How do you deal with overwhelming noises?

[nowwhat]

Went basically deaf, from working around overwhelming noise. If you go deaf before you go crazy, you're all good!

 

[clearly]

I too am extremely noise and light sensitive, to the point where it has controlled and effected my entire life.

I always wear sunglasses when outdoors, except when it's raining of course, but even then I may pop them on if only to keep my eyes dry.

My own survival tips are; headphones for my TV, they block out all extraneous noise which is absolute bliss. I am also permanently tuned into my iPods (when I am not watching TV or sleeping) that play rain and thunder, falling rain sounds are very soothing to me. Oh yes and good quality earplugs are crucial at night, without them I could never sleep. Oh yes and black out blinds to keep my bedroom pitch black at night.

Thankfully I have stopped caring what people think of me when I am out on a cloudy day with my sunglasses on as it's a matter of survival.

Unexpected loud noises - even when my dogs bark, which thankfully is rare - make me shake with fear and causes my heart to race.

P.S. I have tried the hands over ears maneuver several times but find it always seems to offend, so I use that method as an absolute last resort.

 

[Suzanne]

Just seen this and see that I did not answer.

Noise that is by my making ie music that I prefer loud, is one thing; but suddenly noises or noisy environments, get me wanting to escape fast.

I also hate low humming noises, which get me into meltdown mode and they mostly happen at night and I think it is low air craft and my husband annoyingly, doesn't hear and so, whilst he is sound asleep, I am just going crazy beside him lol

Lights: bright lights, make me want to run for cover.

But silence is louder than noise to me.

 

[Mr Allen]

I just turn my hearing aid off!

 

[abby normal]

I am curious about how "silence is louder than noise" - unless one has tinnitus, that is, like meself

 

[Voltaic]

i feel my mind goes on overload with noise. part becuase of the extra stuimuli to take in, and as well as my mind racing at 1000 miles an hour. I recently thought of redirecting my thoughts into something productive. So far, i have only tried out writing, but it was proven to be an affective way of calming me down, plus a way to get something out of the pain of being overwhelemed, making something that is bad, as good as possible.