving it power, right? But then there is that anxiety over when the next bang is coming. Ugh. Then there's the car doors and constant traffic.

I know I'll find another place, but in the meantime, I feel like I'm stuck in a corner pulling my hair out.

I also like to think that this incarnation and this situation is supposed to teach me patience/tolerance and impulse control. Good luck everyone and remember you're not alone in this.

Totally awesome,I'm not alone in the hating of chewing(Oh my God! Close your mouth when you're eating!), dogs barking, my friends making weird sounds that are "funny" that just drive me crazy. Although no one mentioned that although it drives me crazy, it makes me even more annoyed if I can't hear everything going on around me.

If I'm driving and there are people in the car talking it makes me so mad, because I have to listen to the sounds of the road. As soon as I can't, I feel like an idiot fumbling through the road with no awareness. It happens with gaming too. I'll be playing a game and if there are too many noises, like a vacuum, I just have to stop playing and wait until it's over or I can't even think and when I can't think, I just become irrational and blame people for the things that are happening, even if the sounds are innocent.

Response to 292: Despite all your rage?

At work, I have to listen to the eclectic shuffle that my boss imposes on his captive audience. When black metal music comes on, I feel so angry and stressed inside, like a rat in a cage.

It's so nice to know I'm not alone in feeling this way (no matter how old this article is, I've had this issue for years). I have a sibling who always plays music or some show on the computer below my room. It's not even their room! I feel like I have no privacy and *I* have to ask for some decent noise privacy! It's a younger sibling!

Other folks in the home are really loud earlier in the morning, so if by chance I'm awake late (though I don't make much noise), I can't sleep in.

I tend to get angry when a repeating thump, buzz, whatever noise goes on for a while, especially if it's something another person is doing. Oh, and I hate being around fellow programmers because "tap-tap-thunk" on a counter is the norm in that environment. Just put your hands on the keyboard and type something!

As it is, I'm about to work on something and above sibling has me anxious, and now and again I hear things. I can't really work anywhere where I am. This noise sure doesn't help.

I think my problem with noise started when I had my first apartment and people lived over me. They had two children who ran and stomped around as early as 5 in the morning, bouncing basketballs, screaming, yelling. Then when I asked them to keep it down, the father of the family took it personally and he and his thug friends started kicking my door as they passed on their way up to their apartment, or fiddled with the knob (I was a 23 year old female living alone for the first time, so this was scary!) and would make outrageous noise every time they knew I was at home. I ended up having problems at work, and never wanted to be at home, even though I was paying my rent and deserved a quiet place.

I finally found another apartment and moved out, to the surprise of the landlord, even though I'd complained to him repeatedly over the course of the time the new tenants (who were paying him more rent than I was) had moved in.

Fast forward to 2013. I moved back home to take care of my Mom in 2001 and quickly our Queens, NY neighborhood has been taken over by illegal South American immigrants who do nothing but party outdoors all the time, even in the winter. There are noise issues with the refrigerator-sized speakers, the public drunken behavior, the urinating outdoors, the unsupervised kids screaming. The noise just gets to me because again, I am not able to have peace and quiet in my own home. It's like a free-for-all that the police don't really do much about because the city doesn't enforce the noise ordinance. It brings me right back to what I went through over 20 years ago.

Like a previous poster said, it's fear of the possibility of noise even though it's quiet. It's throwing up when I see chairs set up in a backyard first thing on a Saturday morning, or that damned blue construction tarp to keep the stereo and party goers dry in case of rain. Yeah, these people don't start their parties until 8 or 9 p.m.! So they sleep all day and then they go at it from then until 4 or 5 in the morning. This behavior starts as early as April, for every weekend until well after mid September. Most times it's more than one party at a time just two backyards apart, and there are sometimes guns and shootouts, which the police actually come out for.

Most of the time, I end up going to a hotel in a better neighborhood because it's the only way I won't have an anxiety attack that weekend. No other noises bother me, as long as the noise is appropriate for the space. I am fine in bars, clubs, stadiums, casinos, etc. But it's excessive noise that I can hear in my home that sets me off. I have been known to get in my car and drive around to see where noise (music) is coming from so I can call 311 (the non-emergency number where you can file noise complaints New York is the only state to have such a number) and I have gone to the precinct and sat there, telling cops I wasn't leaving until they shut down the noise in the neighborhood.

I used to love Latin music and now I hate it, because of the heavy bass. And the bass is the same, no matter what the song is. One time my idiot neighbors even hired a live Mariachi band that was so loud, we had to leave for the night because we couldn't hear anything but their singing in every room of our home.

I am trying to find work so I can move out of state, because New York City stinks if you can't afford to live in the nicer areas out on Long Island, but the problems are starting out there now, too. Nowhere is safe.

I just hate it when I can hear noises or sounds from my neighbours, be it from next door, above or below my residence. The noise ranges from talking (be it a real conversation or something out of a movie/TV show), music, door slamming, various thumping and bumping sounds, loud tapping on keyboards, to book slamming, etc.

Personally, I felt that in a closed environment, I should be protected from noise and any of the latter is view as an intrusion of my privacy! I once consulted a counselor and was told that this stems from the fact that I regard the violation as a lack of respect to my personal space.

In fact, these feelings are amplified especially when I need to work.

I went to a home improvement store and found a headset that blocks major sounds. I can even plug it into my ipod. The coolest feature I didn't expect is that it has a microphone, so if I want to amplify and hear someone speaking I can just turn a dial on and up and it then amplifies the voice or sound of the person. That way, I don't have to take the thing on and off all the time. There is also like a microsecond delay between the real sounds and what the microphone feeds to my ears to hear. It gives me a sense of control over the environment, because I can turn it off or up or adjust it any time. I have also started putting in earplugs or smaller headphones under the industrial ones. Hope that helps some people.

They are ryobi tek4 industrial headphones. They were $50 and worth it.

I am also going to try a mask with ear cover for sleeping, because this headset is a bit big to sleep with.

I guess my story is that I didn't always have this problem. I just got driven over the edge at a stressful job when my boss kept placing me next to people who would bounce balls all day long or throw objects on the table for 12 hours straight. Total meltdown. Now I can't leave the house. Hopefully the headset helps me recover.

What bothers me: people tapping, chewing loud, when people cut their food and you hear the scratch on the plate, microwaves, lawn mowers, silence.

Leaf blowers, lawn mowers, snowthrowers, motorcycles, people who talk in low, monotonous voices, running engines, even if they are "quiet engines", car doors closing, other people's radios.

I am so glad to know that it is not just me! I get so angry so many times in a day. I have a Yorkie, and when he barks, I want to kill him! I have three grandchildren who live with me, and when they start screaming, or whining or crying, I feel so enraged that I have to literally run into my room!

My husband has one of those booming voices, and when he speaks, oh my gosh! The area I live in has this "gang" of motorcycle riders and they run past my window quite often, especially on good days. I'm not even going to say what I'd like to do with them.

@anon303186: I think you've got a severe case of sleep deprivation. You're a new mom, you have a child who has disturbed sleep, and you've got inconsiderate louts for neighbors. I'd be a nervous wreck, too.

If you can scrape together the money, make a reservation at a hotel. Take your baby with you, if you need to. Ask for an end room on the top floor. Stay a couple of days and get some rest. There may be some noise, but it shouldn't be too bad, especially if you do it during the week. If there's an affordable bed and breakfast around where you are, that's also an option. They're usually very quiet. You need some peace and quiet.

This may sound crazy, but if there's a convent with a guesthouse in your area, a weekend with the sisters might be just the thing. You don't have to be Catholic, or even religious, but most convents have guesthouses and their fees are reasonable. Many even include meals. And silence is the whole point of the exercise. I've done retreats at the local Benedictine monastery (convent), and they were wonderful. The silence is therapeutic.

I think you'll be fine at your new home once you stop expecting the noise, but it may well take a couple of months. Good luck, and I hope this helped.

I moved into a ground floor flat about five months ago with my partner and son, who at the time was a month old. At first, we didn't hear the neighbours upstairs at all, until one night they had their friends over and they were shouting and laughing really loud and walking about so heavy footed. I asked them to keep the noise down a bit because me baby was in bed (which they already knew).

Ever since then, they have become worse. They have wood flooring down in all rooms but the bathroom and bedrooms and when they walk around, it's so loud and used to wake my baby up a lot, along with their loud voices. So again, I've asked them nicely two more times to try and understand where I'm coming from and they really do not care.

Now it's like they are doing it on purpose. When they come home, they stomp up the stairs and slam their door, and they walk around so heavily that I think they're going to come through the ceiling. The girl's laugh drives me mad; it grinds on me. I'm also in my third year at university while also being a new mum and I can't deal with it anymore. I've just been put on antidepressants and taken a year out of school because I'm so unhappy and stressed.

I'm paranoid about every noise they make. It is loud. My mind is not exaggerating it because my partner can hear it too. Only it doesn't bother him in the same way. He agrees it is a joke but I'm constantly paranoid they are going to wake my son up who is ill a lot too. I can't relax for an evening, as they work Monday through Friday and are only home after 4 p.m. I sit on the couch biting my fingernails, worrying and sometimes I even cry over it. I turn my TV on mute because I think the baby is awake, five times a night.

If I go out, I don't want to go home, and if I'm at home, I dread 4 p.m. because I know they will be home soon. I actually check out the window every time I hear a car door shut, to see if it's them home, then I listen as they come in and stomp up the stairs. And I hate the weekends. I get to Friday and I just want the next two days and nights to be over because they have their friends over who are also really loud and all seem to have stupid, annoying laughs.

I feel like I'm going insane. I'm obsessed and I'm hurting myself because I can't stop worrying about it. I've complained to environmental health because at first, my baby was having disturbed sleep, but now its affecting me the worst. Luckily, we are moving out after Christmas, but the next eight weeks are going to be agony because I'm worrying already about Christmas and New Year's Eve. I'm dreading it because I know they are going to do everything they can to make as much noise as possible. And I'm worried that I won't feel better when we've moved out.

We are moving into a house, luckily, an end terrace so we will only have one set of neighbours to deal with, but I'm scared I'll be exactly the same. Can anyone please shed some light on how I'm feeling? Any advice or even a kind word would be much appreciated as I feel out of control and like I'm going crazy.

I live with several musicians, which is amusing because of how sensitive to different noises I am. One roommate plays trumpet, flute, and guitar, which I find soothing and his practicing does not bother me. Another plays the keyboard, which I also find soothing, until he plugs his headphones in and I can't hear the music, just the clicking of the keys being pressed. That drives me absolutely nuts to the point of my chest hurting.

Then there is the drummer. Oh my gosh. It doesn't matter what or where, he will tap rhythmically on anything with anything else that he can hold. I can get over it and just tune him out and just be silently irritated when he is using a practice pad, but when he taps his sticks together in any room of the house, it sends me through the roof with anger. I hate it. I hate it. I *hate* it. Most of the time I stay calm and nice, but other times it puts me so on edge we have screaming arguments about it.

I also cannot stand the sound of someone picking, filing, or biting their fingernails. It sends pain through my whole body and I clench my jaw and involuntarily jerk my whole body a certain way that hurts.

I try to avoid public places that are crowded yet "quiet" enough to talk because I end up hearing every single conversation in the place and either have an anxiety attack from the over-stimulation or come really really close.

Sniffing, clearing of the throat, coughing, and the sounds of crows cawing all make me go from mildly uneasy to really annoyed, especially coughing, because it's like my heart leaps with surprise and it's the same feeling you would get if someone said something offensive to you.

I developed this over time as a result of bad experiences where people said I smelled, and sniffed and coughed around me, and even now the sound alone bothers me on its own and has branched out into a fear of the sound. It was like people were constantly making those noises.

I'm getting over it slowly by dissociating any emotional connection with the noise and letting it fade away to background noise by allowing the noise to be there, accepting it, and treating as if it were any noise I didn't care about, like the sound of a car going by. I've noticed by not allowing myself to be emotionally trapped in the sound, not only does it not bother me, but I'm also not hearing it constantly in places full of people.

Previously, if I were in a room full of people, I would wonder what is wrong with them, and why no one else was weirded out by the constant sniffing. Now, since I started to persist in emotionally dissociating myself with the noise, it seems people aren't making it as often. Same thing with the crows. I would the cawing like 20 times straight, which is really annoying, and I would start to get anxious and it would persist. Then, I just stopped letting the noise push around my emotions and it literally stopped. I don't get it, but it works.

I don't think I imagined it because I've recorded the noises before to try and desensitize myself to it (didn't really do much) and it's almost like me not caring about it makes the noise stop. I accept the undesired noise is there, but am not obsessed with it. I make it as insignificant as any everyday sound and this has helped.

I cannot stand low bass thumping from car stereos and barking dogs. What really stinks is I live behind a fitness club that blasts their music and all I hear is the thumping of the bass.

Also the bar behind my house every night has loud music, and it really makes me angry. My family thinks I'm the crazy one because they think the noise is normal.

Doors closing; silverware clanking; gum chewing (probably my worst, Even seeing someone chew sets me over the edge); my husband sniffing (I could so punch him in the face); his kids sniffing (instantly ticks me off); my kids sniffing; knuckles being cracked; a beer can being popped open; loud/heavy walkers; dogs barking; kids screaming; clicking of a mouse; heavy breathing; basketball bouncing.

Can I "hear" a hell yeah? Sometimes I just want to pack my crap and leave. It stinks. It really does. I feel like I'm in my own prison. Having a drink or two does help *me*.

There are some really interesting stories here. I get mad from birds, music, chewing, keyboards, foot taping just to name a few things. It's making me miserable.

I am using ecitalopram as well as daily meditation.

I would be really keen to hear what has worked for people.

People say, "oh just get over it" or, "shut up and deal with it". What they don't realize is it's not as simple as that. You can't choose to like or dislike something. It's hard-wired into your being that you like some things and cannot stand others. People singing along to music is the main thing that sets me off, but recently it's my dad's dentures. Every two seconds he's sucking on them and shifting them around, making this disgusting noise. "Get over it?" Yeah, how about you "just get over" my extreme dislike of the noise?

Coughing, sniffling, chewing, tooth-picking, throat clearing, tongue-clicking, slurping, and nail clippers bother me to a pathological level. Gum-cracking is almost always triggering, but I had a co-worker who had a very soothing way of cracking her gum, and I used to offer it to her on purpose.

On the other hand, I love softspoken and whispered videos as long as they're free of my particular triggers. I don't mind barking dogs, but I'm an animal lover and no, you won't find a dog of mine barking excessively. Traffic only amounts to white noise for me.

Sound sensitivity is linked to autism. What is the cure? What is the treatment? Is it even treatable?

And yes, people need to stop being jerks and learn manners. If your mama didn't teach you any, you had best teach yourself.

There are some songs I'm interested in listening to again but can't bring myself to listen to them because it has something to do with human voices and different ranges, and background noise. It gives me a headache thinking about it because that's one tough decision to make.

There are certain tunes I can't listen to on my Ipod because I have a problem with human voices in all ranges. What can be done? Please help.

Well I do not mind if my neighbors blast off fireworks until 2 a.m. I do not care if anything they use or do makes noise at odd hours. However, hearing a dog bark that they don't shut up after three seconds drives me crazy.

My mind doesn't seem to care at first, but my heart will pump hard. Then after a minute, I start to go crazy. I have yelled, thrown objects, left nasty signs "Your dog has been barking for hours -- shut your dog up!" Yeah, it may not seem extreme to most but seeing how quiet things normally are, the environment doesn't usually have such aggression in the air.

My shyness goes away fast when a dog yaps!

I am an Asian college girl, 21. Fist of all, I'm a music lover and I know how ironic it is to have a problem like this.

I have had this noise anxiety (if that's what you call it) since the age of 13. I'm hearing sounds which other people do not hear. I hear it everywhere, with anyone. It's like a tv static sound and I couldn't bear it. My parents sent me to an ENT (Ear, Nose Throat) specialist but nothing changed. It was the most miserable time of my life. Even now, I'm hearing that annoying sound. I just learned how to deal with it eventually.

I also have this fear of certain loud noises and repetitive sounds. Like for example, machines, appliances and even water droplets from the faucet, crickets, sometimes songs, tapping of fingers, falls, etc, etc. But not rain. I don't know why.

I also fear silence. Ironically, when I'm not hearing anything, I hear a very loud sound which I cannot describe and which I think other people do not hear also. It's very frightening. At home, I at least turn on the fan just to avoid silence.

The worst thing I guess is when I am not hearing these annoying sounds but I am imagining that I am hearing and seeing these things. Oh my God, right?

To overcome these fears, I just ignore them as much as I can. I surround myself with positive things and people. When the anxiety attacks me, I stop what I'm doing and shift to another thing I want to do. I keep myself busy. That's it. And I pray, of course I do. I am young and I have a full life ahead of me. I won't allow these fears to ruin my life. I fight it and I know that I am stronger than my fears.

I'm poster 152, 189, 190 and 192 (from about a year ago). I started taking magnesium taurate earlier this year(2012) as a one-pill cure all for my noise anxiety as well as for the general social anxiety I've suffered since I can remember. I ran out of it, went back to magnesium oxide and proceeded to, about a week later, go nuts, screaming at my local police dispatch about my infantile fireworks-shooting neighbors the other day (fireworks are illegal in Minnesota but that doesn't stop the cops from not enforcing it).

I'm waiting for Vitacost to ship the taurate supplements but they're sitting on their butts down in Florida for some reason (I need my pills!). American society went to hell completely; there's no reward for doing the right thing or being a good person in life, especially with my disorders.

Here I am, male, white, 39 and living with my parents, no job, no friends, no love life, zilch -- just the people the media decide to feel sorry for, they get all the attention and I get called "teabagger" because I "fit the profile".

I hate my country. I'm ready to burn the American flag. I'd rather spend the rest of my days in peaceful solitary confinement(like Mark David Chapman got for killing John Lennon) than put up with my soul-destroying neighbors (and this sick society) much longer. I think about running my car in a closed garage a lot.

I suffer from great sensitivity to sounds people make when eating or chewing, and other sounds that they make with their mouths. It makes me angry and edgy and I want to get away from people making such noises.

At the same time, I tolerate and even love all kinds of irritating and scary sounds that come from shortwave radios and I listen to them non stop.

Mine is the sound of a vacuum cleaner (Or hoover, if you're Scottish like me). See, loud constant drones like that hurt so much. Not physically, but the rush of emotions I get is very intense to the point where it makes me scream.

I have wondered for a long time if I was the only one who felt annoyed by certain sounds to the point that I also felt angry and frustrated that I couldn't escape what was annoying me.

The one type of noise that really set me off was the sound of someone clearing their throat. This problem became so intense for me that I couldn't even be in the same room with the person who was doing it and it really interfered with my life. I had a relative who used to do this constantly and I couldn't even stand to be around them. I missed a lot of family events and if I couldn't avoid these events I was tense and nervous and could barely contain my reactions when they would clear their throat.

I don't live with this person anymore. but the memory of how it used to annoy me is still with me. No one in my family believed that it was a real problem and they just thought that I was weird. I couldn't understand how they could stand to listen to it because it used to frustrate me to no end.

The one thing that I could never get my family to understand is that they thought I was grossed out by the sound but that wasn't the issue for me; the sound just literally annoyed me. Is anyone else annoyed by excessive throat clearing?

I just wanted to respond to the 12 year old girl in post 248. I also have a problem listening to my husband and son chewing their meals. I feel very angry and sometimes I leave the room or ask them to eat in another room.

Please let your family read some of these posts. This sensitivity condition is real. Maybe they can help and be more sensitive to you. Also, maybe you can purchase a Marpac sound conditioner. It really helps block out sound. I even went to a doctor's appointment and they had the sound conditioner with white noise. It made the office feel more comfortable.

Going for walks or to the library help because that is quiet and relaxing. I feel better knowing that I'm not the only one. My son told me they even had something about people with noise sensitivity on the evening news. Years ago it was frowned upon when neighbors made a lot of noise but now it just seems to be an everyday occurrence. I'm glad we have somewhere to vent how we feel.

I have noise anxiety episodes literally once every year or so. I have just had one now but I told myself I know that this is anxiety and relaxed myself somewhat and it was over in about 10 minutes.

Howard Leight foam earplugs with a 33dbl rating are pretty good (although they do hurt peoples' ears a little).

I can't stand the sound of chairs being dragged across an uncarpeted floor.

I have noise anxiety. I think. I'm only 12 years old but the sound of my mother chewing fills me with anger, When she starts chewing I make loud sighs and sometimes start banging my feet against the ground. It has started to annoy my mother and because I love her. I avoid the room when I see her eating.

Tonight, I told her about the information I found online and she said to me, "Well what's the cure because you can't be getting angry at people because they are chewing?" This question upset me because it's not my fault that I get angry when she chews.

I don't know what to do. Will someone please give me some advice on it?

I can't even put into words how happy I am that my boyfriend of five years now, found this page. I have been fighting constantly with my family for 25 years about this disorder (I turn 30 tomorrow). They would never take time to understand the pain or distress I was feeling. They would always call me bipolar. Nice, huh? I don't think they quite understand that I feel they misunderstood me, hated me, tormented me, and even cast out their sister. Sometimes they would do it on purpose, I guess because I was getting on their nerves. But I've tried to get them to understand and explain to them that some sounds like chewing or gum popping, bass, chips and snoring make me go crazy, and yet it never fails that someone will sit right next to me and eat cereal! What? Don't you know me? Then they would look at me as if I'm the crazy one.

Anyway, what I really want to say is I have cried tears of joy knowing now there is help and I am not alone! I am not crazy! This has been detrimental to the quality of life I have had to live. No restaurants, movies, parties or having the embarrassment of asking someone to spit out their gum.

I have struggled with failing in school, dropping out of college twice, struggling to keep up relationships and friendships and even had to move a few times. Thank you all for sharing you stories it gives me hope! You guys are my peeps! I can't stop shaking, I'm so happy right now!

I am very relieved to see all these posts, especially where people are saying they are overcome with rage when others inflict loud noises on them.

I've made two trips outside my house over the past fortnight to tell people to turn it down. I feel like my space is being deliberately invaded and if I don't go and tell them I feel even worse, like I was colluding in it.

Nowhere is safe because this world is geared to noise and the fools who make it. If you moved somewhere else, you'd still find the idiots. I love all you guys, because I know what you're going through and I wish you all the best.

My neighborhood was fairly okay until people moved in that played such loud music with the bass so loud it vibrated the walls in the house. I was shaking. This went on for over a year. We said something several times but it never ceased completely.

There is information out there on sensitive people and all the symptoms we go through. It is real. I think 25 percent of the population has this. But we are not just sensitive; people are rude and loud. I agree with the person who made a comment on a village we can move to. The world has a lot of stressful things, but there are also some nice people out there.

I try to go for walks and I use a sound conditioner to block noise. I don't know what I would do without it. Sometimes I go to the library. I even asked the movie theater to turn the sound down and they did! Everything helps.

I hope to God I can move someday. I would see something on television about people being frustrated about where they live and I thought why don't they move if they don't like it. Now I know it's not that easy because of the cost. You are not alone. I know how you feel. I also have social anxiety. I don't know if anyone else has this but I feel even more sensitive dealing with this also.

It is such a relief to hear there are people out there with this problem like me.

I cannot stand the sound of chewing, keyboard tapping, ticking clocks or football on the radio. Like a previous post on here, I fear the list is getting longer as I get older. I remember when I was about six or seven, and getting increasingly distressed at dinner time with my family and I would have to go out of the room or make up an excuse to get me out of the situation. I eventually told my family and still to this day I don't think they completely understand, and unfortunately they take it personally ( I can just tell).

Generally, people sympathise, and try and ease the noise, but then they forget. I feel like I am being rude when I have to remind them and it's a really awkward situation. I guess it doesn't make things easy being pretty introverted. In these matters, I tend to think it is me being a weirdo and close in on myself.

Last week, I totally blurted out to my housemate that I wanted her to move out. The reason was because the sound of her typing the computer keyboard was driving me mad! I didn't exactly tell her it was because of that. Instead, I just said I need some space of my own. She got upset as she thought it was because I didn't like her, then I got upset. Eventually, I plucked up the courage to explain it was the keyboard. She now only uses the keyboard in her room.

I get so embarrassed by telling people about my issues with noises. As I said, they rarely understand but when someone does understand and makes an effort to not make the 'evil noises from hell', I tend to have an overwhelming wave of love for them.

In general, I have a great life, job, family, friends, I would say I'm good looking and healthy, etc., so I have little to complain about. I just wish I didn't have this annoying problem. I'd be so happy without it. I hate it and hate living with it.

I went to hypnotherapy about a year ago. Unfortunately, the therapist – as nice as he was – couldn't help me. I think this problem is deeply rooted. My therapist mentioned it may be something that happened when I was a child, about six or seven years old when something triggered this. The trigger may not have even been something related to the eating sound itself, but something that you connect it to. Then again, everyone is different and so it's a complex issue and difficult to analyze.

Anyway, thanks again to whoever made this page. It's been nice to read all your messages and hope someone related to my message. I would love to hear about it. Hope you're all coping!

I have an extreme intolerance for the noises people make when they chew food. For years, I couldn't stand they way my mom chewed her food. It would make me so mad that I fantasized about punching her in the face. For years, I would express aggravation whenever my mom chewed her food. Her teeth would make weird noises. It wouldn't bother anyone else and my mom would get upset with me because I was afraid to tell her what bothered me.

Now, I am listening to my roommate sing and it annoys the heck out of me. Her voice is so annoying and girly when she sings. It's also off-key. I feel like smacking her.

@anon246843: I get very violent when I hear rap music, even nearby or off in distance where I can feel the beats.

People don't care about others and they smoke away anyway. Laws in many states for smoking (Connecticut, anyway) have helped. I even think people can't smoke in casinos anymore. Even in bars and other places associated with smoking, it has been banned. Anyhow, those people do that smoking on purpose without regard. I've even had people still light up in my car after I told them no. They said, "just one," and that led to two, and so on. I wanted to punch them.

The thing is, there's this thing called minority rule, where one voice can rule them all. This is to prevent the majority from always ruling. Speak up and stand your ground!

I've noticed I get an anxiety attack when there is loud music, a lot of people talking at the same time, and I can't really hear what are they talking about because I get so distracted and annoyed. Also, English is not my first language so I feel frustrated when there is so much going on.

My anxiety intensifies when there are people smoking around me. It feels like hell when I can't breathe, and I feel aggravated because people don't understand me. They think I'm faking it because I'm an introvert.

I used to have a lot of friends, people I have a lot of things in common with, but since I moved to the U.S., it seems like I can't make friends because people here are more used to going to bars then to go to coffee shops. Me, my husband and a group of my husband's friends went out last night to a restaurant last night. We had a good time, but after that, we went to a casino. The smell of they place made me uncomfortable as we walked in.

I tried to ignore my symptoms and I coped with them for about an hour, then the place started to get crowded and the music started to get really loud. Then I told my husband, "We have to go now. I can't take it anymore.” Of course, my husband wasn't ready to leave and got really upset with me.

It would be great for me to find something I can take to calm me down when going to undesired, crowded, and hard to bread places. I feel these anxiety attacks are really affecting my marriage.

Maybe someone could help me? I'm going into a high state of fear when I smell heated tar! (Like the hot tar in those yellow construction trailer heaters on the road).

It's happened a few times in my life at completely different times. My heart races and I swear I will die! I was riding in an 18-wheeler and the driver must have known this. Right as the smell of hot tar came in the cab, I was just going to freak out, and he said, "It's O.K. Stay calm. Calm down." I also remember opening up some old electronics item that was loaded with tar. I looked inside and caught a scent of the tar odor. I threw it down and ran around the house holding my chest because my heart was racing and yelling, "I'm going to die!" What's this about? Can anyone help me understand?

I did some *careful* reading here. Some of us have a "persecution complex," while others have OCD. Then you have the ones who do have noise anxiety, or all three! See, I *love* to sleep at a truck stop while their trucks blaze by all night. And yes, if I hear a barking dog or certain sounds at home, I'll kill!

I yelled at my neighbor, who can't see me, to shut their bleeping dog up! She said "let the dog bark".

I grabbed one of my guns and and went to shoot their damn dog. I then noticed that stupid neighbor let their kid (maybe 7 or 8?) run around with no supervision and I almost hit him! I got even more enraged that they would endanger their kid that way and be so rude to a neighbor trying to be nice!

I remember some poor guy who came home to new neighbors. He asked them to tone it down. He came home another day and walked back inside their home like last time and shot everyone dead! (three people?) I'm happy that we are not just "crazy," but indeed have a condition with a name and can help others.

Things like "certain words or chewing sounds etc" that annoy us, are brought on by a condition known as OCD. We are difficult to treat because sounds we cause do not annoy us, but the sound of others do! This is why people must respect our ailment or pay! We do not deserve to be tormented!

I now can discuss this with my doctor. I do give people free rein to stay up and blow off fireworks etc. However, I can't tolerate barking dogs! Also, certain groups of people talking loudly at night and partying. I threw a truck alternator at their condo and it stopped.

I did have a next door neighbor that had their bleeping window open and left a dog in a crate. It barked and barked. I left a mean note and even called the cops. See, now I know there's a name for this!

There are certain sounds that set me off, like when someone honks there car horn, it makes me go crazy. It triggers road rage and I had to stop going to church because the choir is just awful and it triggers my anxiety.

It's not only sounds that trigger my anxiety, like if a kid sitting next to me doesn't keep still, it drives me berserk.

The noise my neighbors are making is affecting my health severely. There is a reasonable amount of noise to expect, however, it is not reasonable to expect constant dragging of objects above where one sleeps. How is this affecting my health? My heart feels heavier and stressed out and I don't think my heart can handle much more.

The government needs to do more research on noise pollution, and how it can affect one's health. This problem is widespread and needs to be addressed. It's not fun when I call the police, only to have them take me for a joke, because me neighbor is tormenting me.

@No. 123: I also feel like cutting myself because of this. Particularly lately, I feel like I am just on the edge of falling into impulsive self harm as a coping mechanism.

My inconsiderate neighbor constantly slams his front door and patio door - bang! - and this is pretty much 12 hours a day. The only respite is evening, so spending a day at home is hell for me. I virtually live with my headphones on and I'm always on edge, waiting for the next violation of my basic human right to peace and quiet.

My compensatory behaviors, like having to be in some corner of the house a lot of the time so I don't hear the noise, or wear headphones, or sit the chair furthest from the window across from the neighbor, have impacted my relationships with my family, as they simply don't understand the condition. They think it is just something one can 'deal with'.

Every time I hear this terrible grating noise of that stupid slamming door, I jump internally- and then the residual rage is so terrible I just feel like taking something sharp and slicing my skin for some kind of release, something I can control. Imagine needing to do that because a certain noise that you have no control over drives you to within an inch of insanity. This is what it can be like for those of us with noise anxiety.

I don't know how to describe this, but when I am in my room, I can hear when people talk in the kitchen across from my room. Just from hearing people talk I start to tear up and get a headache. I have cried myself to sleep before because they won't shut up. It drives me insane. I feel like something comes over me and I just go into and outburst or rage.

One voice that I find especially annoying is my dad's, second is my mom, then my brother. I just go AWOL. I can't help it. It feels like I'm dying or something.

I work in an office which is cramped with small desks, and the constant tapping on keyboards and clicking of the mouse drives me mad: tap, tap, click, click, click, tap, tap. This increasingly annoys me, and breaks my concentration so I feel I cannot do my job. The clicks seem increasingly more annoying the longer I stay in the office. I feel like smashing the mouse on the floor and stomping on it.

One interesting comment in your article mentions that it seems like the noise is being made on purpose to annoy me. This feeling makes the annoyance even worse. The constant clicking, tapping, clicking, tapping driving me mad. The thing is I know the feeling is totally irrational and illogical but it makes no difference to the way I feel. I think it affects the way I work and the way I feel about people as I see them as my tormentors.

Noise really annoys! I wish I could learn to love these sounds.

It's the rage that's the worst part. My shop is in a mall type building across the hall from an art store where an 84 year old man works. The tops of the shops are open. This man plays his television at concert levels. I can hear the TV clearly over the quiet music I play in my store. It infuriates me. Fantasies of killing the old man dance in my head. I've had arguments with him over this. It feels very bad to argue with an 84 year old man and to wish him dead.

Recently, my husband lost a tooth and now for some reason grinds his teeth. I want to punch him in the face. He thinks I'm crazy for wanting him to stop. Also, I know how bad it is for his teeth so I think he's stupid for doing it and not trying to stop himself.

I love music and have been a big fan of music my entire life. My husband is a musician and him just practicing his guitar sends me into a rage, as if he's deliberately doing something against me. It feels horrible to live like this.

When my little sister talks loudly or screams, I have vivid imaginations of killing her or slapping her, just to get her to be quiet and it really stresses me out. It scares me a lot.

Today my dog was annoying my cat and the cat was growling and I didn't think, I just smacked him as hard as I could to get him away. I'm just terrified it will get worse and I will do something I regret.

When I hear really loud noises like a child screaming, a big truck driving by, or a motorcycle I get really scared and my heart almost hurts from fear. Most of the time I end up dropping to the ground and covering my ears.

I was thinking that maybe it was a form of post-traumatic stress disorder from my childhood. Whenever there were storms I would hyper-ventilate and my mom married a man who got really drunk a lot and would scream and yell in my face. I'm considering going to a therapist.

I'll keep this post simple. It may help.

First buy a book called "Mind Over Mood: Change how you feel by changing the way you think," by

Dennis Greenberger, PhD and Christine A. Padesky, PhD. It's 215 pages long, and only rarely does a book come along that can truly change your life. The wisdom and science of psychotherapy and written an easily understandable manual for change.

This has been read, reread and recommended to others by therapists, patients and people seeking to improve their lives. Cognitive therapy has been used successfully used to help patients with depression, panic disorder, phobias, anxiety, anger, stress related disorders, relationship problems, drugs and alcohol abuse, eating disorders, and most of the other difficulties that bring people to therapy.

Please read this book, then see if you still think the same about the situation.

An oyster creates a pearl out of grain of sand. The grain of sand is an irritant to the oyster. In response to the discomfort, the oyster creates a smooth, protective coating that encases the sand and provides relief. The result is a beautiful pearl. For an oyster, an irritant becomes the seed for something new. Similarly, mind over mood will help you develop something valuable from your current discomfort.

The skills in this book will help you feel better and will continue to have value in your life long after your original problems are gone.

Also have therapy, and use trial and error. Move if you can, but research and read tips online. Use whatever means to help you feel better.

I went to a concert yesterday that was super loud, so much so that I think I blacked out and woke up leaning against the bar. It was a really bad experience and I regret not bringing earplugs.

I'm not usually too sensitive to loud music, but having a lot of stress lately from school and finals caused my body to get overwhelmed. Not sure if anyone else has had an experience similar to this, but definitely bring ear protection whenever invited to a concert where you aren't familiar with the songs.

I hate the sound of people brushing their teeth; it sends shivers down my spine and sets my teeth on edge. Sometimes I actually feel sick. When I brush my own teeth, I don't normally get it, but I have to admit I still avoid brushing my teeth unless I have to.

I think I might have this condition. I work nights, therefore I sleep during the day. As I write this, I am at my mate's house.

We are sleeping in the same room in different beds. My problem is that the noises people make with their mouths when they are sleeping makes me imagine gluing their mouth shut or physically harming them. It seriously annoys me that much I feel like screaming.

When I am at home trying to sleep, if anyone walks on the wooden hallway with heels on I feel like dying on the inside.

Should I go to my doctor about this? I am finding it hard to sleep more and more these days, and I smoke too which doesn't help. I hate people.

Wow. I have to go back and read all the comments, but had to reply first! I also thought I was going crazy. I have major noise anxiety and the hearing of a bionic woman. I was researching to see if hypnosis could help this issue. I can mostly relate to the sub woofer which I can hear right now and my anxiety is sky rocketing!

I have to wear ear plugs all the time when I'm at home, but can go to work in a garage workshop and nothing bothers me. Am I going mad?

The house next to ours is rented and we used to have some noisy neighbours living there. It didn't help they were partially deaf, so they had the music really loud!

Now we have other people living there who are just as bad. I think it annoys me since I can't control it. Sometimes I physically shake because they have music on and I have to leave the house.

To anon181717, I feel your pain. I posted earlier about moving to the country. We still have neighbours but we each have a few acres. Most neighbours are fine, one in particular is annoying with their barking dog. And people using riding lawnmowers but at least that is temporary, and I developed my basement.

I started looking at moving to a more remote location and buying land. I walked about 1 km back off the main road and could still hear the tire noise up on the hill (no trees to block either). It was upsetting. And believe it or someone's dog was barking. And it costs about $30K to put a power line back that far.

It's really hard to get away from the noise of people these days, which is very sad. I just want to sit outside on my deck in peace and quiet. Everyone thinks they have the right to make noise and don't want to consider other people's right to peace and quiet.

I got over noise anxiety by accepting that the world is noisy. Before, I strongly believed that the world should respect my wish to have peace and quiet. I saw every noise people made as an insult. It was very difficult, but I had to be compassionate towards myself and then accept that people make the noise they make, without even thinking about me, because they are greedy and want to get what they want without bothering to respect other people's peace. It was about soothing the painful contradiction in my mind of me vs. them.

Does psychiatry ever put the responsibility of healing the mind on the patient's ability to come to peace about things? Why does everything have to be about drugs and neurotransmitters?

The human ear and nervous system didn't evolve to cope with industrial and electronically-generated noise. I think "anxiety" is a natural response to unnatural sonic intrusions. Those who just try to "get used to it" are the ones behaving unnaturally.

Subwoofers are especially insidious, with the tendency of low bass to carry through walls that block other frequencies. The closest thing to 20 or 30 Hz bass in nature might be an earthquake, which puts the nervous system on high alert.

I recently moved from the city to the country. Then I discovered I could hear the trucks from a nearby major highway - huge transport trucks that use jake brakes. It's 24-7 and I can hear it in my house, bedroom, bathroom so I have to sleep with earplugs most nights. I even can hear it in the basement when I watch tv through a small window.

Then we have a barking dog belonging to a neighbor which I complained about. But the highway is annoying. I don't think it's really my fault as this is not a noise that people should enjoy listening to. I can't sit outside without the noise annoying me.

I bought noise cancelling headphones and earplugs, which help, but I just don't want to live near this kind of noise and have to mask all the natural sounds of wind, trees and birds, etc. My wife isn't as bothered by it so this is causing some grief. I have a lot of anxiety about it.

I just don't think it's normal to not be affected by loud engine and brake noises 24-7.

Wow, well it's nice to know that I'm not the only one who suffers from noise anxiety! I'm very irritated and want to just freak out when I hear sirens, motorcycles, loud bass noises, people chewing gum, screaming kids, cheap shoes clicking on the floor, especially high heels, people talking on their balcony next door (unfortunately I live in a damned apartment building!) I would so love to have a few acres of land in the country, and sometimes I say to myself, I wish I was deaf! Not a good thing for anyone to wish upon themselves, but it would be so cool if we could just hear the things we want and totally tune out the rest of the crap.

@anon224453: It could be from some kind of nervous issue, but more likely is feline hyperthyroidism. That's an overactive thyroid, and cats do get it. I had a cat with it and they need to be on medication. Please take your cat to the vet, tell him or her what's going on and ask for a thyroid panel. This is treatable.

Lately my cat has became really, really extra aggressive, attacking my five year old niece in the face. She latched onto my ankle, kicked and bit and jumped at my face and caught my lip and made me drip blood for like an hour. My girlfriend also got bit, and she attacked my other cat. It is just like it's random who she attacks.

It's only usually from loud noise, like dropping a bowl of cat food or sliding a table. The scratches I can deal with but the bites swell up so bad. I can hardly walk from her last attack. It started last week and then another a couple days ago.

Other cats in her family (siblings,father) have died from leukemia. Is this caused from that or some kind of noise anxiety?

I don't have a noise issue generally but, often when my fiance goes out to the bar he comes home and plays music. Every time I get woken up, I am infuriated, not because I have been woken up but because of the music. He always says it's not loud but I get so angry I start shaking, my heart races and I feel nauseated. Is this noise anxiety or am I just crazy?

I'm so happy to find out it's not just me, I almost cried. The noise makes me tense/ unable to sleep. I've been using diphenhydramine OTC to help me sleep, and online to quiet the noise and calm me down. I like the brown noise the best. The other thing that helps is going outside and being with friends. I hope this helps you!

Yes, yes! Exactly! I finally found it and I thought it was just me. I've been suffering from this for years now and it's turned life for me into hell!

My mother has mental problems from living through a war and my father is always asleep for some reason, so my mother is the only one raising the children (God knows why they had us in the first place). They've never really properly raised me or done much except for providing me with the basic things everyone needs (Food, house, etc.), so I was left to learn things by myself.

I grew up to be a strange introvert and literally spend all my free time in my bedroom. My sisters and mother are constantly yelling at each other having fights for no reason and my mother is a devout muslim so she recites the damn Qur'an every weekend. This went on for years without me being bothered by it, but since my 15th birthday it's really been getting on my nerves and now when I'm home I only come out of my bedroom to have dinner or go to the bathroom.

I never have any contact with my family anymore and try to avoid the noises all day. It's a pain it really is and I need treatment!

I am annoyed by the sound of chewing. I can't stand it at all. This varies from people eating chips, popcorn, or people chewing too loudly. There are many more noises that people make with their mouths that annoy me so much that I get extremely angry. Sometimes it's so bad I start crying from the irritation. Does this mean I have noise anxiety?

Why do we have to be the blame (e.g. saying its anxiety) when it's the noise causing the anxiety?

Anxiety is caused by something, so I 100 percent blame the noise for my noise anxiety.

My husband insists he can't hear (or feel) it but something (which I'm sure is loud fast techno music next door) is causing my ears and the who house to rumble. I've called noise control they said they came but I don't think they did all they said was it wasn't loud enough! If it's not loud enough, why is it affecting me like this? It's not tinnitus because it stopped, then this girl moved in next door and non-stop played her techno music which literally hurts my ears (and my husband and I have even had arguments about it). It's so pathetic. Why do people need to do this? What can I do? I'm at the point I've found another house to move to, it's that bad!

I'm the partner of someone who suffers from this problem. I don't have the same anxiety -- I know, I'm lucky! My question is: how can I support my partner when she's stressing about this, without causing her more stress? My temptation is always to 'make suggestions' which I've now learned isn't very helpful, but equally I don't like just sitting there and saying 'I know you're suffering but I can't help you.'

The neighbours are only very rarely noisy -- along the lines of two or three times a year, but the anticipation of the next 'noisy night' means that she suffers every night, expecting it to start up again. I've lived in some places where it was a lot noisier a lot more often, so twice a year is a real improvement for me!

Thanks for this. I had no idea what was wrong with me.

I can't stand the radio at my gym, half of the sounds my family makes, and most tapping and clicking. It's been getting worse and worse, I can barely sleep with the ticking of my clock, can't stand my cat licking herself, and I can't even look at my brother while he eats.

This article explained so much. I'm seeing my therapist tomorrow.

I live in an apartment and I can't stand being able to hear the neighbors above me. It drives me crazy whenever I hear them walking and they wash clothes at midnight and go out on the deck every half hour to smoke and stomp their feet on floor in like repetitive pattern, makes me really mad. I can even hear them talking sometimes. Also, I've become more sensitive to outside sounds like traffic going by and can't stand bass at even low volume. Is that noise anxiety?

I feel a sense of relief knowing I'm not alone and that there is a name for what I have been suffering with. Every day I wish for an ounce of peace and quiet. Some of the things that send me over the edge on a regular basis are phones ringing, doorbells, car alarms and car warning chimes, TVs, my mom's loud/shrill voice. I feel bad, but the same time,I have no control over it.

I have noticed it's been worse in the last two years since my eight-year relationship ended.

Ear plugs and headphones to drown out neighbor's stereo and entertaining over the fence just 12 feet from my bedroom window is one thing. I would much rather they just bloody well shut up and consider their neighbors and realize they are not the only people living in the neighborhood. It is their noise causing me stress.

@anon212529: First do not expect everyone to be like you. It does not mean they lack respect, although some really do. If they do behave a way that does not bother them, chances are, if you act like this, it won’t bother them either! That is actually something that irritates me when let’s say I do something that annoys someone (without me having that intention), then that person will come and do the same thing, and then right after will say “how does it feel now?” Usually the action won’t bother me, but the fact that the person did it only to tick me off, I don’t like it!

If you have a problem with someone, try to go talk to that person nicely, like a friend would, and try to explain the problem or what. Most of the time, people will be nice, that does not mean they will 100 percent agree with you, but they might try to accommodate you, or explain to you their viewpoint.

You go on treating these people like idiots, and it wouldn’t surprise me that you never contacted them.

As for your other problem, same thing. If that bothers you, talk to the person. Usually a condo association has rules and since you are all owners, you can vote for the law. First, I don’t suggest invading the condo life with lot of laws unless it is necessary. Next, try to also put yourself in the other people’s shoes to see if they are still wrong that way (try to be as unbiased as possible, it might require you to practice or concentrate a lot if you tend to be biased about yourself). If talking does not work, then take the appropriate measures!

I've always felt my anger at noise coming from other people as a response to their selfishness, lack of consideration, ignorance, etc. I think that still is a large part of it, but the fact that I literally go into a rage when my neighbors let their cabinets slam shut or tromp up the stairs seems to indicate that I have this soft-sound sensitivity.

I swear the acoustics in my house make the cabinet door shutting sound even louder when I'm in my living room than in my kitchen, and even when I slam my cabinet door shut in response (hoping against hope the idiots next door will think, "Wow, is my cabinet that loud?" but alas they never seem to get it) it doesn't even sound as loud. I own a town home (what some would call a condo) and there's no way I could move. Half of the offending neighbors have walked away from their houses and the bank's sold them for $60,000 than what I still owe (which is about 30 percent of my total value) so I'm stuck with them.

Totally aside: For you who complain about the lack of consideration also go into a rage when the neighbors' kids run wild? My neighbor's kid rides his scooter in my driveway and will often run through my yard. The association says I don't own that land, they do, so they won't ask the guy to tell his kid not to. Am I totally out of line for wanting it to stop? Never mind how totally disrespectful and rude it is, do I have to open my garage door and do a walk-around now to be sure the kid isn't lying wounded in my blind spot? Or could his dad just instill some respect for other peoples' property in the kid instead of letting him run amok!

People, take some magnesium glycinate or methlcobalamin (B12). Your nervous systems are working in overdrive. It's not the noise, it's you – and you can do something about it.

If this comment is too long for you, just scroll down to the clearly identified conclusion.

I am reading this and I have some stuff to add. I do not think that everything there is a personal mental problem, but rather a personal reaction to some stimulus (just like some food might get you to throw up). I have had a terrible episode which led to, let's say, a depressive state for a year and which kind of started with noise problems (but that state might also be the result of a head-collision I got right after that, but that does not matter; read on). Let me talk about some of my relationships with noise.

I never really had problem with noise, or how I felt in any home I living with (and I've lived in a lot of places), until later.

I was clubbing a lot when I was a young adult (not that long ago -- just a couple of years). I had disco-tinnitus when coming back sometimes, but it was really a non-issue as it was not bothering me (for me it was the music still bouncing in my head) and it was resolving the next day. So it was a non-issue, at least for the short-term. Heck, I did not even know the word tinnitus. That was just normal for me (with my probably semi-erroneous justification that it was just sound still bouncing. I was not that wrong though).

I have had fleeting tinnitus (you know hearing a sound for a couple of seconds, then it stops) from time to time. Then again, I believe it is a non-issue and it was normal for me, and I think almost everyone does experience this.

I had a bad hit on one ear when I was in my adolescence by some high school bully (they were hitting literally everyone being behind the head in the school yard that day and one jerk psycho rushed and by "accidentally" hit my right ear!) That ear did grow two to three times the normal size for a couple of hours probably, and for an hour I was probably hearing sound like people turning their sheets in the classroom (was it only an audio illusion or I was experiencing temporary hyperacusis? Who knows? It makes this too long to be able to analyze). But all that resolved after a couple of hours. I still felt a little weird with that ear physically, but very mildly and it was really a non-issue in practice, but who knows its long term consequence (that and any other injuries we may have suffered).

I often joked I was mildly deaf, but really, I could listen to a lot of conversations at the same time, plus as I am in everything, was very sensitive to details when it came to listening to what is happening around me (let's blame my curiosity!).

So environment noise was really a non-issue almost all my life, except, if I can draw a parallel with you guys, I could say that at my previous apartment, some specific sounds could drive me crazy, mostly when I was hearing noise (e.g. people talking) that were resonating in the wall. It was really a specific kind of resonance/noise that I could not really stand (some it is nails on a chalkboard, for example, just imagine that constantly), especially that it was happening mostly only in my bedroom at bedtime when the downstairs neighbor would listen to TV, talk on the phone, etc. Without that, all was OK with me.

Then after two or three years in that first apartment with my girlfriend, I moved to a new apartment (which I bought the building, so harder to move, I was the owner). After even two or three days, with little noise around and how it was resonating, was kind of bringing me down, as I was wishing for total peace in my new home. I was not the only one complaining, though (so it was not entirely a personal issue), but let's say it was hurting me more than others.

Not only it was pissing me off, but some noises were really invasive! It was not internal noise, as if I was blocking my ears. I could almost hear total silence. If you are picky about details, I would say except internal noises that were not bothering me and were normal to me. I was not experiencing this elsewhere (e.g. at job) even if I tried hard to focus on all little noises. So for me, it was really the way it was "sounding" in that particular place.

By the way, I never listened to music that loud with headphones (yes I was clubbing a lot, but if I had headphones I could listen at a very low level. Same thing when I was listening to TV too). However, when searching how I could improve my home's acoustic properties (e.g. isolating wall), I looked in forums, etc. and finally understood what that word tinnitus was. I'd heard the word, and I did know a bit of the temporary phenomena I was experiencing and found normal. My dad told me about a mild sound he was sometimes hearing at night now, and the same with my girlfriend, but I did not really make the link between the word and phenomena until then. Anyway, that led me to listen to white noise which was supposed to help ease migraine, tinnitus, etc. I gave it a try, thought it could not hurt, and I might have listened to it too loud to cancel the noise around for extended period (yeah, my ears felt different a little after some of my listening session). That might not have helped, but then, let's not draw any conclusion; it is a hypothesis on my list that I, of course, cannot confirm.

So an irritating tinnitus then developed less than a month after moving and experiencing this noise irritation (irritating tinnitus = nightmare). I qualify it as irritating as I might have other internal sounds that enter into the tinnitus definition, but you know if you can almost never hear it and when you hear it it is an almost non-existent/non-intrusive background soft noise, then it is not a real issue in practice like Tinnitus with a big T. And along with this I developed more noise sensitivity (all might be related; if my ears/head got damaged some way, then I might experience multiple symptoms), hearing a simple fridge was not good for my headaches, etc.

Then the head-on collision. Then I felt so bad physically that I stopped everything (sports, jobs, etc.) and of course got sad/depressed. Especially that I thought this time, all this was not temporary and I could not tolerate this constantly. It lasted near a year at that level (a long and painful road which I will spare you the details of). As for tinnitus, it varied a lot during that year, but has now stabilized. Other symptoms are still present, but the intensity of the problem is not the same, I can live, joke around, works, and am back to playing sports.

Still, I am probably the new owner of an annoying frequency tinnitus which I wish would disappear sooner or later, but it does not sound good for that, so I have to live with it.

Conclusion: All this said, however, if a very particular place/stimulus is making you go out of your mind, why do we still endure it? Heck, some people here say they have endured for 20 years the noise at their job that they could not stand. That is a lot of time to endure something that maybe is really hurting you (and maybe others that you do not know!) Not everything is only a personal mental problem, you know.

Yes, I can understand why we do not act in a lot of situations even if we believe we should. But ask yourself that next time you feel bad because of something, until the problem evolves into a bigger problem, it is your life and it is your health.

@anon211294, Post 200: I hear banging noises from time to time, and I believe it's electrical and internet related. Because the minute I turn my computer on that's when the banging starts. It sounds similar to a gun or a m-80 fire cracker like the ones you hear during the 4th of July celebration. I hear it on the roof top, the walls, and sometimes the floor. It remains a mystery as to what is the exact cause of it.

I also hear the banging whenever a police helicopter flies over my apartment, so the problem is definitely electronic or some type of interference going on. It's either the banging or the static pop noises. Also, the lights in my apartment flicker, pulse, and dim sometimes during the noise.

I have been hearing this noise for months, but can't locate it. It sounds like a jackhammer and it reverberates in my house. The sound will stop for a short time periodically; otherwise it is continuous.

I called my township but they said they need to know where it is coming from, so I do have a problem here. I have traffic noise too, but this is a separate sound from that. It is also definitely not from a sound inside my house.

Poster 192: You spoke my mind completely. I'm listening to a din right now that went up to almost 70 db, two doors down. The neighbourhood hates it but no one's doing anything to stop it, not even the police. The owners who rent the place to the din-makers live right opposite! They don't do anything either.

@s077shazza: I feel your pain, truly. There are no words to say just how much this has destroyed my life and robbed me of just about everything, mentally, spiritually and physically. I, too, have battled with suicidal thoughts, and in the last year even reaching the point of obtaining the means and making plans for it. I only try to hang on because of not wanting to hurt my sister or my nan. It would be really great to be able to talk to people in the same boat.

Like yourself, I also have so much to share. I am also on Topic, the site with forums, where anything can be discussed. My heart goes out to all who suffer with this mental torture.

I can't believe it's not just me! I've been struggling and have tried killing myself many times over this because I felt abnormal and it was just me!

I need to talk to anyone. I have so much to share and I want someone to talk to who understands. Girl exotica, you sound just like me. Please help.

Hearing my neighbours through the walls or even outside in the garden really upsets me and sends me into a panic attack. I can't stand the sound of their voices, the music they listen to, children playing ball games. I just want my home to be peaceful. I'm taking Citalopram to help control my anxiety but not sure if it really works because I'm still anxious most of the time.

My naturopath prescribed me magnesium because my hearing is quite sensitive (no, my ears don't hurt when hearing noises). At first I took two of it with dinner every day, then she upped it to two with dinner and one with lunch. After a few months, she called it off as it didn't seem to work.

I had an audiogram done. The ENT specialist seemed to be trying to conceal his mirth and it probably seemed to him that I'm pretending to hear sounds in the test which he thinks I can't hear. Sigh. Anyway, the test results showed my hearing is good, maybe too good. I wish I were a little deaf.

@anon163025, Post 149: I'm in the exact same situation as you are. We also moved and had to give up our permanent home once just because of the neighbours. I really feel what you're going through.

I just wanted to warn everybody that listening to music that's way too loud will damage your ears, Especially if your listening with a head set directly in your ears. The reason i mention this, is i would hear this loud ringing sound in my ear late at night at bed time and i couldn't blame this sound on the loud neighbors. But i was able to link the ringing noise to my loud music that was causing it. Once i stopped listening to music directly in my ear, the ringing noise ceased.

Listening to music real loud in my ears was to drown out the noise others were making at that time, But since i have moved to a more peaceful surrounding as i mentioned before i no longer have to abuse my own ears. It's amazing how noise from others can cause us to hurt ourselves in reaction to it.

Poster 152, 189 & 190 checking in again. Last post. It's really great that I've been able to finally self-diagnose and treat this "disease" the best way I know how with legal, over-the-counter herbs. The car with the loud stereo playing thumpy rap music has never bothered me less in the 10-plus years it's been happening since I made my "brand switch" to the L-leucine-free magnolia bark a few days ago (two per day, double the recommended, but oh well).

I may be taking my long-term health lightly with these herbs, but it's a price I can accept at this point. I mean, what's one's life worth anyway when one has spent the vast majority of it the victim of some unwarranted, faceless psychological jihad of which there's no clear escape except death, where you find that you may very well be that "someone who has it even worse off"?

I am a 30 year old white male. As a child, the vacuum cleaner used to terrify me.

In my early 20s I had some sort of nervous/mental breakdown or something and just stayed in bed for about six months. I think after that my noise anxiety started real bad. I couldn't tolerate other people's movements at home: sounds of footsteps, people moving things, etc., would just make me insane and cause me to punch and break things, so I got my own apartment.

I have since learned to tolerate (just about) general movement/footstep noises. although sometimes my neighbors' voices make me uncomfortable, so I put some music on. but my neighbors' sexual noises are what really make me insane. I don't know why.

After my previously mentioned nervous/mental breakdown, I had severe anxiety problems which persisted for a few years while I was re-establishing myself in society. I abused benzos. I then was practically an alcoholic for another couple of years because my neighbors' sexual sounds were keeping me awake for weeks at a time.

Also of particular interest is that I’m a musician, so I don't know if my hearing is perhaps a bit more sensitive than regular folks.

The ironic thing is when I was a child I had some kind of hearing problem and they predicted that I would have been deaf by the time I was 15 if I didn't have some kind of operation, which I never had. Now I do often wish I was deaf.

I posted the last message (Post 189) and just wanted to update in regards to that message that I just switched brands of magnolia bark yesterday. This other brand I was taking had L-leucine in it. I feel perfect now; nothing can bother me. Avoid L-leucine at all costs!

I'm posting here again. I was anon164977, Post 152 (posted here a few months ago). I'm a 38-year old, permanently single (living with my elderly parents), Caucasian, heterosexual, American male with no hope, no future at all. I'm best generally described as "Loser" (Capital L).

I dropped out of college (due to constant noise harassment from dormitory residents, disillusionment, isolation, lack of focus, alcohol addiction and poor grades) in 1995 and have since had no employment and have been financially dependent on the aforementioned parents. Everywhere I've been (schools, colleges, temporary jobs, other trips) was nothing but a personal hell for me due to the sewage known as the majority of the "human" race. I never want to get married and never have. I sure as hell never want kids and never did. I absolutely hate the majority of people.

I hate the noisy conditions I've been forced to live under, thanks to these cretins. They all deserve to die violently and be transferred to a special Tenth Circle of Hell for all of eternity. I'm not only now taking magnolia bark (an herbal anti-anxiety sedative similar to Valium but milder --and I stress mild, as in "It isn't bleeping working!"), but I also (about a month ago) added milk thistle and turmeric extracts which are pro-liver health (a bad liver is the "anger center", they say). I used to drink, but that was years ago. Turmeric also supposedly lowers an enzyme (or something) responsible for manic depression, supposedly similar to how Lithium works, they say.

So there you have it: I'm taking three herbs, two of which help the liver, and two of which supposedly mimic Valium and Lithium, which you would think would turn me into a tranquil, emotionless robot, right? And I'm still wishing death upon loud vehicle-operating scumbags near my home, and I'm still contemplating suicide. I'm losing all hope. I now fantasize about driving to Chicago and going up to the edge of the roof of the Sears Tower (the tallest building in the US), taking a full bottle (120 capsules) of magnolia bark, passing out, and falling off.

Well my solution would be to move from your current noisy location, but not everybody can afford to just pack up and move. In my case, that other building where i was living the on site manager did absolutely zilch about the problem. However, in my current occupancy i am living around working class individuals and they need their sleep just like i do. All of us are considerate towards each other.

At that other building, i had promised certain neighbors (the ones that i liked) that i would go back and visit them. But the real truth is i have no intention of ever stepping foot back in that noisy hell hole. You guys have no idea how this noise issue can ruin friendships and cause you to never see people again. And yes, it is that serious. I had to turn the ringer down on my phone due to telemarketers always calling.

My solution to everyone other than moving, on my off days i would hang out at libraries reading. Also i had an extra walk in closet that i was using to store books. I moved my lazy boy chair in that closet close the door and i would relax until i feel asleep. I could barely hear anything while in that closet.

Rehashing this brings tears to my eyes just remembering all that i went through. Even my own family was tired of my phone calls to them complaining about noises.

Try a magnesium supplement. Look for sensitive hearing and its links with magnesium deficiency, and probable causes of hypersensitivity to sound (also know as hyper-acute hearing)."

Is anyone going to offer a solution? So far, I have read the same thing over and over. What do we do about it? Someone please offer some concrete ways to go about trying to turn off all of the sounds that are distracting us.

I am really glad I found this web page. I too felt as if I was alone in having this problem. For me, my noise anxiety is out of control. I feel I live in the noisiest neighborhood in the world! I am surrounded by obsessive compulsive lawn care. Honestly, from dawn til dusk, all I hear are lawn mowers, leaf blowers, trimmers, etc. I also live across the street from daycare with kids screaming all day. I live within eye shot of the local hockey rink that blasts music at night, and I am a few blocks from the local baseball field (I always know who's up to bat).

I honestly can't concentrate at all anymore. I feel crippled by the anxiety and rage I feel every time someone outside makes noise that intrudes into my home. I get so angry sometimes that I have a hard time controlling my rage; I just want them to shut up! I want my constitutional right to domestic peace and tranquility!

I have a four year old and a majority of the sounds that cause my anxiety are from him: his toys, him constantly opening and closing things and doors, the sound of him chewing. I feel so guilty but I feel angry at him and I don't understand why it affects me so much!

Okay, so I have had this problem all my life. I just found this website page. This is so great knowing I am not alone! My sister always said I was crazy for (Oh, crap! my mom is yelling about ruined steak, she should be talking, but she is talking very loudly. Anyhow, so I don't just hate loud noises! (loud noises make me jump and feel unsafe.) I also hate soft noises. My sister always snores, or breathes loudly when sleeping. My mom is humming very loudly!

Sometimes when I hear my sister chew with her mouth open I fell like I want to cry! Now my mom is complaining loudly about how she cleaned the house and now it is a "mess" again, which it is not! Anyhow, my sister is 13 so she should know how to chew! I am 11 and I know how! She also sniffles a lot and I do not know why she does not blow her nose. I can not even tell how loudly my mom speaks on the phone, and in the car.

Actually I just posted something discussing a support group. I found one! 169 said it was "age/panic reflex to "soft sounds." I searched this and found a helpful webage. They have a support group on yahoo! google it and you should find the support group. The webpage doesn't allow me to post links.

I have posted a few times on this before. It helps so much reading other posts! I just wanted to say I agree with 174 and 173 that a support group would be great. I know some people who are great with computers and make their own webpages. Since everyone lives so far away we could have group discussions online.

Just today I was telling my family doctor about my inability to tolerate noise. She didn't really seem interested in hearing about it. I guess I will have to go to a therapist of some sort, huh?

Anyway, I live in an apartment. It is now summer and the pool is always loud: kids screaming, music blaring and water splashing. I get so angry that I start wishing that lightning would strike the place.

My neighbors upstairs make a lot of noise, day and night. They bang pots and pans, slam cabinet doors and walk like they weigh 500 pounds. And as others have said, when they are not at home, I still cannot relax because I dread them coming home.

I also cannot stand the sounds of the dog eating or drinking, kitchen noises, computer sounds of any kind, including clicking mice, loud keyboarding or the dreaded windows error sound. Can't stand the sound of people chewing or hiccups. Snoring will drive me insane, even if the offender is in another area of the house and I can barely hear it.

I recently went hiking on the Appalachian Trail and due to inclement weather, ended up having to share a shelter with about eight people, all of whom snored. It's a good thing the weather broke and I could get out of there, because had I not been able to get away from them, I may have assaulted someone. Yes, I had earplugs too!

I hope we can all find some relief for our pain. I know, speaking for myself, I am about to go off the deep end.

Well, it only took me 56 years to figure out that my noise sensitivities weren't "just me." I'll say that it makes me crazy. Like others have said, the only sounds that bother me are the ones that I can't control.

For instance, a loud neighbor drives me nuts. But, if i put in my headset and crank up Pandora, I'm OK again. It's because i control the noise. But, surely, it would be nice to have a retreat where you know that you can have some undisturbed time. Well, i moved up to the mountains and live in a very nice home on a ridge with a view of canyons, forests, and snow-capped mountains. I only have two neighbors and the nearest is 1,000 feet away. But, he has a generator that he runs all too often instead of using his solar panels (we live off-grid) and my over-sensitive hearing picks up the low frequency.

So, here i sit, surrounded by nature and many miles away from anyone but my generator-running neighbor. No rest for the wicked, i suppose. So, it's Joan Jett at 110 db with my ear buds rather than listening to the wind through the pine trees. sigh.

i am so glad i read this! i suffer from this too, and it's horrible. I've had it since i was 7 or something. Before that age. i was a happy kid, nothing got in the way of my fun and enjoyment, and then i remember i was depressed because i lost my favorite teddy bear. i would cry every night and everything. i am not 13 years old, i don't sleep with the bear anymore. neither do i look at him. i don't know why.

Right now, this noise thing is at its worst. i hate it so bad. sometimes, it makes me so stressed. i run out of the room crying and headbutt walls and punch them, causing myself harm, and other things like smashing what makes the noise, or shouting at the top of my voice to drown it out.

i eat by myself now, in my room, with the doors closed and music on. but when i hear a 'chink' or a scrape of cutlery, it makes me mad. Thank you so much for posting this site. --Thomas W.

I never knew so many other people dealt with this problem. All of my friends think I'm crazy for getting so angry at people chewing loud. But it has become a serious problem for me. I can't even sit in the same room as someone who is eating anymore. I leave the room as soon as someone begins smacking on food.

Removing myself from the noise is the only way to keep myself from getting extremely angry. It's a terrible feeling and now that I know so many people deal with the same problem I don't feel so embarrassed to ask my doctor for help. Thanks guys!

I am so happy to find this site! Things that set me off are: gum chewing/cracking/popping, car stereos with the bass, my neighbors playing their stereos, sucking teeth, popcorn/chip crunching, teeth on forks, sniffling/snorting. I just thought I was too "fussy" or "particular". I'm not perfect, and I don't expect people to be perfect. No one else I knew was ever bothered by those things. My family never understood -- "just ignore it" is what I heard for years.

Now as a married adult, my husband doesn't understand when I get so upset that I want to smash in the neighbors stereos and move far away. He tells me that somethings wrong me and I should get checked. Oh, I've tried so hard for years to block out the things that get me so angry, but I never could.

I too, sleep with ear plugs every night and I keep my ipod in my ears at work. Now that the warmer weather is here, it is especially hard. I find that I don't want to go home after work since the neighborhood is the "loudest" and most annoying place.

After reading so many of the posts, I will be speaking with my doctor to try to find something to help with this condition. Good luck everyone!

I knew I had a problem when I realized how much I am annoyed by loud noises, as well as common daily noises like people sniffing. I just wish to stick a tissue in their nose. I sniff as well but I can bear my own sniffing but not others.

Today, I got in a fight with my mother, and literally punched her and kicked because I couldn't bear her voice and my existing anger at her. In two seconds, uncontrollably, I pushed, punched, and kicked her. 10 seconds later, I told myself I knew I could have control myself. Our argument was not to that point and I dearly knows she cares for me.

I advise poster 172 to hire a lawyer immediately or move your business. You should not have to put up with that! It is not reasonable at all.

And to poster 173: I'm in Canada but I was thinking of the same thing. A support group for those suffering with this. I wish there were "gated" noise communities or condos.

Thank God it is not just me. I have slowly been going insane and would like to hook up with a friend going through the same in england.

I feel I am going slowly insane, and at times I think of ending it all. It soon passes, but when there is no noise I am just waiting for the next noise.

I'm so glad that I found this place and realized that I'm not alone! I suffer horribly from noise anxiety when it comes to people's loud, annoying, subwoofer bass. I own my own business, and next door to me a tattoo shop moved in a few months ago. Now all I hear for eight hours a day is loud, annoying bass from the poorly insulated wall that separates us.

I have talked to them, and they have made it clear that they do not care. They actually installed a surround system in the shared wall! I've talked to the management company for the complex and they haven't done anything either, except for telling the people to put the speakers on foam board. Yeah, like that did anything. It is affecting my customers, my employees, and me horribly.

I'm now having to take valium almost every day just to keep my anxiety and blood pressure down. It is literally driving me crazy and I don't know what to do! I have tried yoga, meditation, deep breathing exercises, small breaks throughout the day away from the noise, but the second I hear that horrible bass I just feel like I want to kill someone. My mood goes from happy to crazy in literally seconds. Should I seek an attorney? Don't I have rights as a tenant to not have to listen to this in my place of business?

Air brakes on buses and trucks.

Car horns, car stereos (I'm so tired of hip hop and reggaeton) and souped-up engines.

The creeps who operate these devices.

Yesterday I was at school and everyone in my class kept shouting out answers. I couldn't stand everyone talking at the same time. I grabbed my hair and put my head down. I wanted to scream out loud but I couldn't. I started pulling my hair saying in my head shut up! All that noise was making me go crazy I felt like pulling out all my hair.

We have a diagnosable condition called soft sound sensitivity. We have a rage/panic reflex to "soft sounds" - those sounds that most people would consider non-threatening background noise.

I stumbled upon this page after, in one of my anxiety and noise stress situations, I googled “sensitivity to noise.” Wow, so, so many people suffering with this disabling and mentally crippling problem.

I have always been a nervous person so I know that it is not just excessive and loud noise like junky cars/a.k.a. pathetic moron boy racers revving up their tin can excuse for a car, but also every day things. I I wrote down every one, then I would be here all year. But many people on here have covered a great deal of them, in addition to pretty much hitting the nail on the head as if they had been in my brain and got all the words each cell has been silently screaming and wrote it all down here, word for word, experience for experience and feelings/wishes for feelings/wishes.

Some example sounds that, at worst, make me want to either kill the person/people (violently) or at best leave me agitated: Loud breathing, sniffing, whistling, wind/gusts, gum popping, packet rustling, people laughing incessantly/certain laughs, people humming, certain chewing or crunching, high pitched shrieks like toddlers and small children, as well as the usual motor mouths you get who never stop talking and always at a volume half the people on the bus with them would hear. And of course the same types on their bloody phones. I tell you, although I don’t consider myself a violent person, I have found myself fantasizing about punching in the heads of each and every offending source!

But with all these things, if they happen in public places, the relief is knowing that you can go home at the end of the day, that is except when all the crap happens to include your living environment, a.k.a. neighbor noise! This is the worst kind because, unlike anywhere else, you will be far more exposed unless you stay away from your own home most the time. I totally relate to what one other said about how they literally freeze with fear and anxiety at the sounds of what I know are normal living noises. Just the waiting, when the neighbours are out and it’s quiet, and fear of the next thump, bang or door slamming when they return, instills anxiety and dread in me. I am lucky at least that I live on the top floor, have a massive porch between me and the person on one side so don’t hear them because I am not joined up to them, have no neighbor on the other side, as I’m on a corner/end, so my only gripe is the flat below, which until yesterday, was bearable because it was a very elderly couple living there who were the ideal quiet neighbours, not much moving noise, bed early etc. Only exception was one or two hours of tv in the evening because, typically hard of hearing they would need to turn it up. Even that, when it occurred, would make my blood boil. Then afterward, I would tell myself that it could much worse and whoever moves in after they go is going to be at least more noticeable, unless they too are really old and inactive, which I knew was unlikely to happen as unlike this couple the next people would be renters as the place had been bought by my landlady and the agent who lets it generally deals with young people or students.

Typically, old people here are home owners or if they rent it is retirement accommodation, not going through letting agents. And I wasn’t wrong: there’s a noticeable difference in the living noise now! My respite is the fact they work in the day and their kid is at school! I’m cherishing it now but dread the after 4 or 5 p.m. rush and evenings and weekends. It’s total hell living like this; even in quiet I am never at rest because I am always tense with anticipation of the next noise and when it will strike! It’s totally akin to walking on thin ice or in between stormy winds; always the fear of when that ice might crack or the next gust of wind will strike.

Sorry for posting a full on essay, it is just so comforting to know that I am far from alone with this daily struggle that has left me wanting to die. In my last flat, I nearly had nervous breakdown because I had people above me and they were incredibly obnoxious and ill mannered. This is where I do agree with what many have said about how it is not so totally us with the problem, but the rising scum of society and lack of respect. I accept that I have noise issues with everyday moving noise, but since when does that justify people who rev up their cars, shout in their mobile phones, slam doors instead of close them, let their brats scream and dogs bark and stamp instead of walk etc etc.? I could go on!

My point is that I might have noise issues but there is also a great problem with our society, our world and the significant rise of loud, disrespectful, ill mannered and non-empathetic people that are just accepted as the norm. All the while it seems easier to label people like us, who are mindful and sensitive, as crazy, mentally ill or anti-social. There is no balance in this society and I know it is only going to get worse. It seems like loud is normal and people generally do not care.

I second what more than a couple of posters have said: I dream about the day where I can just go find a place on island or mountain far away from any human being, present company of all folks on here excepted! And I never thought that there would be an exception to that until coming on here and seeing how many like minded people there are. I only wish were all in the same town or country and could all get together build or create complexes and living area where the only neighbours would be like minded! I know that with any neighbor I’ve had I’ve always been extremely mindful and careful not to be heard, even tip toeing and not having the tv turned up loud. And even away from any neighbor I instinctively have my tv low, always the first one or two notches so I can hear it at, because I very so easily find it too loud to tolerate.

I contemplated going to my doctor because sometimes I feel so desperate I would happily knock myself out with some drug like Valium to escape. But then I don’t really want to be drug dependent. I already struggle with addictive tendencies, and of course, I resort to maladaptive ways to cope with the stress that this daily struggle, just to for that oh-so-short-lived bloody escape and zone out. If any one has come across any affective treatment or medication, or any non destructive means, to even at least make this more bearable, then I would love to hear from you. A problem shared is a problem halved, and there’s strength in numbers. My hope, love respect to you all. Jo x.

I have been totally intolerant to noise for years. But I'm beginning to discover that it's not the noise alone that's the problem. You hear the noise and immediately relate it to the total ignorance of the person making the noise. That's what makes the noise so difficult to bear. And the stress is worsened by the fact that there seems to be nothing you can do about it - even if you are perfectly within your rights to complain about it to the relevant authorities.

Take the Council for instance. They seem to have the perfect system so that people can complain about noise and they will investigate it. But that's all they seem to do. And as for people doing building works on a Sunday (which they are certainly not supposed to do), try calling the council then. The Council is closed on a Sunday, so the the people doing the building work get the job done and that's that. Everyone is entitled to a bit of peace and quiet in the evenings and on the weekends, and it's about time something more was done about it.

Reading everyone's experience with this, I find most of them could be written by myself, word for word.

We seem to share a common base of:

The disbelief at other people's complete disregard for others as they play their music, chew their gum, let their dogs bark, yak away on their cellphones, etc., etc., etc.

The original belief we are the only ones experiencing such stress and anxiety over noises. (my wife is part of a big family and she won't complain, but once I've mentioned how a certain sound is bothering me, she will join me in empathy. I am luckier than most. I couldn't imagine being married to a person who thought I was just being a kill-joy), the anxiety, stress and fear you'll lose control and hurt someone.

And finally, all of us are articulate and write in an intelligent fashion.

For me, as summer approaches, it's that familiar feeling we all know of dreaded anticipation. When will it start? How long will it last? How upset will it make me this time?

I personally don't think we need drugs, for crying out loud. What we do need are laws that protect us from these intrusions on our psyche. Easier to give us drugs, though, isn't it?

Seriously, if there was an operation, or some kind of procedure to lessen my hearing down to about 10 percent, I would do it. I would even learn sign language. It's that bad for me.

My personal diagnosis: Most of us have the biggest problem with the disregard of others concerning disturbing our peace and quiet. It may sound petty, but it's the exact same thing as someone standing too close to you when they speak. It's all about personal space and respect. --Brad F.

Great to find it is not just me. The vacuum cleaner gets me, Random noises in shops, like tills and alarms because a door is opened.

A reputable high street retailer leaving the phone ringing constantly after office hours. Otherwise, they seem to have great customer service reputation.

As for bass noises, those bother me sometimes, but I heard somewhere that low tones can actually make you feel sick.

My problem seems to bother me mostly at work. When lots of things are going on, people with loud voices are trying to get on with work, I actually feel disoriented, and feel like telling everyone to get lost.

Thank you everyone who has commented. I have been feeling so isolated lately and am constantly made to feel like there's something wrong with me because i hate noise.

My landlord recently decided to reroof the whole building and didn't think he needed to inform me before the banging started. I ended up being hospitalized with a tachycardia after the noise made me so stressed, but the landlord refused to let me out of my contract.

People with loud voices are the worst, especially people who feel the need to shout on the phone. If someone said they could hear my entire phone conversation, i would be mortified and immediately resolve to talk more quietly. What gets me is that people show no consideration or empathy for those of us that do not want other peoples noise intruding constantly into our lives.

There are many anxieties people have that i don't understand, but i make an effort to show empathy and consideration to others. Why can't people show us the same consideration and stop their dog barking all night!

I feel okay when it's quiet. If we are going somewhere, and my children start arguing and even making noise, I get stressed and feel very ill. It happens regularly and it makes my life very difficult.

Also if there are background noises like in a cafe where people are talking loudly all at once. It makes me very anxious.

I have extremely rude, noisy neighbors also. The noise in my neighborhood is so horrible. Someone's dog is always barking, children screaming, not talking when they play, people sitting in their driveways with their motorcycles or ATVs going, people playing loud music, and when it's fireworks time that's all you hear for at least two weeks. Especially 180's. With the housing market so bad and our age, moving is not a option. My husband and I hate it here.

Wow. I thought I was the only one. No one understands this. I hate to work because of the noise level. Bass music and popping and snapping of gum sends me through the roof in a split second.

I have noise canceling headphones for work, but I can still hear the talking through them with music playing. What kind of doctor can help with this? I feel like I am going to lose my mind.

I had to laugh when I read all the different noises that affect people,I thought it was just me being grumpy as I got older. My particular dread is very deep bass on stereo systems. Even if it can be barely heard it winds me up something chronic and I could go and smash the stereo system with a sledge hammer. Arrgh!

finally, I'm not alone. i live in malta and shifted two times because of neighbors' noises.

I'm irritated especially by children running, doors and garage doors shutting loudly. the problem began when i was married 10 years ago, from my mother's house we went to live in an apartment with neighbors in the upper floor and garages under.

from the first days it was difficult for me to cope with noises that i have never had in mother's home. now after 10 years living i moved to a house but still i have to sleep with earplugs because of the neighbours' noises.

my heart feels it beats like 10 times per second. I'm so afraid of noises like these, even my blood pressure goes up. I went to a doctor and he prescribed me depressants but that doesn't work on sounds but they left me tired, so i gave up and don't know how to overcome it. i wish that i can live alone around a mountain.

My neighbors play the drums and it's so annoying. I feel crazy. It's 20 minutes here and 20 minutes there but adding it up makes me go nuts. I asked them to stop but they're jerks and won't.

Even when the noise does stop I'm so scared of when it's going to start again that I worry for hours and cannot sleep. Can somebody help?

I am going to the doctor on Friday about this for fear of doing serious harm to someone. I cannot stand the traffic noise or loud mufflers and it seems most of the cars that drive by have them. The idiot who lives across the street from me runs a junk yard out of his house, with constant loud junky cars coming and going.

The old woman next door to me has two beagles in a pen that bark at everything night and day and everyone else over here has barking dogs. I also live close to a racetrack that runs some kind of loud junky cars about five days a week nine months of the year.

If the doctor does not give me some kind of pills for anxiety, I fear I will do bodily harm to someone. I can`t take much more of this and summer has not even started with the idiots mowing grass at 7:30 in the morning on the weekend. I hate noise and I hate my neighbors.

I could almost cry reading everyone's comments. For so long I have been crippled by this problem and always thought I suffered alone.

My worst noise is dogs barking. I am 34 and at 18 years old, I wrote a note to the neighbor across the street who was going to school to be a doctor. He was never home. His husky would sit at the open window and howl for hours. I would lie in bed, tossing and turning. A few weeks later, I realized he would at least close the window, but I could still hear the dog.

We just bought a new house and almost every person in our cul de sac has dogs. I didn't notice when we looked at the house because it was winter. I would always look around for signs of dogs, but didn't see any. We just got the keys yesterday and they were all in their back yards barking. I'm hoping since it's an allotment, people won't tolerate it. But then again, no one else seems to have these issues but me, so no one else would care. The worst is at night. If I hear dogs barking at night I will lose my mind!

My second worst noise is gum popping/smacking/cracking. Dear lord in heaven, everywhere I go someone pops their gum. Like they flock to me. Movie theater, work, church. If I'm sitting in a movie theater and there are seats available everywhere, I kid you not, a gum popper will sit right next to me. Never fails. My close friends know how I am and they have seen it first hand. Can't concentrate on anything else but the popping. I have a co-worker who pops his gum and I go to him at least a few times a week asking him to stop in a nice way. He apologizes and spits it out. We almost make a joke out of it. I just can't understand why he chews the gum if he knows I'm just going to ask him to spit it out. Like he forgets that fast that it bothers me. I would never do something on a daily basis that I knew bothered someone.

Thirdly, basketball dribbling or skateboarding by kids in the neighborhood. The constant pounding of the ball or the loud thud after the skateboard hits the concrete. This is one I try hard to tune out because they are just kids and I'm glad they are outside playing.

Wow, this feels so good to get off my chest. My husband doesn't have these issues so I never have anyone to vent to. That's probably why I just wrote a lot. I agree that it's others around us who were never taught manners or consideration for others around you. Thanks for listening.

I agree that "noise anxiety" is integrally associated with severe depression because there was a period in my late adolescence from 1982-1984 when I was *severely* depressed and almost completely reclusive as a result, to the point that I was very sensitive to any loud noises from outside. They would almost make me "jump inside myself", but as the depression lessened with the increasingly imperative interaction of having to get a job and work after graduating high school or get further education, this particular symptom of the depression left me and has never returned since.

I may still get startled by a sudden loud unidentified noise like most people would, but I do not feel the "psychic" disturbance from it that I once did. At the time I was very introverted to what was going on within me mentally and I had lost the usual environmental awareness that "normal" people have from regular interaction with external sensory factors. Unless it is associated with an auditory dysfunction, I think that when part of a mood disorder it will pass with the mood. With me, it was not a simply "miserable" depression but one in which I felt especially vulnerable and guilt-ridden.

When a person turns the "weapons" of blame and shame on themselves strongly enough almost anything can redound against their senses as an extra-accusatory disturbance.

I've been taking magnolia bark (a 600mg extract) once a day for several weeks to deal with what has been (for years) a continuous, unending barrage of noise harassment from my neighbors (and other strange people) near my residence for at least a decade now. The noises are mostly vehicular-related (loud, junker cars/trucks, semi trucks or loud motorcycles), but occasionally fireworks. I've felt for years these sounds were being directed at me (still do). This is in a small, rural Minnesota town of under 1,000 people.

A couple of years ago, when I complained to the local police (angrily) about neighborhood fireworks one fourth of July, I later experienced what I concluded to be a retaliation barrage of multiple fireworks (hundreds) directed at me. Furthermore, after that complaint, the annual town festival a few weeks later (which never included fireworks in the nearly 30 years my family lived in this town) used very loud fireworks randomly throughout the day on one particular Saturday (even in daylight).

I had called police over the past several years on multiple occasions, never to any good effect. The local police dispatch acted like I was the problem for daring to call them (they weren't helpful, always interrupting me), and so I gave up calling them two years ago. I don't know my neighbors; they are all random, sketchy, unfriendly, inconsiderate, rude jerks, with no regard for my personal well being.

I've become convinced they've been constantly observing me (spying on me) for years (at least 15 years now).

I don't travel anymore. On past car trips (years ago) multiple random cars, immediately when passing me, suddenly slowed down to pull over, in the middle of nowhere on two-lane highways. I've been in countless near-accidents. Year in, year out, from approximately mid-March through November (whenever there's generally pleasant, snow-free conditions) is a nearly constant, yet unpredictable assault of noises (slamming doors, loud vehicles, even small planes sometimes flying what seems obviously way too low and deliberately and directly over my roof, screaming kids, fireworks, shouting, etc.) and sometimes these noises seem timed, like when I'm entering my room or moving to another part of my room, reinforcing the idea that the noises are deliberately designed for me and only possible through some sort of surveillance of me.

My personal feelings have spanned the spectrum from depression to anxiety to anger to frustration to despair to hopelessness to cynicism about the "goodness of people" to wanting to find a far-away, remote location to live in and the means to do it to wanting to murder those responsible. That's why I turned to magnolia bark. I'm thinking of taking double the recommended dosage and taking 2/day, because I just don't feel quite mellow enough at this point. I'm hopeful this self-prescribed herbal med will eventually "re-wire" my brain chemistry over time so that my neighbors' little noise campaigns will be of no effect because I neither want to commit homicide nor go to prison for any length of time.

I always thought of myself a "good person", considered "shy" by most and I never had a criminal record, for those who think I "deserve" this. I also am taking the aforementioned magnolia bark because I just spent the last five months in my room with the curtains shut during the daytime, with depression and thoughts of suicide swimming around my head.

I've now opened the curtains and feel more confident, but the contempt I have still remains (although not outwardly expressed nearly as much). I tried, as of yesterday, to channel the contempt by convincing myself about the how pathetic people that devote day and night, nearly year-round, every waking second to upsetting me, but that only goes so far and the anger remains firmly intact. They've effectively robbed me of my sense of freedom and true happiness and I don't think my time on this earth is for very much longer. Every day I feel more and more that the majority of people today are pond scum. Like I said, I hope one day I can be "cured" and think that everything is all rosy and wonderful, because I just can't deal with the reality otherwise.

I was "noise" abused by my family. We lived in a horribly loud area for five years. I wanted to die. Then my family started to suffer from the noise too and we finally moved. Then we moved and our neighbors are loud. They play drums and music.

I failed school because of the noise problem I couldn't study. After we moved, I went back to school (because then I was better), but failed again due to the noise.

My family does not understand. I went to my doctor and asked to be placed in a hospital but he said no and just put me on medication that does not help! I want to kill myself because of this and I'm trying to save my life but I am not getting help.

Thank goodness there are others like me and I am not crazy. I have had issues since I was a little girl and now I am 38. I feel like I am on pins and needles every day and have to leave the room often to get away from noises. My worst noises are ice crunching, people flossing their teeth, clipping their nails, crunching food, popping jaws, cracking knuckles, just to name a few.

This really is so amazing - so many people all suffering in one way or another. My husband and I have moved five times, always for noise reasons, inconsiderate neighbours, traffic noise, etc. I am surprised no-one has mentioned the dull thump of a stereo bass. I am a music lover but I can't think of a single good reason why I need to listen to my neighbours' music - especially the bass.

I am a peaceful and (I think) well adjusted person but put me next to that pounding bass sound and I believe I am capable of real violence! It is a constant battle - but I have stopped apologizing. This isn't my fault.

People who are not sufficiently well developed to understand the concept of consideration and living in a close community are the ones with the problem, not me. I believe it is a basic human right to have peace and quiet in your own home and the people who spout 'tolerance' and just scared to be anything else. If had the money I'd create a community where only like minded people could live - and lock the rest of the noisy people out.

We live in a zero consideration society. The rest of us are living in someone else's world it seems, and people are loud, loud, loud, no matter the time or who is around them.

I think it really stems from the lack of being taught manners and consideration as children. So many people seem to be completely devoid of awareness of those around them. Society has done such a 180 that people who enjoy peace and quiet are the bad guys, while inconsiderate noisemakers are the norm. What happened?

I can hear this sound on occasion that sounds similar to a fax machine, or how it sounds when you dial the number to a fax machine. I also hear static pop noises in all my appliances like the microwave, computer, refrigerator, lamp etc. And i often wonder if these sounds that i am hearing are actually going on in my head or are the noises legit.

But one thing's for sure: apartment living is the worst if you suffer from noise anxiety. People slamming their doors, loud music, etc. The only cure is to move to a more quiet surrounding, which i have. However the noises i am hearing regarding my appliances i mentioned remain a mystery unexplainable.

I am also suffering with unbearable noises around me but we need to ask a question. Are we the ones with a 'problem', with a 'disorder', or does the real issue lie with the absolute ignorance of the noise makers.

Are we responsible for people who let their mutts bark all day and night without tending to them? Is it our problem that parents cannot, or will not control their screaming kids? Does that guy really have to drill and hammer on a Sunday?

In fact, the more I open my eyes, the more I see this as a problem for other people and the fact that they are too selfish to think about the tranquility and peace of others around them.

Maybe we shouldn't label ourselves with 'noise anxiety disorder' when the true situation should be classed to those who are loud.

Lately noise pollution has started to be a real problem for me. For instance dogs barking, people renovating nearby and loud TV programs all tend to make me very angry.

The only solution I've found so far is listening to calming music on my iPod or sitting in a park with birdsong around me.

This site is a blessing that has helped both me and my wife to understand my problem, thank you to everyone here who has commented and shared their story.

They have installed a beeping noise - for the blind - on our street corner. It runs 24/7. I am feeling anxiety and depression over this. Any quiet time is disturbed by a constant beeping. an electronic noise. This is to help the blind (which i have never seen on my street) cross the street. Can the city inflict this upon us? What rights do I have?

I've got it really bad and my wife just won't listen, nor try to understand.

I am very sensitive to the noises around me. I'll be OK at first but if I start to get overwhelmed then I feel really tense and start to get very touchy and want to lash out.

The types of noises that bother me are varied. For example, the high pitched voice of my 6 year old son playing and babbling, crashing his toys together drives me crazy. I just cannot tune it out. In fact, he was playing with a bunch of marbles and the mere noise of him taking them out and putting them back in was excruciating.

I cannot read or concentrate when there is random noise around me. I can concentrate somewhat with relaxing instrumental music, but anything with voices causes me to lose focus and get seriously distracted and start to frustrate me.

My wife cannot understand because 1. She doesn't have my noise sensitivity and 2. She is 50 percent deaf in one ear and 75 percent in the other and wears hearing aids.

I wish I could turn my ears off like she can and live in peace! Now, at this moment as I am typing, I am wearing a pair of metal detecting headphones that almost block all noises -- not quite though -- and it does lower my stress level significantly

Unfortunately, through all these comments, all I find is that many people are sensitive like me to some degree and their family members don't really understand either.

Where are the solutions? What can we do? If anything, while I am looking for a solution, I'd love something to show my wife so I can at least hopefully get her understanding and sympathy while looking researching an answer. I am tired of it. I need some real answers. Thanks.

Can't stand the sound of people chewing, gum popping and smacking, whistling, loud television (especially action flicks), lawnmowers, gardening blowers, and people cracking their knuckles. I had earaches as a kid, and have tinnitus now. Also suffer from anxiety. What can I say? It's tough.

Thank you for this site. There are many noises that drive me crazy, but one that really sets me off is vacuum cleaner noise over a prolonged period.

What bothers me is that the person I live with mocks me just because I am bothered by loud vacuums. Sometimes, I get so mad that I just want to run the vacuum right in front of that person while they are concentrating and see how that person likes it. Thank you for your site and it feels great no to feel alone.

oh my God, the sound of whistling makes me murderous. Within two seconds I could literally kill the person to get them to stop. Thank God for the invention of the iPod which I take everywhere. My second worst is the sound of people 'cracking gum' That also makes me murderous. Barking dogs, sucking teeth, crunching food and last but not least, all my life, since toddler age, the sound of dishes being washed and clacking together makes me insane. I put earplugs in to do my dishes.

This is a terrible thing to have especially given there is zero consideration in the world anymore (barking dogs, loud tv's, loud music, slamming doors, loud motorcycles, etc.) Someday I fear I'm going to kill someone. Intense rage takes over me and really fast. Especially whistling and motorcycles

I'm 66 years old. I didn't have this problem before, although I was taught as a child that it was bad manners to yell or talk loud.

Unfortunately, I still have to work and the constant talking around me and typing noises drive me crazy as well as people talking loud on the bus, especially on their cell phones.

My theory is that if I can hear their conversation, they are talking too loud. What should I do since I'm forced to get out of my house? My only solution for now is to take a Valium to calm me down.

For me, it's about lack of control and a hostile perception that while it's unlikely intentional, those creating the noise are aware of the effect it has on me and are not sympathetic. I guess it reinforces the belief that people clumsily cause pain and don't care.

After years of dealing with this I finally have a place I can go to relate to.

I am 33 years old, and I have had tinnitus since i was 19. My ears ring at three very high pitch levels 24/7. I also have ADHD.

I have been sensitive to noise as long as i can remember. The worst for me is car bass (subwoofers). I live in a housing addition and behind me is section 8 housing (no offense) but they all have cars with bass speakers. they love to sit in front of their duplex and listen to it. It drives me crazy. I have gone over there many times to ask them to turn it down. They will listen for a while but the next day they are at it again.

The second worst for me is barking dogs. I lived in a house for 12 years that i moved from because i was surrounded by seven dogs who barked all day. Now i live next to just two that bark all day! I bought an air horn that gets them to stop or at least alerts the neighbors that I am annoyed.

Some of my other sensitivities are: smacking, gulping, heaving breathing (my mother) tapping, chairs scooting on a hard floor, my dog licking his paws, my neighbor slamming his front door or car doors, the glass door slamming, paper sacks, anything vibrating in the car, hiccups, Tv.s on the loud, stomping on wood floors. just a few. lol.

I live in a house with my children. They know my issues and are very respectful, and my teenage daughter is also showing signs of this disorder.

I wish i could move but just moved here and can't afford to buy another house. I try to keep the TV on with jazz playing or something on: Air purifier, AC on, fans on all the time to drowned out the noise. But that to becomes over stimulating at times. i take drives at night when I know the neighbors will be playing there car stereos. I feel the best in my SUV.

I have also stopped going out with friends because they always want to go to bars or places I know the noise level will get to me. My best friend understands, but others do not. I often will go away to get some quiet at family functions or parties.

Before I read this article I thought i was going crazy. Now I kimw im not alone. makes me feel so much better. Thanks you all for sharing your issues. Lets move to a place together where noise isn't allowed. I would be in heaven. Angela B, Oklahoma city,OK

i am not alone! At last! I become very agitated with the hum from computers, my son's x box and wii. My digital box has a constant noise and when i phoned the provider as i thought faulty they said because it's like a mini computer it will make that noise. i thought great! i've got to put up with that too.

my boiler makes a humming noise as well. these noises don't seem to bother other members of my family?..i am well balanced in life apart from my sensitivity to theses noises i seem to pick up on them straight away without even listening for them! --Tricia

Firstly, I am so glad it is not just me! When I was a kid, I used to get angry because my brothers and sisters ate too loud!

Now, I get annoyed with doves (making the same sound all morning and evening), and my colleague putting his hand in and out of a lolly or chip bag, and it makes the ruffling sound!

I am so glad to have come across this site!

It's not just knowing there's others suffering the same (or similar) symptoms, as it doesn't make my problems with it any less. But I almost feel that now it's a bit more OK to feel the way i do (does that make sense?).

I have got problems at work because of it. For years now, I wish I'd just have my own office where I can concentrate without others chattering or even just walking by. But lately I have been feeling a bit down and I can stand (any) background sound/ noise even less.

Quite often I get to the end of my working day and on my way home I find I am in a state of near-panic (tension in my body, faster heartbeat, some time even crying). Anyway, I plan to go and see Occupational Health about it, because aside from getting my own office (chances are pretty much nil) I don't know how to cope with this. --MarjanE

I also have this problem and it's only getting worse as I age. People who breathes loudly, chew loudly, ssss, suck pieces of food stuck in teeth, whistle and hum are getting on my nerves. I hate it.

I especially hate it when I tell someone to please stop doing that and they do it even louder just to annoy me. It started when I was 6-7 years old, my brother and i shared the same bedroom and his breathing was so loud. I was told that I would sometimes hurt him to make it stop.

My father gave me a pair of over-the-head muffs and I slept with those on for years (even after getting my own bedroom. I guess it was just an habit at that point). Shortly after that, his breathing started to annoy me even during the day and eventually all sort of noise started to annoy me.

I now sleep with my TV on and some music sometimes when there is too much noise around. I can sleep with some hardcore techno on, the bass in that type of music is extremely loud but it does not bother me but if I barely hear bass from another room I can't sleep/concentrate. Family diners are a nightmare for me. I avoid these whenever it's possible. What the hell can I do about this except damaging my ear drums and becoming deaf?

My anxiety is brought on by propeller type motors like a ceiling fan, electric floor fan, exhaust fan in the bathroom. an engine fan. The sound just accelerates and I cannot handle listening to it. My pulse raises and I feel like crawling into a hole,so I don't have to listen to it.

It's nice to know I'm not alone or over reacting! What bothers me especially is loud bass, or the doof doof sounds from some music. I think the second thing that bothers me about it is just the rudeness and inconsideration behind it! I would never inflict my loud music on other people! Plus it's extremely invasive!

It's hard to concentrate on work or reading at home when all you can hear is the annoying music from a rude jack-ass neighbor! I hope they toughen up noise laws! Thanks for letting me vent!

I have a question that I hope to get some feedback on here. If a wife is suffering badly from loud noises from the neighbours (I mean high stress, declining quality of life, depression, sleep) and the husband doesn't want to take proactive action to at least talk to the neighbours about the noise issue, until being asked repeatedly by the wife to do so, do you think the husband cares for the wife enough?

The question is: what would any husband do in this situation?

I'm really curious. P.S. The husband has grown up from infancy with noises, the wife no.

I also have this. It all started when we moved to a house that i hated. My dad's girlfriend chews ridiculously and i just started to get incredibly annoyed with it. It is to the point that i always carry earplugs, headphones and my ipod. It started with just chewing that bothered me. Now pretty much any constant noise gets to me. Like right now i have to listen to my ipod because the central heat is crackling.

I hate going to school every day because everyone chews gum. I wear my earplugs all day and i can still hear it. I have very noisy upstairs neighbors with four young kids. They stomp/run/jump/dance/sing all day and they have surround sound so the bass is really loud. I pretty much live with my headphones in my ears. My parents tell me I'm crazy, and that i need to just deal with it, but they have no idea how much this gets to me.

I'm not particularly sensitive to noise, but certain ones either make me really anxious or just really angry.

The noises which make me angry are the sound of someone whistling and the noise of the radio when it's not tuned properly and it's kind of fuzzy. The noises which make me anxious and feel --unsafe is the best way to put it -- are loud music, the tv on very loud and also the radio being on loud and also loud traffic.

I don't know if this is the same thing as noise anxiety, since no other noises really get to me as bad. I don't like loud noises in general but I don't get as bad as what I do with the other specific ones.

I think I have this problem, but I think there's a reason for it. From the time I was born, to when I was 5 years old, I had a lot of ear problems.

My tubes were too small, and I had a lot pain and pressure in my ears. And during that time, loud noises made my ears ring, and it was just uncomfortable.

I think loud noises bother me today because of my past ear problems. It's out of instinct that I shudder a bit, and get uncomfortable.

Has anyone else had past ear troubles, and experienced this?

#125: Which government? There are people in every single country who have this problem. Wouldn't it be nice if all of us on this message board were living in one region or country? We'd probably be better off already. I feel sad reading about everyone's health, emotional and mental problems here and really, why are the nice people suffering? Is there something we can also do on a global level?

Can we all petition the government to soundproof old homes?

I have the same problems that many of you have listed. I suggest that we do not consider ourselves abnormal, nor suffering from a disorder.

Maybe we, with our sensitivity, can help make a difference in this noise-ridden world. I believe that many cities in the world need more quiet, and, if our voices (whispers) are persistent enough, we may find many others who dislike repetitive sounds. Also, sound problems can and do cause health problems. Let's not ignore that, either.

#121 I'm just like you. Even in my own home I try not to walk on my heels. It's unnatural for me but I do it because I don't want to disturb the neighbours. One hears everything here.

However my neighbours are just noisy, and they're not educated either. My husband and I are the only ones in that column who have a university education.

I even went to a psychotherapist because of the noise. People here don't teach their children to think of their neighbours. There's no changing the people here (of this country which I won't name). I'm looking into meditation and other alternatives. I cut myself once on purpose because I was so fed up with the noise.

I have the same problem too. Like, i was sitting in the middle of the classroom, and then someone suddenly coughs or sneezes very loud, and my head shakes or trembles or something! And then when I was riding in a jeep and suddenly some cars honk, my head trembles! It's like shaking out of my control and then in the middle of the night a chicken makes a noise, it scared the hell out of me. I mean a chicken suddenly makes that sound in the middle of the night? It's supposed to be an early in the morning sound!

Why does my head shake/tremble when I hear these sounds? It started in about a year ago. I was in college. Now, it's very embarrassing! I was standing in front of the class and suddenly someone coughs or sneezes or someone taps the desk, stomps their feet or drops something heavy, my head trembles!

I really dislike this disorder. A way to cure this maybe is to have self medication, awareness, and faith in god so that he may help us cure this disease or disorder. good luck to us all and i hope we will have a good life some day! God bless us people. --Jay.R

Is it too much to ask to be able to live in a quiet space? Why does it have to be a disorder? I believe I am sensitive to noise, but it really depends on the noise, and where I am while it is happening. I agree with what another person here said, that what makes it all worse is how I think about the noise.

My neighbours like to stomp up and down the stairs sometimes and it can go on for an hour or more, and at times it makes me so angry and stressed out. I talked to them once, one of them denied it and the other apologized, but it never really stopped.

When the noise happens, I can feel quite angry because I think, "Why are they so inconsiderate?" It makes me so upset that inconsiderate people are the norm in this world and I absolutely hate it. I am so considerate of all my neighbours in my building: I take care not to walk heavily; I turn my tv down at night. I am so conscious about not disturbing the peace and I wish other people would be. But they won't! They never will! Sometimes it makes me hate people and I just want to move to an island and live by myself.

On the other hand, there is a train nearby that is quite loud and shakes the house, it goes by at least every half hour, sometimes more frequent. And that doesn't bother me at all, because it is consistent, and I like trains. I've gotten used to it. I don't think to myself, "oh it's that lousy inconsiderate train again!!"

When these people stomp up and down the stairs, I really want them to fall down the stairs to teach them a lesson. But it never seems to happen. Sigh.

@#109: If you ever move, don't move to Italy. I live in a brand new neighbourhood where they claim the apartments are soundproofed and they turned out to be a fluke. They are worse than the apartments that haven't been soundproofed!

My neighbours downstairs drag their furniture almost the whole day long, every day, too. I can hear them talking, yelling, banging, walking and even turning on a light switch. Mind you, these noises are from downstairs, not upstairs. They sound like they're in my apartment. I'm even afraid to be in one half of my apartment because I just get so stressed out when I hear noises.

Now there are neighbours moving in upstairs as well, and when they walk, the whole place just goes bom bom bom. I'm going to go crazy soon and I definitely understand what you're going through.

I even changed my way of walking in my own apartment because I know if I can hear my neighbours, they can hear me. I just don't understand why being considerate of other people is not part of their basic childhood education.

I thought I was the only person who had these problems. I'm grateful to know I'm not alone, but sorry someone else suffers from noise. At the moment it's my new HVAC system, which I can't use because of a constant hum and vibration.

I have an acute anxiety attack if someone chews gum and I can't get away. Chewing sounds, bass music.

How good it has just been for me to read this. It made me dead upset because i thought i was a horrible nasty person to my parents. I can't stand chewing, breathing, tapping, dripping, central heating, money or key jingling.

In fact, anything but my parents gets it worse from me because i can't, in fact, stand any noise at all. It makes me kick off, get anxiety. My body trembles, I can't breathe and my heart beats dead fast.

I'm finding it unbearable to live with because this is happening all day long.

112 and 116 I have the same problem. It is so hard when people just tell you to let it go! They have no idea. I can't even sit and eat dinner, or go to the movies with people it has become so bad. I get super angry and sad. I am angry at the people making the sound and myself. I have the really bad urges to hit something.

Lately, it has gotten so bad that I have actually smacked myself to get the sound away. I am also sad because those around me don't understand why I have to sit away or why I can't go out to eat. This is such a hard thing to live with.

I feel so bad complaining when one of my best friends has a rare disease that is slowly killing him. Am I such a selfish person to be thinking that my life is terrible because I have to deal with this when he is so sick?

I am at college right now and it is amazing how much this isolates me from others.

I have started some natural anti anxiety pills 5-HTP. I have seen a small difference.

post 112 - that actually felt like i was reading my thoughts! every noise you pointed out are the ones i cannot stand, and more! The most annoying ones are people eating loudly and people biting their nails. It's so bad that if their hand even goes close to their mouth, i feel my blood boil!

i really do feel like I'm going insane! i feel as I'm getting older the worse it's getting. a cure for this would be a lifesaver for me!

This thread is very interesting. Sometimes I feel so stressed I just want to kill myself. It started about 20 years ago with bird chirping. For some unknown reason, bird chirping started bothering me and it got really bad. I started avoiding having to go outside. It was utterly insane. I would pay such close attention to them. I started to wonder how I even coped with the noises before.

Over the years, other noises have driven me crazy, including whistling, pen clicking, foot tapping and -- are you ready for this one? -- the whooshing sound of cars driving by!

In the past, the bouts of anxiety and stress over being driven crazy by these noises have vanished on their own. No reason, just stopped.

What is wrong with me? Why can't I just be happy? Why did God give me this crap?

Has anybody tried NLP for this? I'm looking into it. I believe, in my case, it's a phobia -- surely not the case for everybody. I'm hoping neuro-linguistic programming can help.

I originally posted several months ago (#88) and reading over the more recent posts, I thought I'd make a few suggestions.

I talked with my doctor about the following supplements or medications. The 5-HTP does help to lessen my anxiety. It's natural and not a prescription.

Melatonin works for sleeping. Again natural and non prescription. I also take Valerian for relaxing muscles.

If I notice I feel congested and I can hear myself in my head when I talk (kind of like speaking when you are plugging your ears but not as drastic, you know what congestion feels like... an antihistamine such as Suphedrine PE or Diphenhydramine HCL (Benadryl) will help to reduce congestion. Why? Congestion can cause a sinus pressure imbalance in the ear canals just like altitude can cause eardrums to be tight which makes them more sensitive to noise.

I talked with my MD about this and as much as I hate to take medication, this does sometimes help in my case.

I have taken these steps to mask sounds: I sleep with a humidifier in the room now that it is winter, which masks ambient sounds.

I run my dishwasher, washing machine clothes dryer etc. to mask sounds and plan on doing something in the same room when they are running. I used to run the dryer while the washer was doing another load but now I stagger them to make my "masking noise" last longer. I used to leave the room whenever I ran these. Now "my" noise saves me from the other noise.

I use headphones while watching TV.

I plan on purchasing a Marpac SleepMate 980A Electro-Mechanical Sound Conditioner. Much cheaper than running an air conditioner. ~$50.00.

I understand that in my case it is mostly neighborhood and highway noise that I cannot control and my location is just such that my building catches and magnifies this noise. I also have anxiety that If I move the same thing would happen and it would start again. I then think I could have worse neighbors or if I moved to the country "they" would change an airport approach route right over my house or... It can always be worse.

You have to take an active part in solving the problem. Don't just sit and cower in your room. Take a defensive approach when required to stop noise and take an offensive approach to mask "their" noise with "your" noise when you can. If a neighbor makes noise and you are on good terms, mention it to them. Often they have no idea how sound travels through walls/floors. Offer to buy pads for their chair feet, bumpers for their cabinet doors. Do a search for "Foolproof Ways to Tune Out Your Neighbors."

#95 has hit on something. Control what you can but learn to deal with the rest.

One last thing. Get Nutrasweet and diet sweeteners out of your life. I had an auditory reaction 25 years ago when I began drinking diet soda. I went through several medications and steroid treatments and finally the doc asked if I had added anything new to my diet and I mentioned the soda. Immediately he said quit it and my symptoms went away. I wonder if anyone here has auditory sensitivity/anxiety that is worsened by their diet. Auditory issues are a known side effect of aspartame. Research sound sensitivity and possible causes.

I noticed when I was about seven that I was sensitive to the sound of chewing. Since then it has gotten worse. Every time I hear the sound of chewing, I get so angry, I almost have a urge to hit my head, like try to get the noise out.

I feel so rude when I ask people to chew with their mouth closed, it's just that it's painful to listen to! My family gets so angry with me when I say something about it, stuff like "Just ignore it!" Or "I'm not doing anything wrong!"

And even when they chew with their mouth closed, I can still hear it. It makes me want to hit something or yell and swear.

Other noises that bother me are heavy breathing, sniffling, snoring, whispering, low monotone speaking, and repetitive speaking like counting. Also, my sister and I have a strained relationship, and it's like everything she does angers me and hurts my head. I can't help it. Every time she talks, breaths, moves, my head hurts, and I feel like punching her. Sometimes just looking at her angers me.

My family just says I'm "oversensitive," which is true, but they say it in a way like I can just get over it and not focus on it. I can't! Like right now my sister is scratching her hand, and it's making me furious!

I hope they find some kind of treatment for this, because I absolutely hate it! --Shelby

It's amazing that this many people have this problem. My sister has always been this way and i used to make fun of her. I now will never do that again. Cracking or chewing gum seems to be a pretty common thing that makes everybody crazy. It sure drives me up the wall.

I work with a guy who bumbles, if that's a word, whistles and hums nonstop for nine hours a day every day. I ride with him back and forth to work as well. he never stops tapping his fingers. At least if it was to the beat it wouldn't be so bad. I've tried turning off the radio but he continues to tap. I'm glad I'm not the only one with this problem.

the problem for me is that i have a sensitivity

to certain noises in the house where i live.

i have problems with noises like the sound of

the boiler, the washing up, things being dropped in the kitchen or bathroom, my dad coughing/sniffing, sudden noises and noises from next door!

This is a serious problem for me because my dad has a go at me every time i get angry about these

noises when there's no escape from them whatsoever! Help! There's nothing i can do!

It wasn’t until the beginning of 2010 when I started to figure out that I was extremely sensitive to noise. All kinds of noise. Dog barking is #1. Noisy neighbor would be #2. Recently, #2 noisy neighbor has been the absolute worst. They turn on their television so loud I could hear it through my window and walls. I’ve confronted them about it but they totally deny it. It’s so bad that I have to sleep with my ipod ear buds on with my music.

Every single night for nearly a year now. I hear noises in my head when there aren’t even noises. I think about it when I wake up, drive to work, even when I’m at work and about to come home. I even run as fast as I can into my home to avoid hearing any noise from my neighbor. I think I am going to be deaf soon because I always have music and headphones on when I’m at home and I’m a college student. I already plan to not attend next semester because I cannot concentrate because of all the noise.

Dogs are constantly barking, too. I have four neighbors around me that all have dogs. It’s like every new month, the dogs take turns barking. I even go as far as to think this has something to do with God or demons. They want me to move out and live somewhere nicer with better people.

What drives people to be so inconsiderate? Every single day, it’s a constant battle. I have to yell out the window to quiet down. I sometimes turn on my own music or tv really loud but that just irritates me even more. The funny thing is, this place use to be so quiet until these new neighbors started moving in. I even imagine myself punching them in the face or throwing a rock at their window to teach them a lesson but I know I will never do it. I imagine poisoning my neighbors’ dogs with poisoned meat and I know that’s wrong and I will never do it, but I like to imagine it. I can’t think of one day where I didn’t say, I want to kill those dogs and strangle them to death or shoot them down with a gun.

This place used to be so quiet. Now I have my windows closed at all times with an air conditioner which I turn on to drown out the noise. My power bill went up twice as much as normal because of it.

I am extremely stressed out beyond reason. It has made me extremely depressed and filled with anxiety. It has caused me to be anti-social and not want to go out. And for the first time in my life, I started drinking every friday to ease the stress. God knows it’s stressful enough just being human, let alone having to deal with the worse neighbors in the world.

For this reason, I hate Los Angeles, California. I keep saying to myself, if I ever win the lottery, I would move into the suburbs away from civilization. I hate it here. I hate my life filled with noises. Sometimes, I wish I was dead.

i cannot stand constant repetitive noises.the same thing over and over and over really gets to me. seriously. i lock myself in my room and just lie in my bed. It makes me mad to not be able to have any control over all the noises.

i have a dog who will not shut up. she barks constantly and even though I'm upstairs and she's in the backyard. i can't take it. it drives me nuts!

What a great find! Now if only we had a solution to this nightmare. Some of my triggers are eating chips, clanking of a spoon or fork on a dish, knuckle popping, breathing, snoring, coughing, but gum chewing is the worst. I haven't sought help, but I may now. There has to be something to help.

Wow! it is so nice to see that other people have the same problem! I have felt so alone for so long. My family does not understand at all! When I have to leave a room because they are making weird noses they yell at me for being weird.

I hate this thing. I heard of some herbal medication that a person can take to help anxiety. I am going to try it. I hope it will help. I cannot stand ear plugs. I totally want to start some sort of online chat for this! it is such a comfort to know I am not alone. It is very hard to live with this and it is nice to know that other people are trying to overcome this too.

I was raised with ab argumentative father who would always argue with my mother. He would always raise his voice and scream that neighborhoods could hear. It irritated me to much to point that as soon as he opened his mouth, i would tell him to shut up just in case he would start another argument.

I moved in with a friend years later and had to stay in his computer room for a few months. I used to hear him watch his cartoons on his computer system which was connected to a base amp. He seemed to always have a habit of having the volume up too high. After a while i had to leave. Just for the simple point Hi-FI systems in the house were up too high.

I moved over to London and ended up moving into a flat with a wooden sealing floor. The people up stairs had a Hi-Fi system that they played loud usually on Fridays and Sundays for about six hours a day. The music was techno base and they had it up really high. It used to irritate me so much that i felt i would lose the plot.

The couple living upstairs used to irritate me too, as i would try to sleep they would talk and i always felt i was the third person in the relationship. The man's voice was most irritating as it was had more base then the woman's voice, it would penetrate the wooden floor.

Then i moved into a house and the people living a few house's away had sub-woofers (bass) in their car. They usually used to have it on a few times a week and it was really loud. It would penetrate through everything.

The problem i think is bass. It disturbs a person's concentration. I think if someone wants noise proof room to try to keep noise out. Double glazed windows and concrete walls on six sides.

i am so happy to find this site and not feel so alone. i have had to move home because of a neighbor's oil heating system whirring through the night. i hadn't slept in a year. i cannot keep a relationship due to someone's breathing, snoring at night, sniffing drives me insane as does constant coughing and ongoing mechanical noises.

I use earplugs every night of my life to drown out any noise as i jump through the roof with palpitations with them. it is a horrible condition and it makes me feel so antisocial and kind of mad. i have never been able to share this until now. i know the cause of it, and i know it stems from an unhappy childhood where a sibling didn't get on with me and bullied me. He used to sniff constantly and loudly and every time i hear this particular noise i feel like it is almost been done on purpose to annoy me. It's quite irrational. I would love to be free from the chains of this illness. It is quite destructive.

It is so relieving to know that other people are like me. I always thought I was just irritable with no reason. Just until lately, my outbursts due to these noises were getting more and more frequent. I am a college student, and I want to cry or yell anytime there is someone coughing, sniffing, or clearing their throat in class.

I hardly stay in my apartment anymore because my roommates make constant sounds that just send me over the edge. I went to two therapists and was prescribed a low dose of Zoloft daily for the anxiety. I've only had one day's worth so far. Will update soon to see if it helps!

I have an extreme sensitivity to noise, especially noises such as drills, grinders, lawn mowers, vacuum cleaners, hammering (with hammers) etc. Also, loud music that I don't particularly like and that I have no control over.

I sometimes get so anxious that I simply lock my office door, and leave the premises without explanation, only to come back about two hours later, having gone out to sleep under a tree or something to calm down, and that has landed me in trouble before.

I hate having this disorder - it drives me nuts!

Is there any cure for this besides going into therapy? My medical plan does not cover therapy for this?

What is the disorder that compels people to play loud music constantly? Certainly there is something wrong with those people. It's natural to feel anxious and stressed out if you are constantly besieged with annoying noises- after all they use that as a form of torture.

I am glad I'm not alone in this, although for all of your sakes, I wish I was. I have suffered with noise sensitivity anxiety for many years, since I was about 11-12.

The list of noises that annoy me is intense, and I have to avoid way too many social situations in order to retain my sanity. Having this disorder, to me, is absolute suffering. I wouldn't wish this affliction on my worst enemy!

Some of the worst noise triggers for me are: gum chewing, breathing through the nose, snoring, birds chirping, dogs cleaning themselves, keys or coins jingling (or anything with a jingling noise), repeated sniffing, coughing, barking, any whistling, but especially constant melodic whistling, any type of tapping noise, from any source. Agh! I could continue, but you get it.

Emotions range from mild irritation to violent rage. I have never acted violently toward anyone, but I feel violent. I feel like screaming! What I feel is a physical reaction to the noise, like pain, an entire body cringe!

I feel bad for my husband. We don't even sleep in the same room, and haven't in a few years, but he is awesome and understands me.

I know I need help for this disorder, and the sooner the better. Thanks for this article. It's nice to be able to put a name to this torture.

I am so happy to know I am not alone! I know my family and friends think I'm crazy to how sensitive I am to noise. My problems are with insensitive neighbors who play loud music, talk loudly or bang around upstairs/next door - also drivers who go through the neighborhood, blaring their stereos especially to the point when my house windows shake.

As I live very quietly, it's hard for me to understand why others are like that. I get tensed up very easily and even before I get home, I start to think, can't drop it and get myself worked up in advance. I am my own worst enemy I know in this. Thank you!

I am a continued work in progress to beat this and not let it break me! -- "noise hater"

Well, try living with autistic person who makes loud, incessant vocalizations daily. It's like being tortured. And there isn't a damn thing anyone has ever come up with to stop it. I wear earplugs almost all day. I can no longer tolerate any sounds out in public as I feel like i want to punch my fist through a window when too much noises grates into my brain.

To make it all the more unbearable, California is cutting supports and services and respite care to families raising severely autistic children. Thanks.

Anon#95: I'm learning this as well. It's funny how afraid I am to actually keep my home quiet and try to face my fear. I can't believe it has turned into a full blown phobia, but it sure has. Thanks. We're all in this together.

I am like everyone else and have a real issue with noise. I wear two pairs of ear plugs at home to avoid neighbors noise and street noise and at work I run a fan and a small radio to throw off the noise coming from a printer in a cubicle near mine.

I am learning though, that avoiding the noise and trying to mask it doesn't help with the problem. It's best to embrace it. Feel the anxiety and allow your body to naturally handle it. It's painful and difficult, but the only way you'll really get long term relief.

In a lot of cases, it isn't the noise that is bothering you. For me, it's the lack of control over my environment that angers me. If I confront a noise situation and a solution is offered, I often find the noise to be less of a problem because now i have choice.

Sometimes feeling like the noise is being pushed on us without our having any decisions creates high levels of stress and anxiety. Try to take a little control over your choices if possible. Best of luck!

It's great to read these notes. When you have this problem, it's hard not to feel you are alone. Just going quietly insane.

We had terrible neighbours for a while who played their music at ridiculous levels and I have never been the same since. I had a breakdown and became suicidal. I have gotten help since and I am feeling better.

We have moved a number of times since but I can't seem to be able to find a quiet place to live. I live in fear of it all starting again and every little noise upsets me.

A couple of things that have helped are using pinch stopping. Which is pinching between your fingers (on the soft part of the skin) and saying go away obsession, what it does is make you stop obsessing for a moment and gain control. After a while you can stop the obsessing thoughts with just the words.

Continuous noise in the house so you become desensitized. (even when I sleep)

I am also trying exposure therapy. Which is sit and listen to the noise till the anger and fear goes away. Don’t know if this works. But I am willing to try anything.

I deal with noise anxiety by a meditation of releasing all the muscles associated with the speech apparatus - the lips, the tongue, the larynx.

You cannot be inwardly raving and cursing while these muscles are released. They need to be in low level activity to afford and accommodate this inward anger at selfish neighbours.

Do the meditation lying or sitting while the noise is happening. Have an image of your mother hushing you with a finger over her mouth. Then quickly listen to the silence in your own ears. Couple the absence of your inner talking with the released muscle tension in the organs of speech.

After about three minutes of the inner speech switched off, you will feel release in the chest and torso as a new breathing pattern kicks in. This is the feeling of non-anxiety.

It will be temporary and the anxiety will return. That is fine.

Every minute you dedicate to temporarily reversing the bodily event of anxiety, you are accumulating a skill which can be sustained for hours - that is the length of a selfish neighbor's party.

I have suffered from noise anxiety all my life but just recently it's become progressively worse and I think that's partly down to my depression.

I can't stand the sound of a phone ringing. Where I work, the phones ring practically non stop and as we don't have enough staff to answer them, I feel like I'm going to have a nervous breakdown, yet no one else in the office seems remotely bothered by the noise.

Other noises I can't bear are other people's conversations, ticking clocks, my central heating system, the clicking sound of my dog's toenails on the wooden floor, running water (even when I'm running it myself for a bath), cars, motorbikes, wind, rain...oh god the list goes on.

Some days I can't even stand to hear myself or others breathing.

It would be awful to say that I often wish I was deaf because I'm sure deaf people would give anything to be able to hear, but honestly sometimes do wish it upon myself.

wow, so I'm not alone in my noise sensitivity! Thanks all for your stories.

I am attempting to deal with my sensitivity to unavoidable noises (sound of chewing, sounds from neighbours upstairs just doing ordinary things at all hours) via twice-daily mindfulness meditation, and am also having acupuncture. I think the meditation has probably helped a lot, in that I haven't gone totally insane yet, but I am still way too obsessed about the noises I hear around me.

Part of the problem is that the mind takes hold of the sound and doesn't let go. So it's the mind that's the problem, rather than the external sound. The good news is, we can (even if only gradually) transform our minds.

Mindfulness of Breathing meditation helps in a very gradual, gentle way, in that it is a kind of training in learning to "let go" with every exhalation. I recommend finding a good meditation teacher, though, if you're wanting to explore meditation deeply. Check out his or her background carefully. I've found a Zen teacher, but you don't have to be a Buddhist -- people from any religion (or none) can practice this form of meditation.

My wife thinks she suffers from noise anxiety, and it is true that little noises made by others get on her nerves quickly, especially slurping. She has always had to run a fan to mask background noises so she can sleep. What I don't understand is that when she puts on her makeup in the morning, she clicks and clanks loud enough to wake up the dead and doesn't seem to notice it. She also constantly watches the TV at a volume level that makes me uncomfortable. I am always telling her to turn it down.

Her Dad listens to the TV the same way. Can you suffer from noise anxiety and yet not be bothered by noise when you are the source of it? Am I supposed to be as quiet as a mouse while she's as loud as a freight train?

My issue intensifies even more in public. Shopping has become nearly impossible which is abnormal for a woman. Loud speakers in the store (i.e paging systems etc), people talking on cell phones, and people talking in foreign languages (no offense intended) all drive me over the edge. Usually end up having to leave the store altogether.

This has just come into my life and it is maddening. I have a town home and I spent weeks trying to locate the source of this low frequency noise and I cannot find one. Day, night, neighbors home, neighbors away. I don't know where the source of the sound comes from. I have tympanic flutter in my right ear and just the right sound can set my eardrum vibrating and I have mild tinnitus but my hearing is otherwise excellent.

I cannot deal with the noise from electrical motors at work and this after 20years in the printing industry! Anxiety is terrible. I recently heard a radio show explaining how EMF may be responsible for hearing and neurological anxieties.

What has helped me.

1. 5-HTP supplements make me feel better and lessen anxiety. I may still hear the bass noise but if does not bother me as much. I may try a small dose of Melatonin to help with sleep.

2. Run a fan to mask the noise.

3. Earplugs to sleep. My favorite are Howard Leight QUIET(tm) Nrr is 26.

They are washable and reusable. I have tried many over the years being around machinery and these fit me the best. You may need to try several types to find the best fit.

These help me cope until I can find a quiet job and a quiet place to live. Hope they help you.

Thank god I now understand what's happening. I swear I almost started hating my parents. Since I was little it went on and on, I would wake up with pillows to cover my ears! I can live with it especially when it's not about an old, repetitive noise.

It became a family problem when I started complaining. My father was, and still is, completely ignorant, continuing to make loud noises early in the morning because "I am exaggerating and crazy and should get a life" while my mom starts crying because of her own self-esteem issues. Dhe thinks I don't appreciate her as a mom. I mean I am supposed to stand all noises, whatever they are, because she is such a good, loving mom. So there you have it.

I hate stomping feet, chewing, gum smacking, loud kitchen noises while I try to sleep, gurps etc.

At the same time, I have absolutely no problems with someone like my boyfriend, or whose company I really really like.

I totally understand and empathize with everyone here. I've lived in many apartments, terraced housing etc. I don't think I've lived anywhere and not experienced noise. My main hate is bass, loud music, loud televisions and people in the flat above stomping their feet. Also laughing really irritates me. It drove me to a complete breakdown, am now living with my parents after being diagnosed with an anxiety disorder which includes hypersensitivity.

It's like being trapped in a cage in hell and it feels like there's nothing you can do about it. I suggest your GP immediately; there are plenty of good anti-anxiety drugs. Also therapy I feel is essential. Good luck everyone.

I can't believe this does have a name! I so thought I was going crazy! I have always been sensitive to noise since I was a child. I remember the sound of motorbikes and the fridge upsetting me so much I couldn't sleep.

I got worse when I got two neighbours, one downstairs who had drunken mates and banged around and one next door who played music loudly. I had a breakdown and couldn't even live in my flat. I had to stay at families houses or have people stay with me so I wasn't alone.

The guy downstairs is not there at the moment and I thank God the other one next door moved out. It is quiet at the moment but I live in fear that it will all start again and that the guy downstairs will come back and bang around etc and I won't cope.

It's got so bad that I can't even tolerate 'living sounds' like shutting doors, talking from neighbours etc. These sounds I will have to learn to live with as they are normal and I do them! except when it is someone else doing it you feel out of control with it.

I have been working on it with a therapist and am living back home on my own! I am sill anxious but at least not having panic attacks. When I'm really bad I still use white noise or headphones or ipod to help

I really think we need support as it's so hard to live with. I am thinking of starting a forum if there isn't already one out there.

Great to read all of your comments. I agree that this is a modern societal illness symptomatic of a society of people who are increasingly rude and inconsiderate.

I suffered mild noise anxiety when I was a kid - a dripping tap or ticking clock would drive me nuts when I was trying to get to sleep. But taps and clocks are nothing compared to what I have experienced in the past three years living in a town, apparently wholly populated with incredibly rude and inconsiderate neighbours.

I have moved four times to try to get away from the loud TVs, midnight screaming fights and - worst of all - thumping stereos of my horrible neighbours. I didn't realize how lucky I had been all those years living in quiet neighbourhoods prior to moving to this town.

My anxiety about noise, and even the potential of noise, has resulted in hypervigilance which is all-consuming at times. I have found that the longer the periods of quiet in my neighbourhood are, the less sensitive I become, and vice versa. But there is always that constant urge in the back of mind to move away to somewhere quiet.

For the past few years I have been almost single-mindedly obsessed with applying for new jobs and moving back down to one of the towns I used to live in, where it was nice and quiet. It seems to be the only real solution for me at this point in time, but this anxiety has really eroded my self-confidence to the point that I have had trouble getting jobs as a result.

I agree with the comment made in an earlier post that stress tends to make noise anxiety worse. If I enjoyed my current job and had some good friends in this town, I imagine the anxiety wouldn't be so bad. But I have avoided making friends here because I don't see the point, as I am hoping to get a new job soon and move away.

It's great to hear about other people's experiences and it helps me feel like I'm not alone, but writing my feelings down still makes me feel bad about myself. I have spoken to many other people who live in this town, and almost all of them experience noisy, horrible neighbours, some of them far worse than in my street. But they just take it in their stride! I don't know how can they cope with it.

Shouldn't we be making a stand against these inconsiderate people? I don't believe that this is an issue that anyone should be tolerant of, because it reduces everyone's quality of life in some way, even if they don't have noise anxiety.

In terms of advice to other people, the only thing that has helped me is doing things I really enjoy (preferably away from my neighbourhood!). I have noticed that even something as simple as seeing a really good film or play at the theatre has improved my mood and lessened my sensitivity to noise. I guess this might mean I have a mild depression as well!

Anyway, I wish the best for you all. It is a difficult issue to resolve, but don't give up!

RE: ihatenoise1, thanks for your post, do you suffer from Tinnitus as well? I have started on a course of antidepressants, although i was reluctant to begin with, just hope they work with the noise anxiety as i hate feeling like this. Thanks to all. TS.

i wrote a comment here a while back and want to update for those who also suffer. I've been to the ENT again, and he finds some vestibular damage, but cannot conclude the cause. He prescribed 2mg Valium (which is a very low dose) to be taken daily; I take half as needed. It helps a little bit, but not completely.

I have found that my Marpac dual speed sound machine is the best help so far. I also bought the Bose noise canceling headphones (expensive!) but probably the best investment I've made.

I know that I at least have the security of knowing I can block out if needed. Also, I've started on an anti-depressant. So far, I think I get a little relief but I'm only 1 1/2 weeks in on this one. It is Zoloft.

The doc helped me trace this back to starting after a highly stressful time in my life. Still working on it.

I have noise anxiety as well. I can't stand my neighbours making any kind of noise at all, and if I hear them I freeze with fear and feel stressed.

I keep moving in hope that I will find peace but no luck so far. I also now have Tinnitus (ringing in the ears). I'm sure the stress has started this off. I am 43 years old and feel so miserable. I hate coming home and try to stay out as much as possible.

So glad I found this site and now know there are other people feeling the same. Thank you.

I think we should all move into the same town. That would be the quietest town ever, and no bass systems allowed.

I have the same story as so many of you: no noise anxiety for years, then I went through a stressful period and suddenly had no tolerance at all. I lived in a slummy apartment building with an upstairs neighbor who stomped around till 2 AM, and often ran the vacuum as early as 6 AM. The noise would go on all day long, even in the bedrooms, and I damn near lost my mind.

I'm still pretty bad, but I've found a couple things that help a little.

As someone else said, try not to imagine what's causing the noise, that the person making it knows you're there or is trying to bother you. The noise doesn't really have anything to do with you, remember that. It can't hurt you or touch you.

Also, if you can get one of those ambient CDs with thunderstorms, rain, and forest sounds on them, they are wonderful for shutting out less pleasant sounds. They let you more easily imagine being somewhere else, and occupy your mind so you're not obsessing with this obnoxious sound in your environment.

I know how it is, as I say I'm still pretty bad too, but I hope you guys have some success in finding peace in your lives. We live in a loud, stupid, inconsiderate age, unfortunately.

I'm not sure what earplugs others here have tried, but for me only the etymotic kind have worked. They are slightly more uncomfortable than the soft foamy kind, but way more effective.

thank you to everyone posting. alas, i am not alone...

i don't mind constant drone noise, like tv/radio in the background or hum of voices or waves on the seashore (ahh, relaxing.)

But when an otherwise peaceful environment like home, work, quiet sunday afternoon is shattered by a rude, obnoxious, selfish person with their loud shouting, thumping music or kids yelling non-stop with no parents about, i find both their extreme selfishness and the noise itself hugely irritating.

I'm living in an apartment which is pretty badly sound insulated. As we speak i haven't slept all night because of neighbor sounds, drunk people walking by and shouting like madmen and rain making loud noises because of thin windows. Basically, almost any sound which isn't from me or the tv will make me jump a little and causes a slight blackout for me lasting for less than a second. Repeat this for hours and hours and then consider your level of sanity.

I usually don't get this bad but I constantly have small blackouts after a loud, unexpected noise. This has now gotten so bad that I'm considering moving out or just packing some stuff up and go to my cabin.

I've had noise anxiety for as long as I remember. My dad had it too growing up, but he said he grew out of it. He was able to some what relate, but I'm 24 and don't foresee growing out of it any time soon. I'm mostly bothered by birds chirping, coughing, list smacking, kissing sounds, knuckle cracking, chomping of gum, and snoring/deep breathing.

I struggled with school. I found people are more sniffly in the morning, so I took night classes. I talked to my teachers about letting me wear my headphones with music while working on classwork or exams as they knew I wasn't cheating.

I try to doodle or focus on something so intently the sound goes away, but that's hard to do.

Public places I've found sitting with no one behind me helps. Always trying to get a corner table or the back row at the theater. Going during off peak hours is good. I always have an exit strategy. If stuck, I rest my head in my hand and at least get to cover one ear from the noise.

When I was a kid, I used to sniffle back at my siblings mainly because it made me feel better and it annoyed my siblings as much as they annoyed me. My family is well aware of my triggers and does their best to avoid them.

My fiance and I have worked out sleeping in separate rooms and I wear ear plugs to block out birds. In a pinch, I find if he starts telling me a story about his day helps draw me in and the noise fades.

I hope some of that was able to help!

This is amazing! It's exactly spot on, I didn't know there was a name for this condition.

Anyway - I live next to a neighbor who works on his house every day, from the time he gets home from work until he goes to bed. And I mean every day, except he sometimes takes breaks during the winter if it gets really cold and nasty. He's kept it up for years and I don't think it'll ever end.

The constant hammering sounds: I can't put into words how much they upset me. I become flat out furious. I keep it inside though, and I'm mostly alone when I hear those noises so it doesn't affect other people negatively.

But it's a gigantic problem for me. I'm going nuts. I plan my days around the times I know he will make noise and I even have nightmares about him frequently.

And since he never stops, my 'condition' keeps getting worse.

I doubt a therapist will be able to help me with this. I think I'll have to bite the bullet and move somewhere else. I can't think of any other solution at this point.

I'm almost 20, and I've had severe noise anxiety since I was two. I always felt horrible because nobody I had ever heard of was going through the same thing. Laughter has always been the main trigger sound; I cannot stand it most of the time. Especially shrill, screechy laughs, or the ones that sound like donkeys braying.

I can't watch TV shows with live audiences or laugh tracks, or be around people who laugh loudly or incessantly. When I'm around these sounds I feel miserable and angry, and have violent urges sometimes (though I don't act on them).

Recently, the sound of chewing has started to bother me. Muffled burping is the most disgusting sound I've ever heard. I isolate myself because I simply can't deal with a lot of common situations, and I feel like a horrible person for it. I couldn't hack it in college, so I'm in school online now. I'm getting help via therapy and white noise generators, but it's been a long and painful road. I'm so happy to see that people do exist who know what I'm talking about.

I have also noise anxiety. I developed it when i was 18. We had just moved to the new house, but i soon found out that many of the neighbours had a habit of listening to really loud music.

So, because i already had depression, one night when they didn't stop the music and i couldn't get any sleep. i had a panic attack because of it.

I ended up having ptsd and a fear of all kind of noises that don't stop, especially bass voices.

And tractors are also something i hate.

My family doesn't understand at all. They may watch tv at 11.30 p.m. and i have difficulties getting to sleep.

I'm about to be 19 and still hanging on.

i also have suffered from noise anxiety for years.

it is well known that noise causes anxiety.

the u.s. military has used loud, thumping stereos as a torture technique for years. a policeman once told me that those kids down the road i was complaining about probably don't even hear their own music any more.

so in other words, we all have to suffer because some kids have made themselves deaf. we need some proper legislation.

please vote for decent governments that protect our society from decline.

remember, people first, economy second. thanks.

For those of you who want to move out to the country to avoid noise -- well it might happen for you but for me it only got worse. After nine blissful months living in what I thought was the quietest place on earth, the military (Air National Guard and Army from Ft. Huachuca, AZ) began flying their noisy piston planes overhead at least five days a week (and sometimes seven) starting at 8:30 AM and continuing throughout the day.

The Army planes (who knew the Army had planes?) return about every 10 minutes with their droning engines, speeding up and slowing down, flying in circles. Then the Air National Guard comes along with their C-140s, sometimes at such a low altitude that I can see the rivets on the underside of the plane and, yes, right over our house!

We're a retired Air Force family and because of this intrusion on my life, I've come to hate the military. They've made me super-sensitive to airplane noise and I think I'm going crazy. It makes me angry and I take it out on family members who don't deserve this.

We built a beautiful retirement home and now I don't even want to live here. I'm too afraid to go to a doctor and tell them this story because they'll probably think I'm crazy, which I feel I am going.

As I type this, at least five planes have passed overhead.

I experience the same thing. I live on a very noisy street consisting of 1000 tractor trailers going up and down all day and night. I am not able to move at this time because I help my 82 year old Dad take care of the house. It is too much for me to handle. The big truck engines drive me insane and it hurts my relationships with others. I have no peace in my life! Now I know I am not alone.

i have been sensitive to noise for four years, but now it's too much. I cannot tolerate it, even with earplugs. and i have no place to calm down. It's always noisy in my house: doors slamming, washing dishes, horrible tv noises, outside noises.

I can't even sit in my room, because my sister and i are in the same room and she is constantly making noises that bother me like typing, singing, or listening to her favorite music or opening and closing drawers, closets, the door. I am even bothered from the sound of her flip flops when she walks (even my flip flops so i stopped wearing them), and from the sounds i hear from the air conditioner (this affects my sleep).

A baby crying, chewing, repetitive sounds, nylon bags and a lot more all bother me, and when i try to tell my parents this, they don't believe me and make me more angry with their comments.

This prevents me from studying, concentrating and makes me easily distracted. The latter has affected my performance gradually and in the spring semester i even failed all my courses. Before those four years, i was still at school and i was an A student. I don't know what happened, any advice?

I have had a fear of noise as long as I can remember. Hearing water drip would drive me nuts. I live on a farm. The cow moos and I run inside. I always thought I had some chemical imbalance.

You have to deal with noise anxiety the way you would deal with any anxiety. You have to learn to tolerate it without attaching a "story" to the noise.

Mindfulness meditation works a lot for me. You learn to focus on something pleasant. Then expose yourself to something negative. Then again to something pleasant, and go back and forth and you find the anxiety diminishes if you stop attaching a story to the anxiety.

Since I've been six or seven, I kept getting horrible panic attacks at noises like air conditioning and and repetitive noise, like a car alarms. It used to make me feel so scared and alone. Now it's so much better, but for the past two years I've started to feel extremely aggressive when I can hear someone chewing, and I've got scars on my hands where I dug into them with my nails just to stop myself from screaming.

I'm so glad I've found this, because I've been researching about OCD and was so worried that I was some sort of freak. At least now I'm not too scared to tell my doctor.

It really helps to know that I'm not alone in this.

I'm 15, and deep, low bass sounds have always bothered me ever since I was a kid. But now it's getting worse.

When it first started to get worse was when I would hear the neighbors play rap music so loud that I would hear the bass as loud in my house.

It would make me feel really anxious and I would start to shake uncontrollably. My mother would never help me. I felt so alone. Then I would go into a panic attack. It normally happened at night, but I would have anxiety all day because I would be dreading the night and it happening again.

Recently, even different sounds are making me freak out. Sometimes they are sounds that my family can't even hear. Like, the air conditioner making noises or cars down the street. Any low sounds that I hear or imagine. I also get really bad stomach aches from the anxiety.

I have the worst trouble with falling asleep. I just started using earplugs and they're kind of helping. I just started seeing a therapist who I hope can help me get over this. I hate it so much and I just wish it would go away.

If anyone can give me some tips, suggestions, or medications that have helped them, it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

I am extremely sensitive to noise, too. I find it stressful going to the movies as people may be munching on food or making noise with wrappers or laughing out loud.

I can't handle being in a room where more than one conversation is going on- it drives me insane and I start to get very anxious. I can't stand the sound of semi-trailers, cars, kids screaming and playing, footsteps, thumping, sometimes voices on tv and on the radio get on my nerves and I change the channel.

Noise makes me very aggressive. My boyfriend keeps telling me to ignore it, and I try to, but I can't- I get so upset over it. I feel that people talk so loudly sometimes and they blast my ears off. I get anxiety if someone is eating chips or something crunchy or if they are playing with their nails, yawning/coughing loudly. Rattling plastic bags, doing dishes for too long - there is only so much I can tolerate.

I try to act like the noises are not bothering me, but the eventually get the better of me and my mood completely changes. I suddenly am in a bad mood. Repetitive sounds drive me insane.

I hate being like this. I have told my boyfriend many times that I wished I wasn't like this. I had a lady talk over my head to her friend on a plane flight once and a baby crying the whole trip another time. I was so upset and I felt like I was going to say something so rude to the people involved. My b/f got angry at me. I just wish he would understand that I am not deliberately overdoing it.

If anybody has solutions to this problem, please post them. I've often found that people who have found a solution will no longer post because they are no longer researching their problem.

I own my home and want to sell and move to the country. As we all know, this is a bad time to sell. My anxiety is around noise and the "possibility" of noise. The truth is, I can count on one hand how many times the neighbors have partied with too loud of music. My anxiety is nearly every day, the *fear* it can happen again.

If I hear music in their backyards, I worry they will get louder. I might be inconvenienced and have to close all my windows and play my own music, but I am not hearing it -- just afraid i will.

I also panic when I hear the booming bass in cars that drive by; I'm afraid it's coming from a neighbor's house rather than a car. I've learned to try to talk myself down from that.

This is a living nightmare. Is this a form of OCD?

I always thought I was this uptight anti-social person, but now I realize that my annoyance with noise is a real thing! I think a lot of my annoyance/anger has to do with my thoughts that others are just being so inconsiderate and rude.

I recently purchased a condo, and I can't believe how many people just let the metal security gate slam shut instead of just closing it quietly. They must hear it slam when they're in their condo - I can't believe it doesn't bother them - the whole building shakes!

I also long for the day when I can live out in the middle of the woods, away from nearby neighbors.

I have been buying land little by little over the years. I feel anxious almost all the time from noise in the neighborhood.

I have three different prepaid cell phones that I use to complain to the police about neighbors who violate the noise ordinances. I never give my name. I dread Saturday/weekend mornings if I wake up before 9 a.m. because I know I am going to hear some neighbor mowing a lawn or using a power washer.

I start pacing and I have to get in my car and secretly find out the source of the noise and then report them to the police. I really hate living this way. Now that is summer time, it is even worse. Sometimes I just want to get in my car and just drive, drive, drive all the way out of here and forget about everything and my job and leave it all behind.

Right now, there are about five teenagers sitting outside on their deck at the house behind ours and I can hear them laughing loud and playing music. I wish it would just start raining hard so everyone would go inside and it could be quiet for awhile.

Sometimes I feel that nobody suffers as bad as I do with this.

I knew I wasn't crazy!! Radios and TV have always made me nuts. I have three kids ages 3, 5 and 10 and they drive me crazy! I feel like a horrible mom. My son never stops talking and sometimes I freak out! So glad to see I'm not the only one. Need to see my doctor.

do you know what it's like waking up every morning expecting that loud neighbor with those fabulous lead feet? I've gone semi-insane listening to those stomps 365 days a year for two years straight. If there was a line that said "gone bananas" on it I would be there.

I am a 40 year old woman and I go into a violent rage when I hear the kids across the street skate boarding. I lose all control. It has gotten so bad that I purchased a white/pink noise generator and attached it to my 300 Watt Kenwood Home theater system.

This is the only way I can deal with and I close all my blinds so that I can't even see the kids. The odd part is that I think they hate the white noise generator more than me going bananas and slamming doors.

I am 40 and all these comments are just how I feel.

It makes me cry because I get angry suddenly at my nine year old daughter when she makes a sudden noise that is normal for a kid to make.

My ears, brain and my mind suddenly feel such an intense angry reaction and for seconds it's as if I have lost control over everything. Afterward I feel so tired, like some of myself has been drained out.

Honestly, every time i hear another person chewing and chewing and chewing their gum, i immediately freak out. I lose control over all of my emotions, and i can't think straight.

All i hear is that noise, and i try to block it out. I've been trying for years and i still get nowhere with this. I suffer every day.

Yes, and even school is hard to walk into because of all the noises that i hear every single day!

when i ask people to stop making that "noise" they seem to do it louder. I think my best friends are out to get me with the noises they make. I even think my teachers are. i cry in school. i go to the bathroom and get my i pod because it brings such comfort to me. 1,000 thoughts race through my head at one time, i get hot, i feel like i need to sleep or pass out, i think to get away from it?

But yet, all of this suffering for years, and crying and hurting myself so the noises won't bother me, but somehow no one can understand me and no one wants to help.

I get to listen to my i pod in school and my teachers think it's a joke. my friends don't understand. they get mad when i tell them to stop. My parents aren't even trying to help me. i don't get it.

I don't know what to do. i listen carefully to figure out why i am so annoyed. i try everything. i need someone to help me, because there is no way i can live the rest of my life listening to this and going through all of this.

so glad to find I am not alone. I'm at work surrounded by typists (some with long fingernails) and I cannot concentrate. it is driving me nuts. the ceiling bangs like a drum every time somebody walks across the office upstairs, and I feel like throwing my laptop across the room.

I have dealt with noise anxiety and sensitivity for as long as I can remember. Even the sound of a light switch can send me into a panic attack. The weird part is that it only occurs at night time or when I'm really stressed. I also have a horrible time eating with others as the sounds of chewing and even the clink of dishes sends shivers down my spine.

Yes I think I have found a way. Abrupt, loud noises would get me angry, hurt and I felt like they were attacks on me made by the people who caused them. So I would make a loud noise back to get them back.

But strangely, after reading these posts and realizing the pain this condition is causing, I understood I didn't want this pain anymore so I told myself that I must learn to love the noises, each door slam, each clanging of the plates, each moving of the chairs, every cough, sniffle, sneeze -- I must learn to love them then I could truly be free. I felt free feeling that.

It won't be easy but I think your mind will adjust to loving them eventually so you must try hard to feel happy when you hear them. It sounds crazy but love is the way, right?

I am only fifteen, and I hate going to school every day because of the frustration and anxiety I experience from the sound of keyboarding. I start crying immediately when I hear it, and it makes me extremely stressed.

I've avoided seeing my own Grandmother, who is dying of cancer, because of the noises she makes when she eats and chews on her lips. I have lost friendships because of the noises they make when they speak and the way they chew their gum. This is insane, and I cannot deal much longer. I have panic attacks daily because of this.

I don't get it. Most of the time, not even fingernails on a chalkboard can get to me - I can easily "tune everything out." Then all of a sudden, I can't "tune" anything out and it feels like total sensory overload.

Repetitive noises don't trigger it so much as multiple conversations going on at once, phones ringing (or beeping and most custom ring-tones), deep "booming" voices, and such.

The strangest part, is my reaction to conversations in foreign languages! I work in an environment where there are multiple languages spoken. I am multilingual and usually have no problem, but for some reason, when there is more than one or two languages being spoken at once in a room, I feel completely overwhelmed and that tends to trigger my noise anxiety.

Once it's triggered, all noises seem amplified, my mind goes into overload trying to process all the conversations and sounds all at once, then I feel panic like I am under some kind of attack. It happens in restaurants, stores, parties, etc.

I am also blessed to come from a large, very close, boisterous, multilingual family and feel so awful when that blessing starts to feel like a curse. Children laughing, running and shouting; aunts gossiping; uncles discussing business and politics; cousins discussing what young adults and teens discuss; it's all happening all at once and it just drives me insane! I hate feeling so irritated with those I love.

For the longest time, I thought I was just terribly anti-social, irritable, and just a horrible person.

Lexapro has helped, but not completely "fixed" it. Meditation works - at least when I am not too panicked to remember to take a moment to do it.

Again, asian boy, posting for my anxiety for people with love. Forget this sound anxiety, huh? Yes, you've got to be brave. It is all about people and trying. You've got to get back up even when you're down.

i believe you need to find god and pray to him, and tell him your pain. he is the healer. Believe in him and keep trying to find help for your anxiety from experts. Finding your own problem will help you a lot. You must understand how your anxiety happens and feel it and learn from it and then work your way up and find your answer.

But as you go, be with god.

Again, asian boy from atlanta, georgia. Live to find happiness even against your own fear to overcome it. Anyone can find it if they try and be strong. Anyway, i am hmong. peace.

I've learned from my sound anxiety for the nine years it's been in my life and it's still in my life. I'm having a difficult time with it but i never give up. i tried every medication to find a cure for it but none helps.

What i learned is you have to keep searching and trying and learn from it. okay I'll get to the point. Here are some clues I've learned.

The first thing is to find a medication for your depression. You can get that at your physician's office. This would really help you because depression does affect your anxiety and becomes trouble in your life.

For your sleep problems, seroquel helps the best and take cymbalta. It also helps; it stops the tingling of fear. That's what the pills are for. It's best if you find a doctor who is an expert in sound anxiety and that's what I did. i learned a lot.

i think sound anxiety is not because your afraid. It's the sound that is bothering you, but you think you're afraid but you're not really. It's best if you don't let it control you, but rather be brave and face it.

Being angry won't help. it'll only make it worse or you end up hurting others. I'm asian and a quick learner.

Stop being hopeless and don't give up -- that's my motto. So i am helping you people out. I know what sound anxiety feels like. It's like you're not dead but you get stabbed with a knife over and over and it hurts.

You need to exercise and eat healthy for your brain and don't smoke or drink. It won't help but will make it worse. It increases anxiety. Well, peace out and take care.

I suffered from noise anxiety for a number of years, due to noise caused by neighbours playing their TVs or music too loud or generally banging around.

It got to the point that i was wearing earplugs or my MP3 player all the time indoors. Yet I found that the anxiety got worse and i started to experience chest pains, etc.

I eventually went for therapy and took medication and found that as i became more relaxed the noise bothered me less until it had virtually gone. Recently, I've been going through a period of stress and it has started to come back. Stress is definitely a cause. Just talking about it with a professional can really help.

Wow I can relate so much to everybody here. I began to wear earplugs to sleep a few years ago because my neighbours were noisy, having parties or just the kid running up and down on wooden floors constantly. Now I absolutely cannot sleep without them, and find myself resorting to them or headphones most of the time at home also.

Then when I hear/imagine a noise over the headphones, I have to remove them to listen, even though it makes me annoyed! I'm so tense all the time.

I have had to move to a smaller bedroom away from the party wall, which unfortunately means I am now by the road. I am not by any means on a main road, but a car will pass every 5-10 seconds. On particularly anxious days I find myself getting so annoyed I will turn and look at it every single time. I can't stand it.

I don't want to live on medication as I have finally come off antidepressants but I don't know how to overcome this. I try to be more tolerant and rely on earplugs less but I just can't.

I get rage-anxiety with leaf blowers. I wish I could tolerate them but I just lose my mind when I hear them certain days.

Its great to know that I'm not alone. Noise has affected me so much it restricts me from moving out of my family home. I refuse to move into an apartment.

For a short time I stayed in a college dorm on the quiet floor. It was a nightmare. It got so bad and sometimes is to the point I have anxiety about expecting on hearing noise. It really affects me and makes me annoyed when I'm in my own space to the point I can't relax and my blood pressure shoots through the roof.

It is very challenging but it's nice to know that there are other people as well. I'm also sensitive to EMF fields. At least you can turn off your electronics, but you can't turn off other people and their noises.

I too have this problem. i was once lost but now i have comfort in knowing that I'm not alone. My next move is switch to ear plugs with industrial headphones with a lovely helmet on top and then i proceed to sleep next to my husband. however my husband is having difficulty adjusting to my new headwear, but I've had to endure his sleep apnoea and machine.

In response to anon74018: So sorry to hear of your dilemma. I don't have a remedy. I can only say that I am sorry and that I understand.

It is so pathetic that this world has so many rude self centered people who just do not care about anyone else except themselves.

I also have neighbor issues. In the spring and summer, I never open my windows because of the noise. On one hand, I know that seems crazy, but on the other hand, I just cannot stand to hear them screaming, and it starts in the morning, and continues into the night.

I also encounter this at the beaches. I love to go to the beach in the summer to relax and unwind after a long work week. But again, people and kids are screaming. I walk practically miles away from people to be alone so that I can have some quiet.

Does anyone know of noise cancelling earbuds that really work? And, again, so sorry about your situation.

I have a noise anxiety too. Everything I read sounds all too familiar. I cannot stand sniffling, coughing, clearing of throats, chewing, whistling, snoring, loud open mouth breathers etc. It has been getting a bit better since I started yoga. It affects my relationships to the point where I am physically and verbally abusive. I definitely need to deal with it.

I am so relieved to see that there are others out there with this problem. I have many things which trigger my noise anxiety and it's been a problem for me for the past 15-20 years. It normally makes me very angry. In fact I can even remember when I was about 10 years old, I broke a TV because the sound woke me up (I normally keep the volume level at 2-3 of 60).

I've learned to control my rage, obviously, but still become very distracted and feel the anger well up inside of me. Now that I'm aware what the true problem is and that I can see a health care professional about it, I'm beyond relief.

I've suffered with "neighbor noise anxiety" for several years. I don't exactly remember when it started but it's intensified over the last few years, due to neighbours keeping me awake through the night, fighting and shouting.

I own my home but the house next door is rented and the last few years has been inhabited by tenants who neither care about the home or the people living around them.

I've recently acquired a new neighbor who is still moving in, so "expected moving noise" is at a premium. However I find the anxiety of thinking this neighbor will be as bad as the previous two overtakes everything else in my life. I can't sleep, eat, or carry on normal relationships with friends and family as it's all I think about.

I'm coming to the end of an eight week cognitive therapy behavior course, and am about to embark on hypnotherapy to see if that can help me. Expensive but I feel I've exhausted every other avenue. Oh, apart from the obvious, I'm consulting estate agents in the hope of selling my home and moving to a tent in a big field.

If anyone has any less extreme solutions believe me, I'd be ecstatic to hear them. I too, sleep with ear plugs, with industrial headphones on top of these.

Started off a little uncomfortable, but over the years I've gradually become accustomed to them.

I find I have this problem around yelling. I'm in a bad state right now as people in my workplace tend to have blowups at each other - actually not only does the yelling bother me, but the whispering too.

Also a family member is having trouble at work, and they tend to start yelling while venting. Both situations makes hyperventilate, and also makes me angry, like they are yelling at me.

I'm slowly finding I have this issue with doors and car doors slammed too loud.

Wow, what a club we belong to. Sheesh. I'm completely nuts. I used to live near people who had a constantly barking dog and it drove me insane. I actually thought (but would never, ever) of harming that dog.

Now I live in a nice neighborhood on a quiet residential street but there's a school on one end and as I work in my office, car after car after car after car, after school bus after car until I'm ready to shoot them all! (only kidding) I've written to my doctor who is a naturopath - I'm looking for supplements to help. We'll see.

First off it's great to find this place and see that there are hundreds of variations on noise anxiety.

My biggest problem is amplified sound, i.e., the bass thump of neighbors' music as well as the car behind me when I am stopped at a traffic light. The neighbors TV and their loud voices when they are outside on the patio.

At work, the many co-workers who participate on conference calls on the speaker phone with the volume turned way up, actually even if it's not too loud it still really annoys me to distraction.

I can't concentrate on my work and I sometimes ask them to close their office door. I strive for total silence and even that becomes a problem when I hear the rumble of the rooftop ac units or the tick tick tock of the kitchen wall clock. The absolute madness of my noise sensitivity is in the still of the night. I hear my heart beat; now that's a sound that can keep you awake and ear plugs only makes worst.

I think "Noise Geek", that you should get off of your rump and admit that we do indeed, live in a crappy, noise fueled, corporate controlled, greedy world of our own making. If we have noise sensitivity it's not our problem.

Years from now, we will realize just how damaging all the crap noise we generate has affected not only our planet but our health, physically and mentally as well. I think it's time for people to band together for a nice, big collective lawsuit against the makers of these "noise makers."

I'm kind of surprised because that's exactly how I feel, and the only way to shut it out is too put on earphones and play music so loud it hurts.

Although chewing is by far the worst, my brother's voice when he's on the xbox (all the time) really annoys me and others. I don't fly into a rage but I do get angry.

Luckily my family does try to be quiet, except my brother who doesn't realize. Might have to get help though.

One more thing: Amtrak has Quiet Cars. And some other rail lines do also now. Does that mean that that a huge majority of the population has "noise anxiety," or do you think that perhaps many people are just fed up and just want peace and quiet from the growing number of rude, self centered, lazy, disrespectful, ill mannered people in this world?

I am exactly like all of you. All of those noises make me very upset also. I share an office with someone who chews with her mouth wide open. She slurps, smacks and makes me want to vomit. She also cracks her gum. Then there is a guy who walks around whistling loudly and shrilly, and when he sneezes, you’d think we just had an earthquake.

This is what I don’t get: many of you feel that you have a problem (and I guess it is “our problem” to some degree), but haven’t you all noticed that this “problem” has gotten worse over recent years? Lack of manners, lack of courtesy, lack of common sense, lack of respect have all increased lately too. And no one seems to care. Everyone looks the other way. Why is that OK? Why is it OK that other people walk around yelling into their cell phones and whistling when we are trying to concentrate and work?

Why is it OK that people cough (and pull up constantly) without covering their mouths? Why is it OK that they are screaming on the commuter trains when I am tired from working a 55 hour week and I just want to read or relax?

Why should I be the one to shove ear buds in my ears to mask their yelling (and I haven’t found any yet that really mask their yelling- I still hear them anyway- which makes me even more angry).

But my point is – I am not convinced that we need the (noise anxiety) "label." The world has become lazy, disrespectful, ill mannered and rude. And it seems like every day there is yet another type of anxiety label put on people, rather than the obvious truth be told: Wake up- stop being a rude pig and respect your neighbor- it is not all about you.

Don’t get me wrong. It is very comforting to find all of you. But I don’t see any solutions here, and I can only imagine what the "new" anxiety labels will be five years from now if this "live and let live" attitude continues.

Thank you! I am home! I felt so alone. I feel and agree with every thing here. Yes, I guess it is a "problem" "we" have; yet I can't accept that it is "OK" for everyone else to stop being well mannered.

I didn't always feel this way. It is a more recent thing. The last few years. And it has gotten worse. But so have the lack of manners and the lack of disrespect. People are pigs. I share an office with someone who chews loudly with her mouth open. I can't concentrate on my work. She drives me crazy. I ride the LIRR with people who yell and shriek all the time. Why is that OK?

I just want to relax and I can't. I wish I could but I can't.

Wow! This is somewhat therapeutic to know that I'm not crazy. however, we are all living with real issues and just knowing someone else has that same issue does not make ours go away or seem less intense.

I have the "thumping" and door slamming aversion and currently am trying to deal with neighbor noises; even though they are normal living noises and no loud music, I'm still sensitive and my home sanctuary seems invaded!

I don't know how to remedy this situation but I'm trying to learn to deal with disappointment. Seems that being disappointed that I'm being disturbed is a root cause of my issue.

I too sleep with ear plugs all the time: hotels, you name it, and I must always be on a top floor.

We'll all hopefully lessen the effects sometime! And I too want to live in the country far away from other people's noise!

I can't stand the sound of a "thump." anything that makes a thumping noise will send me up a wall, especially the garbage lid closing since it seems like it happens 1,000 times a day.

The sound of walking also irritates me. I live on the third floor of my parents' house and anytime I hear them (they are on the first floor) I want to yell for them to shut up.

I hear footsteps and talking and the garbage lid. I hear the clearing of throats and the sucking of teeth (which makes me want to knock my father's teeth down his throat when he does it). I get very irritated at all of these things when I am on the third floor, however when I am closer to the noises, like on the first floor, they seem to bother me much less.

Car doors closing drives me insane since it's one of those thump noises but a car alarm won't bother me much. Obnoxious music coming from a car stereo will only bother me if there is loud bass. I'm glad that I'm not alone with these noise issues but I think it's getting worse because recently I've been contemplating intentionally making myself deaf to escape the noises, but with my luck I'll probably still "feel" the annoying "thump" sound and be just as irritated.

Its nice to know others. I personally like quiet, almost never have a radio on at home, only in the car. There is a chihuahua next door that once it is out the door it does not shut up.

Neighbors who drive by at midnight with the bass turned all the way up. venting is good.

My next house will have a two-foot thick solid stone wall and two-foot think exterior house walls made of stone. Maybe then i will have serenity albeit I will be broke.

What exactly is the treatment for this?

this isn't about neighbors and unnecessary disturbances. when too many sounds are occurring at once: someone is talking and the television's on, and say a plane flies overhead or a truck drives past, i get pissed. my daughter's asthma machine (nebulizer) drives me into fits of rage.

i feel terrible for my family, but i feel relieved to know it's not just me. - j, dallas.

While I will admit to having "noise" issues, I just can't figure out why I must tolerate the rude behavior that appears to have become the norm.

The neighbors party like they live in the country. I have to work with someone who never shuts up. I could go on. It goes on all day and all night. What happened to respect for and consideration of others? You know, this is my space/that is yours. It's not me-it's the rest of the world.

I have an extreme sensitivity to noise, especially trucks, buses, and any repetitive noise. I can't use the blinker in my car and I can't be around clocks ticking.

When I can't get away from the noise I get confused and hide or go into a rage. I think this is the result of a PTSD experience I had four years ago. Friends, research Hyperacusis. It is similar.

I am bothered by the droning sound that projects from the grocery store roof that is across the street from me. I wrote a letter to them once and they dismissed it.

I have investigated this topic and there are things that companies can do to mitigate the amount of noise their roof-top equipment makes. I can't enjoy my own back yard.

I can't stand it when people in my house "my brother" wash the dishes like a bull in a china shop! I feel like stabbing him with a fork! he's also no stranger to revving his engine for 10 or so minutes in the driveway to let it "warm-up." ugh. i am kind of an introverted person but i think it's just another word for being a considerate person! i needed to vent.

Wow, I am not alone!

I have the worst time in the shower. It seems to happen out of nowhere and stops just as quickly. Everything is so loud and makes me feel like I'm going crazy. The worst part is my inner voice feels like it is screaming. There is nothing I can do to make it stop. I've tried breathing exercises, I've tried thinking of something totally unrelated, nothing.

I also tend to have panic attacks in the shower randomly. I don't know what to do to remedy this. I have no money and no insurance.

It's really helpful to know that I'm not the only one. I'm very annoyed by a loud neighbor (I live in an apt. complex) and it's really hard for me to control my anxiety.

I think it started a couple of years ago while I was living in another complex( different state) and every night there were some loud people gathering just below my window-drinking, yelling, arguing and even fighting each other. I had to call the police so many times and I guess I got this from there.

Then, when last year I moved to Dallas, TX we (with my boyfriend) got a nice place in another complex and just right when we moved in there was that loud person above us making so much noise every night that I was really getting so mad that eventually we waited our six-month lease to expire and moved out.

Now I'm in the complex across the street and for six months, it was nice and quiet until those people below us moved in and began moving furniture in the middle of the night. I could hear everything -- and now they are still moving some stuff that late and I don't know what to do anymore.

That triggers my anxiety towards car engines, slamming doors, loud music and so on. I don't really know what to do. I began sleeping with earplugs and they help, but I don't want to use them every night. I really need to get over that.

I am so glad I read this! I have been complaining to my supervisor for quite awhile as I work in a cubicle workplace.

I tend to make more mistakes, get really angry and seethe inside my cubicle, over people holding random lengthy conversations. People who let their "missed call" on their cell phone beep in the cube for hours while they are away from the cubicle. People who sniffle all day or snort up their snot like disgusting pigs!

When I brought this to my manager's attention she said she had never heard of such a thing as being sensitive to noise like that and I am making excuses. Thank You!

I can't believe what I'm reading- what a relief to see that I'm not alone. I get very angry when I hear people chew, sniff, sneeze loud, clear their throats -- the list goes on. It's really hard in a relationship. I'm on prozac for anxiety but it doesn't fix this problem. Any other ideas out there?

I have a problem with people playing radios at work. I can't tolerate earplugs. I don't like music while I'm working - otherwise it's fine. Does anyone know how to get over this?

My anxiety toward noises occurs mainly when I am at home in my own private "sanctuary". At least I'd like to someday have a home that I can call a true sanctuary. A home free from neighbor's noise making and thumping car stereos. I currently live in a condo that connects to my neighbor's unit on one wall. I have moved out of my master bedroom and into the smaller one down the hall because my neighbor's kitchen is located on the other side of the master bedroom's wall. I've moved to the other bedroom because my neighbors love to drag their heavy (I'm guessing) dining room chairs across their tile floor several times a day, even early in the morning (5:30 a.m.). They are such a nice couple and are otherwise pretty quiet. So rather than confront them about it, I've altered my way of living. Other than retrieving clothing from the closet in that room, I try to stay away as much as possible because I know that the noise will infuriate me. I even keep the room's main door closed whenever possible. Like some of you, I also do fly into a rage if the offensive noise persists. I know it's not a normal response, and I also know that I should see a therapist about it, but financially I'm not in a position to do so at this point. I just want to be normal. This disorder colors my entire life gray. I long for the day when I can live in the country miles away from any neighbor.

I have been sensitive to a variety of noises (e.g. people chewing, sirens, etc.) for many many years, but air traffic above my house such as police helicopters and military jet noise is by far my biggest problem. Anyone else suffer from this as their primary noise issue? I moved from one area of town to another recently, primarily to get away from the noise, but I now experience chronic noise from military fighter jets instead of police helicopter patrolling (this is not occasional noise, but daily/nightly habitual noise). I am extremely sensitive to it. Obviously people live in these places and cope somehow, but the anxiety it creates for me is all consuming. I have lived in places earlier in my life where this was not an issue, so I know I'm not making it up. It ruins what is otherwise a pretty good life for me. I have a great/stable job, kids are content, and otherwise don't want to leave, but I don't know what else to do at this point. I can't afford to keep moving, and I have other people to consider besides myself. Wish there were a reasonable solution. I'm truly concerned that I might wind up in an institution if I don't find a happy medium. Thoughts?

I've never had this problem before! and now i wake up all the time when someone is snoring, and i can't concentrate or read in any of my subjects when someone is talking, it interrupts my train of thought. People would just say like "you have to learn to tolerate it" which is *so* frustrating because they don't understand i can't!

I can't take the sounds of people talking or making any type of noise like humming, singing or whistling especially. I feel insane all the time because I actually feel a rage come over me when people are talking around me. I was shocked to google sensitivity to noise and find this. I am going to speak to my doctor about it now that I know it's not just me!

"Obnoxious jerk disorder". It causes extreme insensitivity to sounds, as well as to the well-being of people around them. Certain groups are more at risk: men, extroverts, and persons who have gone numb as a result of many years of study in authoritarian medical schools. Recommended treatment is medication as well as sensitivity-training type therapies. Especially recommended are therapies which increase empathy.

Nice try, psychiatrists. "Women and introverts" suffering from a terrible medical affliction that makes them unable to tolerate other people's oh-so-normal sounds. Take a pill, get some therapy. No. Obnoxious extroverts, aggressive men, rude and disrespectful neighbors need to be quiet! Medicalization of social distress does not serve anyone but the hyper-normal.

I work in a hospital, and the noises from equipment, alarms, and people drive me insane!

to anon41690, I would seek professional help if you have not done so already. My wife deals with this (along with other forms of anxiety) and I know how she can get because of it. The biggest injustice you can do to yourself is to tell yourself you don't have a problem and that you don't need help. I am not saying that this is you, but it is my wife, and it makes both of us miserable. She used to be on Lexapro and Ativan, but is pregnant now and has stopped all of her meds, and the world can tell the difference. Even her coworkers have dropped hints to her, but she just doesn't get it - she blames others or says "she is doing pretty well being off of the medicine". I would disagree. Bottom line, if it is hampering your day to day activities, or if you are making other people uncomfortable or being short with others because of your anxiety - seek help. There is nothing to be ashamed of in seeking help - and it may improve your quality of life (and others around you).

I have always had a problem with noise anxiety.

The sound of people eating food, any especially chips. People that sniffle, my dad sucks up his snot all the time and it gives me rage and I tell him to stop making the sound and my mom says, "just get over it, people make sounds," but i can't! I can't concentrate at school especially while taking a test because so many people chew gum and cough and sniffle. I try so hard but i cannot tune it out. It literally hurts my ears so much I cry. Its only gotten more severe over the years. I refuse to have friends that make the noises that i don't like and if someone does make a noise, i will point it out and people do get upset with me. I don't know what is wrong with me though. What am I supposed to do? I was living away from home in the dorms at university but i'm back home going to community college and because of the sounds. my anxiety is extremely bad now and i don't know what to do. Any advice, please?

I'm also sensitive to noise, doors slamming close, loud car engines, tapping. I've tried taking deep breathes whenever I feel anxious and think of something else which sometimes works.

To anon33090.

My noise anxiety is exactly what you describe. Loud chewing, popping gum, my mom's "s" sound, heavy breathing. Same thing with me. It started when I was in grammar school. Can't just tune these sounds out. What do you do about it?

I have awful noise anxiety, it's been affecting me since I was a little kid. I can't stand the sound of loud chewing, sniffing, loud talking, clicking of a video game controller, mouse clicking, keyboard typing, nail clipping, and my mom's coughing. It seems a new annoying noise arises every year.

I too have this condition, when trucks or airplanes pass my house, I have to run outside and look at them so stop myself having a heart attack. Nat, 22, Aust.

I have noticed for a while that I am sensitive to noise, makes me jumpy even not so loud noises. I have experienced hyperventilating, angry, nervous, shaking, feeling that I need to go to the doctor, chest pains etc.. Is all this related to anxiety ? I feel I am totally nuts sometimes. I can't concentrate.