I'm very noise intolerant, can it be fixed?

[Spookyscary]

I find noise unbearable. I'll give some examples.

Visiting in laws, we are all chatting and they put the tv on loud, everyone talks louder over the tv so someone turns the tv up, it all gets louder and louder and my head feels like it's going to explode.

Ds watching noisy videos on YouTube, people shouting and screaming. sudden shrill high pitched screams. I can cope with normal cartoons but the shouting on YouTube drives me insane.

Dh and ds keep talking over one another, asking me questions or telling me thinks at the same time and I can't process what they're saying.

Persistent coughing.

Loud cats or motorbikes.

Any sounds like someone tapping on a desk or table.

Everything that goes on in our open plan office, people banging drawers, dropping things, sneezing loudly, loud ringtones, snorting when they laugh, eating loudly.

I could give many more examples. I hate being this way it makes life so difficult because obviously there's noise everywhere. I just want to run away with my hands over my ears.

From my point of view YANBU at all, because I’m very similar!

Especially when two people talk at once - I can’t hear either of them when that happens.

And I can’t concentrate on a task if someone keeps talking.

The in laws and the TV would drive anyone insane OP! That’s also so hugely rude.

I’ve no advice, I’m sorry. My DP is a constant cougher and it’s like nails down a blackboard.

Have you got adhd? I'm very similar and think I have mild adhd.

Noise cancelling headphones are your friend!

You can get discreet in ear noise cancelling headphones - I think some are called loop? You’ll still be able to hear the outside world but it mutes/quiets it a bit.

Many people who are neurodivergent are very sensitive to noise and can get sensory overload from noise easily. Do you think you have any other symptoms that could be autism/adhd/etc? Might be worth looking into as especially in the workplace if you had a diagnosis they would need to make reasonable adjustments to make it easier for you.

Tbh all those things would drive me mad too.
We live in a world where it's very rare to find silence; it sometimes feels as though there's a constant soundtrack.

I've always been pretty intolerant of noise I can't control and it's one reason that as soon as we could, we bought a detached house in a peaceful location. I appreciate that's not possible for everyone but it definitely makes sense to aim for the least stressful environments for yourself. Have you tried noise cancelling headphones?

I don't have adhd that I'm aware of but I wouldn't be at all surprised if I had autism because of other things. It could just be anxiety. Or maybe I'm just an intolerant sod.

Noise cancelling headphones certainly might be worth looking into.

I'm fed up of getting irritated all the time it's draining.

Look at misophonia Hatred of noise.

I'd imagine it's more common in Neurodiverse people.

I have it too No idea if I'm ND tho.

Gosh I could have written this post.
I HATE the tv / radio being up loud. I can't stand people talking over it although strangely I don't mind music in pubs / clubs.
DP tends to shout a whole sentence from one room to another and expects me to reply at the same volume. It drives me up the wall.

I am the same. I struggle with competing noises e.g. children talking to me whilst the radio is on, shrill noises and repetitive noises. I don't have any solutions unfortunately! DH has similar with clutter, it really stresses him out.

This sounds just like me, I doesn't help that dh either has his phone on watching videos, or the tv or the car radio so loud. I can't think if there is any load noise. It's getting worse as I get older. Think I will invest in some noise cancelling headphones!

I have DC with ASD. They are extremely sensitive to sound and have particular difficulty filtering out background noise.

OP check out Vibes Hi Fidelity ear plugs - they’re meant for people going to rock concerts who want to protect their ears but we’ve found them very useful and discreet.

Misophonia is a thing. I'm the same with people chewing nails, chewing gum, popping gum, tapping/thudding noises, talking too loudly in a quiet place, the list goes on 😩

Loop earplugs!

I’m the same and have discussed with a friend in work who also feels like this. Maybe we are both neurodivergent! I think we’re both pretty intolerant people generally though!

I am like this .Cannot bear constant noise ,especially at home .It does not bother me that much outside but being anywhere where people have loud phone calls or conversations in public drives me insane.I am not 'neurodivergent' but know too much background noise is like torture.Even my husband WfH is driving me bonkers .I grew up in a house where the radio was always on and blaring and we always had to be quiet when the news came on .I think it stems from that.I hate earphones and music in my ears but love it when I am cooking .

I suffer the exact same. It’s so bad it feels like the noise physically hurts. It’s hard to explain to people who don’t suffer with this. X

Seconded, all the noises you've listed drive me absolutely nuts. And people eating crisps, slurping drinks, smacking their lips and squelching sounds when someone is eating, disgusting.

Also the bloody bing bong that Microsoft computers make - I get stabby- my DH has his speakers on loud and every now and then it makes that noise. I'm sure Microsoft must really hate people.

oh me too! I cant stand any noise from my neighbours . It literally sends me into a panic attack .I am aware it is unreasonable but cant stop it. Since our new neighbours moved in I cant relax at all in my home even when its quiet.
Definitely look up misophonia and I found the website Allergic to Sound a huge help.

I’m the same, not the panic attacks, but I can’t relax at home since our neighbour moved his partner and her 2 sons in to the house. The fucking noise those kids make drives me up the wall!

OP I could have written this!

You have my sympathy. My DD watches YouTube and I can't STAND that low level whilst I'm watching something on the TV. It actually physically upsets me. Makes me want to pull my hair out 😢

Ruby Rubes.....You have a lot to answer for 😡😡😡

I work in a busy office and I can't deal when someone is asking a question but others are talking around me. The other day I just put my hands over my ears at my desk with my eyes closed.

I've always wondered whether there was something not quite right with me!

I'm the same, I just want silence. Even if I'm watching television, I put the volume as low as possible so I can't really hear it and have the subtitles on.

does anyone find there are advantages too as I tend to hear things others don’t eg someone arriving , baby waking, washing machine cycle finishing! I’m interested in the loop earplugs though as often I have to ask my family to speak more quietly when I’m tired- it’s always much louder when I’m tired

I would recommend Loop earplugs, quiet for night and experience for noisy places in the day.

I am being assessed for ADHD which came about because my child has it. I can’t cope with noisy environments at all.

I was going to ask about autism but then I read your next post. My solution is to extract your self often to give yourself some breaks.

The car reversing beeps! Just send my stress levels soaring. I have turned them down to the lowest setting so better now. I can’t concentrate on reversing with those blasted beeps.