Does anyone else have a phobia of loud noises?

[TheatreSounds]

I'm autistic and detest fireworks, balloons, sudden loud noises and pretty much anything else that goes bang.

I love theatre but so many shows use loud bangs that I spend most of my time dreading them. I wish that they'd let people know when to anticipate them in the programme. It stops me from going to see some.

Does anyone else have this problem?

It's an autistic trait. Im autistic I hate them.

blacknredsweeties

Do you avoid them or do you have any coping techniques?

Me. I'm not autistic but have hated bangs for as long as I can remember. I can't even stay in a room with kids playing with balloons, my anxiety is through the roof!

Absolutely hate them and the anticipation is anxiety inducing.

My daughter does. We suspect neurodiversity for many reasons, but she doesn't currently meet referral criteria. Ear defenders and she wears a more discrete ear plug at school. She's absolutely phobic of noise and anticipating it though. It's actually getting worse as she gets older, she said she can't remember feeling this scared when she was younger.

Me. I’ve hated bangs for as long as I can remember. I don’t mind loud noise so long as it’s consistent but not knowing when something might bang sends my anxiety through the roof.

I hate fireworks and like the op, I’ve had to leave shows if I think there might be an explosion.

I have found my people after many years of being made to feel like I was weird!

Hate everything mentioned in the OP. Suspect neurodiversity, possibly autism but nothing diagnosed.

@TheatreSounds lots of theatres now offer what they may refer to a "trigger sheets" or "content warning sheets" - if there's a show you'd like to see it's worth emailing the theatre in advance to see if they have one they can email. If you'd like, I have the one I was given at the London Palladium for the Wizard of Oz I can send you as an example - but it does contain spoilers. I coped with earplugs and ear defenders because of this.

Bonfire night is not my favourite time...

I am autistic and most of my life is lived in ear defenders I hate it

@LollipopViolet Thank you. That'd be incredibly helpful. I'll contact theatres and ask. I don't mind spoilers half as much as I do loud noises.

Sympathies to all of you who also have the same problem. I really appreciate your responses.

I hate bangs, jump scares in films, that kind of thing. One if the worst nights of my life was when I agreed to go to the London Dungeons - people jumping out at you and screaming all over the place!

But I love noisy fireworks. I think it's because I'm expecting the bangs. Possibly mixed with good memories from being a kid.

Im not ND and I hate noise that isn’t consistent or that I can “feel” so I hate bass from music, fireworks and the like, children screeching unexpectedly (I have 2 of my own 😂) but if it is consistent I can drown it out.

I'm a bit like that character from the Catherine Tate show these days, I massively overreact to unexpected/unidentified loud noises, often covering my head and cowering Some of it is the autism as loud bangs have always bothered me but the overreaction thing is PTSD from an aggravated burglary. I also hate noise I can feel, the yearly carnival when I was a kid with the marching band and drums was hell on earth for me.

Me too. I hate unexpected loud noises. I have a real startle reflex that makes me suddenly feel so panicked and anxious, to the point of sweating and shaking. For this reason my phone is always on silent and I hate unexpected knocking at the door. I also cannot take it when someone opens a packet of crisps by ‘popping’ the bag really loudly so it makes a bang noise, or someone unexpectedly slamming a door
or cupboard.

I definitely over react to loud noises, I know it annoys everyone but I feel like it's worse for me. Like the clatter when someone drops a saucepan lid, I get a fright and then I am somewhere between being enraged and wanting to burst into tears. Yesterday one of my kids popped a balloon while I was nearby tidying up and I got an awful fright. I have a son who occasionally kicks a ball against a window and when I see him playing I get anxious that there will be a bang. Other than this I'm not a nervous or particularly sensitive person, and I've noted it has worsened a bit over the years especially once i hit my 40s.

I have a fear of loud noises, but only if I have made them. Made mowing the lawn really hard. I like loud music, but only if I have headphones on and I'm certain no one else hear it.

Yep I do. Stomping and banging are my triggers due to living under a horrible neighbour for years. Loud music, dogs barking or fireworks I'm okay with though

Yes, hate loud noises. I find myself physically cringing away from loud people. I've always been scared of people with naturally loud voices, loud laughs and most of all those men who do ridiculously over dramatic sneezes. Pathetic attention seekers.
Even the sound of football fans on telly or the way adverts go so much louder have me putting the telly on mute.

I'm autistic. Yes definitely sensitive to loud noises. I can manage if it's a short term noise (like fireworks) but a continuous noise or even worse a unexpected one is awful

I hate alarms going off, particularly smoke and burglar alarms because, well, they're alarming. This is what they're meant to be of course but the very loud and sudden noise almost make my heart stop.

I have a burglar alarm which came with the house which I loathe - I have to pay to get the damn thing serviced each year. I don't put it on at night - if it went off I think I would die of fright.

Many years I'm sure I read of a horrible experience of a poor soul who bought a new alarm clock which was very loud. When it went off next morning they unfortunately suffered a heart attack as the noise was so very loud and sudden. The manufacturers made changes to ensure it didn't happen again.

I do. I have a neurological condition that gives me very exaggerated reflexes, including the startle reflex. That means that any unexpected noise, no matter how quiet, sends a startle reaction head to foot accompanied by pain. It also happens if somebody unexpectedly walks in a room and startled me or if somebody touches me when I'm not expecting it. Not a pleasant condition to have.

My DD14 is autistic too and has sensory issues. She easily gets overwhelmed by noise and things going on around her - she gets distressed, tics increase massively (she has Tourette's) and she's been known to faint
Her paediatrician has referred her to the children's audiology team to help, she mentioned white noise ear buds

I am not autistic but hate loud noises. Eg Years ago, they used to play an advert for sound systems at the movie theatre before the movie started. It was a clap of thunder. It bothered me every time - expecting it did not make it better.

I also have issues with too much light.

Intolerances to some foods and medications can cause my skin to hurt - my skin can feel like it is sunburned, and even the softest clothes can feel uncomfortable.

I have a form of dysautonomia and these are some of the possible symptoms.

Yes, my DD too. Flare calmer earbuds really help (although she keeps losing the little buggers)

There's nothing wrong with me but I hate loud noises especially the unexpected bang of a balloon and fireworks.