Hi all, this is my first time posting and I suffer from noise anxiety.

My noise anxiety only exists in my own home, I work in a noisy office environment and this is not a trigger at all. In the past we have had noisy neighbours, air-con units, loud music etc all causing me to think about when the noise will happen again and this causes me to worry about constantly. Even to the point of missing out on enjoying things because I need to try and control situations.

At the moment we are in our own house and the neighbours have a dog that barks ALL THE TIME. It’s sensitive to everything and anything and is causing me anxiety because we cant go out to our backyard without being aggressively barked at. The issue has been brought up with the neighbours and they are aware that the barking is disturbing me and my family but not a lot has been done.

I'm tired of worrying and thinking the worst of what ‘might’ happen.

I'd like to hear from anyone that suffers the same type of anxiety and if they have tips on how to deal with it.

Thank you.

Hello PeggySue, and a warm welcome to you.

Being annoyed by noises can sometimes be known as Misophonia, although I'm not qualified to say, but a dripping tap can affect how I feel, it annoys me while dripping in the background.

If you've spoken to your neighbours about their dog constantly barking and nothing is done, then you can go to your council and report it.

This may cause negativity and could affect on how you feel, as you have told us, but you can put some earphones on, playing music that you like, the more relaxed you are in other areas of your life, the better you will be at dealing with these triggers.

Go and do something away from where you are and try to turn the negative into a positive, something you like doing to get rid of this persisting noise.

If people around you are agitated this is only going to worsen how you feel, try and step away.

Another option is by having desensitization therapy which a psychologist can help you with or you can teach yourself.

Let us know how you get on.

Geoff.

Hi PeggySue,

I hope it’s okay if I extend a very caring welcome to you here. I feel the barking must be causing you so much distress and frustration. Noise anxiety sounds very debilitating...

Sorry, I don’t have noise anxiety personally so I have no personal experience to share. The only thing that I can think of is perhaps noise-cancelling headphones that could help block out the barking?

I’m not sure if you feel this is a helpful option or not, but perhaps it’s something you might like to consider...

I’m thinking, and only if you feel up to it, you might like to write in again to let us know how you’re holding up (since your opening post) with the barking dog and your noise anxiety. It sounds so stressful. Or you could write about how things are going generally...anything you wish to talk about, really...

Kind and warm thoughts,

Pepper

Hi PeggySue92,

Welcome to the community! I too have noise anxiety but have never thought to label it as that before! It makes sense now giving it a title.

My husband and I have moved house 4 times due to barking dogs driving us both nuts. We have tried talking to neighbours, offered to take bored dogs left at home all day for walks, offered to have the dogs in our yard when I am out gardening (neighbours said NO).

We moved to the country, living on 5 acres hoping that might help. The neighbours didn't have dogs when we moved here, now they do.

We have involved the council and still nothing has been done. I am afraid some people do not understand just how debilitating, distressing and upsetting a barking dog can be on a person with mental health issues.

The garden used to be my safe place, my spot of tranquillity, where I could relax and unwind. Not any more.

I have tried all kinds of devices, radios, booming stereos, ear plugs, head phones, psychology, tried to tell myself it is just a dog barking, all with limited success. Especially so on days when my depression is prominent and all I need and want is some peace and quiet to calm my mind.

I'm not of much help sorry! Just thinking about barking dogs makes me depressed and angry! Ha. Ha.

Cheers from Dools

Hi PeggySue,

This is my first time posting as well. I’ve been doing some online research about noise anxiety, as mine seems to be worsening, and I stumbled across your post. I feel some comfort in knowing I’m not alone in this experience, so thank you for sharing.

For the most part, like you, my noise anxiety mainly occurs at home, with neighbours’ dogs barking, but can also occur in shopping centres, if kids are squealing indoors, and at work when multiple colleagues try to talk over the top of each other. It’s awkward at home because I love fresh air and having the windows open, but with the dogs barking I feel like I have to lock myself in a prison. I have tried talking to my neighbours, but as soon as you even mention their dog, no matter how polite you’re being, they get angry and defensive. I’ve read that particular noises can be extra anxiety inducing if you’ve had a bad experience with them before (like you’re already on your guard), which is certainly the case with me and yappy dogs. I had many sleepless nights in a former house because of a dog.

Like some others, I have noise cancelling headphones. They can be really good but don’t work in all situations. I’ve also read that plugging up your ears more often can make you even more sensitive. From what I’ve seem there’s sound desensitisation therapy available too, but haven’t tried it (am wondering if I can find out more about this and take a dyi approach). If the barking, or other noise, gets really bad I jump in the car and get away somewhere quiet (if I can). I find walking really helpful, more so than meditation - although I’ve heard some find meditation quite useful.

I do wonder if there’s some hereditary element, as my mum was very sensitive to noise and had anxiety more generally, but I haven’t looked into that yet. Like mum, I also have more general anxiety, especially social anxiety and anxiety related to being in crowds. I’ve never taken medication for this, although have considered looking into it several times. I don’t know if typical anxiety meds also help reduce noise anxiety, but this is something I may look into.

I wish I could be more helpful. I do hope you find some strategies and tools that work for you.

best wishes, leilems

That sucks it's something at home as that's where you should be able to feel relaxed decompress and unwind. I've lived with loud neighbours and honestly the answer I'd recommend is noise cancelling headphones. Bose Quiet Comfort II's are amaIng for this.

If it's not in your control then blanking it out with something else isnt a perfect solution but it really helps if something distracts you to the point of feeling on edge against your will.

Hi PeggySue92,

That sucks that it's happening at home, that's where you should be able to unwind decompress and relax. I've had noise disturbances from neighbours before, and honestly when it's outside your control I've found a solution in noise cancelling headphones.

Sure it's not a perfect solution but if the trigger is unrelenting and causing you problems then a straight down the middle proactive blocking of something with sound to drown it out can work wonders over time. Bose Quiet Comfort II's are amazing for this! Maybe give them a go?

Hi all i suffer from noise anxiety quite severly i think i did not know that such a thing really existed untill just recently.I have dealt with it most of my life i am now 55 ,noises that effect me are from people eating loudly, snoring,sub woofer bass scraping noises ect, they make me feel anxious irrate and somtimes ill to the stomach.

I somes feel that my anxiety getting worse as i grow older,my only fixes for this are trying to get out of the enviroment,although somtimes this is not possible,or playing music through head phones some times not always possible.Somtimes trying to explain this to people is met with a reaction like ~ your just strange or wierd get over it ~

i know my post was not much help but in a way it helped me and i wish everyone with this thing all the best

Sorry to add to my own post but thought i just say this, it is sad to know that others are affected by this and comming to realising that it is not only me.But discovering this post has helped

Hi Geoff55 and others

I can definitely related to this and its called Misophonia.

My issue developed when I was pregnant and hated loud noises because of it. It didn't help that our neighbors decided to build an "entertainment area" right next to my bedroom and newborns later.

I even felt bad to complain because I believed that they should be able to enjoy their house. But after 2 years of suffering, people thinking I was a crazy new mum and countless weekends of planning an escape to someone else house. I was in fight or flight mode constant.

I was diagnosed with depression and probably postnatal undiagnosed toooo.

In the end we moved and it caused trauma to me, my relationship and resentment all round.

Problem with moving is Misophonia moves with you. The lack of control, anger, frustration and having to confront people who are inconsiderate sucks.

Im currently trying to find help by Hypnosis and reluctantly medication.

To everyone who suffers, I believe you and get it.

Irony is I work in a Kindy. But I expect noise and can adpat to the loudness. Always the way.

Hi Elli J's

im glad i found these post because it made me feel like i wasn't the only one who suffers and that am not alone. I ahve neighbours who are just inconsiderate when it comes to the amount the noise they make. eg imagine your just relaxing in you room and you hear constant banging which comes from a ball hitting against a metal shed. yep thats what i go through and to be honest it is exhausting. I feel like a prisoner in my own home from the constant noise.

But the root of it all comes from the noisy party people who lived next to my family decided to have and it went on for hours! even days! although that ordeal is over i still feel the effects todays of what happened.

I feel the same way but noise cancelling headphone seem a bit much to be honest because there are people who just cannot afford it. I think by the end of the day it's all about the considerate nature of those who share the same space as you.

people just need to be considerate but you can't always get lucky with people who live next you. But i'm glad i came across these posts in a sense its comforting to know i'm not imagining things and going crazy from it!

Hi Peggysue92

Put on your headphones and listen to some music so you don’t hear the noise. Or maybe go out for a walk enjoy nature.

It does get a lot troublesome with noise around you and when others do not understand. There are some situations in life that cannot be changed and you need to accept it maybe . This may be the first step to overcoming your anxiety acceptance of the situation .

Try to get involved in some activity that you like so that you are occupied with it and you don’t pay attention to the noise.

When things can’t be changed you have to work out something to be occupied with that could help you overcome your anxiety.

I relate so much to this.

There's certain sounds that take me from perfectly calm to aggravated in just a few secs. My whole body tenses and I get so angry it's like I'm going to explode and lash out physically. It's worse in confined spaces (like the bus) where it's amplified to the extreme. Repetitive things like sniffing, coughing, chewing or music with a deep bass line.

And then when the sound passes it's very hard to calm back down (mostly because I'm waiting for the annoying sound to start again).

For me distraction is the key. Stick in the headphones and listen to something else

Good luck!

I can relate to all of the comments.

I had is so bad I convinced my hubby to move to 6 acres in the bush, in hope to help me. This bought about a whole new level.

In general things were quieter, but now everything seems even louder and it's endless, now there are constant chainsaws, motorbikes, wood chopping, a lot of fire crackers, ride on mowers, whipper snippers that last for 6 hours straight, it's endless.

People think they have 5 acres and can just do anything, one neighbour is constantly riding their motorbikes around and around the 5 acres.

I have had to resort to noise cancelling headphone in the bush.

At least when I was in the city, I had the convenience of the city even though it was constantly noisy, and now I still have constant noise and no convenience. 2 hours drive to nearest doctors etc.

I feel so overwhelmed some days, I cry for hours, I feel I have made the worst decision ever. I uprooted our lives to try and help me, and now we can't afford to move back.

The chainsaws start at 7am in the morning and things don't stop until it's dark (I am grateful for winter as it gets dark quicker) I feel like I am always on edge, and the slightest noise tips me over, I instantly get very anxious and stressed as soon as it starts.

This morning it started at 6.30am, the neighbour has trucks and excavators on the block, I am totally overwhelmed.

Hi PeggySue

Thank you for sharing your experience. I suffer from the same anxiety you describe, and it is very hard to manage. Reading the experience of you and others, on this discussion forum, has at least made me realise that I am not alone. What I have found helpful is to try and take some control; complaining to the Strata Committee and Building Manager, for example, and ensuring some action is taken. I had previously avoided noise cancelling headphones because I thought it was a sign of failure, but the reality is they work, and while it may not be fair to have to do this, it provides some control over the situation, and some peace and quiet.

Hi everyone. I've just joined, looking for an answer to my noise trigger which is loud music. It's a glorious sunny day outside but these are the days that put me on edge because my neighbors come out and crank up their stereos. Before 8am this morning I was asking one of them to turn down the music he had blaring from his car in the carport. No sooner had that stopped music starts thumping away on from the shed on the opposite side! I know the music can't hurt me but when it starts I get a physical reaction like a fight response (shaking, upset stomach). If my trigger is so specific could desensitizing therapy treat it? I work in a factory and can cope with some noise and I don't even get bothered if the neighbors have the occasional party...maybe my beef is the reason for the noise?

Hi JanHalen28,

I think you hit the nail on the head with you comment "maybe my beef is the reason for the noise?"

That was my thinking for ages, WHY, why do these people do this etc and another big thing was I would get frustrated and a little mad at myself for reacting to these noises, I felt silly for reacting so badly to specific noise that never seemed to bother my husband or anyone else, which caused me more anxiety.

Last week my clinical physiologist said to me, to be kind to myself during these times, accept that it upsets me and that it's OK, to stop being mad at myself for reacting as I have it really bad and I psychically react to it (heart beats faster, upset stomach, headaches etc)

I really thought I was alone in all of this until I saw this original post, but noise cancelling headphones are rally my savour.

Sorry Pip20 - the "quiet country life" is a myth. It's only as quiet as your worst neighbor. We are on 17 acres but there are still motorbikes and shooting. I can't believe how inconsiderate people are to their neighbors - and yes I suffer from noise anxiety. I think I get worst as I get older and it becomes more debilitating. I will try noise cancelling headphones but you still know the noise is there. Hell is other people I'm afraid.

I'm with you on that Uphillbattler,

I really thought moving to the country for a quieter life would help, but you are so spot on. The gunshots shock the crap out of me.

I feel so bad some days for uprooting my husband and my life in the city. I grew up in the country and loved every bit of it, but I must have been in my younger life "Bubble"

Hello, this post hit a nail on the head for me because I feel I get a bit like this. For me, I tend to get irritated when someone is chewing an apple or really smacking their lips. I have heard there is word called " misophonia" which means hatred of sound

Hi Guys , it gives me comfort knowing that i am not the only one with this being sensitive to sound or noises. We live on acerage and have been for 25 years , with not to many what i call problems , it use to be really quiet then a Highway was built behind me some 12 years ago which i have got use too! I have never had axiety till recently our neighbours sold and the new ones moved in and have two Staffy's , The dogs don't bark much , hardly at all but one day around 10 weeks ago at night they just started barking , didn't bother me at first and then i let it get to me , and since then it has manifested to a point around 6 weeks ago i was feeling sick in the stomach and my thoughts were and are what if this keeps going , and the strange thing is they are not barking much but when they do my mind goes into overdrive and i cant get it out of my head , I went and saw a Pshycologist and she said try to practice Mindfullness , It is a struggle , just wondering is anyone else have success with this or any other suggestions would help. I do think that reading and hearing other persons struggles does help because we all think that i am alone and know one underastands what i am going through, thanks everyone

Greg!

 

Thanks for the join. In checking the forums for a place to start after joining this group, saw this heading and thought of the three initials Insaw online when the pandemic started. CWC.

Control what you Can.

Cope with what you Can Not.

I copped a serious noise issue from a young guy next door who repairs V8 cars and over the years yes years, we have suffered this intrusion anytime between 900am and 1100 pm.

Various vehicles including a big Tonka Toy with a chev V8 and the latest a holden v8 that is so loud it rattles the windows when it starts.

We have complained to local police and local state member re the noise, nothing happened.

I am a radio guy and measured the sound once at a staggering level +130 dBA or in the start of hearing damage range.

To even tell this story annoys me and causes anxiety but I will throw it out there as my starting post because if you folks have the time to talk about noise maybe I can get some suggestions.

Did you discover that the EPA whilst fighting noise do little to control it?

Did you find local police and council dont seem to care?

How frustrated are you?

I cope by waiting for the noise drops as he drives away in this blatant illegal unroadworthy noise bucket and not one other person complains!

As they say it SUX!

Hi, I know how you feel because I suffer from noise anxiety as well. I cannot relax in my own house because my neighbours are too noisy, playing loud music etc etc. we tried to close our windows/doors but we still could hear the music . when I go out and when it's time to go back home, I'm worried that the neighbours will start up again playing loud music etc etc
I did all I could reporting noise complaints to the police but my neighbours just don't care and also I wrote to the real estate about the neighbour and can't see any improvements. I'm constantly worried what will happen next and how can I live with all this noise. This is all making me depressed!

I can also relate to this so much. I am incredibly intolerant of tv noise, deep bass, and muffled voices through walls. I wasn’t always like this - when I was a kid I remember tv noise was comforting, but somewhere in my teen years it became unbearable - the rage I would feel when my brother was allowed to make noise and listen to loud music and movies in our small house and my parents would never say anything, I remember to this day. I often think the root of my hate of it comes from this, but I have never been able to get over it. This has made apartment living so hard in Sydney. Almost every place I’ve lived in has had some level of horrid noise, and at 37, am so close to moving in to a new place again, but am terrified of the noise coming in through the floor above. I feel like I base my decisions on my anxiety and worry, which makes it so hard to work out how I really feel about things because my anxiety and worry made everything else. I rely too much on other people’s opinions, again because extreme anxiety clouds my own opinions. I get obsessive about listening for my neighbors noise, and because my hearing is so sensitive, I can detect frequencies such as those made by bass speakers even at super low volume. I hate being this way. I am always in fight or flight mode. I have noise canceling headphones and wear earplugs to bed ( I’m single but also can’t stand snoring- it’s almost painful). I am considering buying a second pair of Bose headphones and hooking up wireless headphones to my TV set when I move. This can’t be normal to be doing this. I hate having difficult conversations with my neighbours fo turn down their tv’s - I wish portable speakers were never allowed in rental apartments. I wish I could have therapy to help me overcome this, but part of me wanting to move is so I can save more money for my own home. I can’t afford therapy. I feel like such a loser too - many people my age are settled and buying a house and I am stuck here unable to decide to move or not because of my noise anxiety- single, still studying for a uni degree, stuck at a job that is killing my career with little support.

any advice I would appreciate.

Dear RainbowBird,

We’re so grateful to have you reach out to our community this morning and are so sorry to hear everything you have going on at the moment. Times like this can definitely get overwhelming . We hope that you find our forums to be a safe and supportive space to talk through your thoughts and feelings. Our community is here for you. 

We hope you know that there is always help available to you, whether it's from our professional mental health counsellors Beyond Blue (available 24/7/365 on 1300 22 4636) or Mensline Australia (available 24/7/365 on 1300 78 99 78). Keep checking back in with us whenever you feel up to it. 
 

Thanks Sophie, this is helpful. I know I should reach out - I’ve had two anxiety attacks thinking about moving since yesterday- I’m getting almost obsessive about this one aspect and it’s clouding all the other good things about making a move. I’m also anxious about leaving a place I love, I’m attached to where I am. It’s really stressful.

I've had some weird noise anxiety lately too. It started with my partners mild snoring over winter, but lately has turned into any noise. I feel like I can't go on a holiday with him ever again because I won't be able to sleep. It started when I didn't get to sleep til 5am one night when we were on holiday because of his snoring, which he won't do anything about.

I can't sleep with the window open either because of crickets, trains, cars, get frustrated when I hear bass'y music playing, or people walking in the unit above.

I can't even sleep with his normal breathing noise now, it makes my body break out in a cold sweat and then heat up. We've been sleeping apart for a while and its been great for me, but not for him. I feel this is because he's always on top of me whenever we're out in the living area, always getting in my personal space, always making lots of random noises... so my body tries to get some of its own space in bed and it can't. I can hear his breathing through whitenoise/earplugs/noise cancelling headphones... my ears just tune in to it.

For the last 10 years I've been falling asleep to the noise of my favorite TV show every night due to several months of insomnia I had 10 years ago. I think this has also caused issues, as my ears are trained now to 'listen' for noises in the dark. I really need to stop, but find it hard to stop my mind racing to fall asleep otherwise. I tried using smiling mind app for a few weeks and it worked amazingly, fell asleep within a few minutes, but then I felt like I was missing something... not seeing my favorite show. I actually think the smiling mind app has helped make the things not elicit a rage emotion to the noises, which is a good step.

I do feel like I am bound to fall asleep listening to something forever now though.

Hi sha,

 

Im glad i'm not the only one that thinks like this. I always wanted to enjoy my day and the house but it isnt always easy with people like this living next door. I get those sickening stomach pains from anxiety and horrible quick breathing from the thought of going home. Which is sad cause we can't enjoy the home and do things we like in peace but instead in fear and anxiety :( In terms of coping i don't think i even have any. Maybe for me i do things i enjoy like reading books and manga, watching movie and listening to music in my room.

People are just inconsiderate. the things that upset me the most is that i there is no control of the situation and we are forced to accept it while the perps live free

Hi PeggySue92, I am sorry to hear about your noise anxiety, it sounds really horrible!

Until I saw this post (and the 28 or so replies) I had no idea that Noise Anxiety was a thing, and now I've read through them all I've realised that I must suffer from it too. I'm glad to have found it and discovered that I'm not the only one.

Dogs barking to a certain extent I can handle - unless it goes on all night of course! - The most triggering noises for me are those really annoying bassy stereos that inconsiderate neighbours and car drivers sometimes play, and basketballs being bounced on concrete, it drives me crazy, I'm a 43-year-old bloke, but on hearing these bass noises my heart starts beating fast, and if it's a nice day I feel I have to get out of the house and do a walk to get away from the noise and take my mind off it.

I've found that on days when the weather is not good or if I'm working from home, I'll put on noise-cancelling headphones, they are an absolute godsend, but there are only so many hours that I can do that for, thankfully my partner is partly deaf from working in the aviation industry, so in the evening we will have the TV up loud (but not so loud that you can hear it outside of course) to block out the neighbours boomy bass stereos or loud car engines. Strangely I'm not affected by these sorts of noises in the CBD where I work, it's only at home where I get this type of anxiety.

I grew up in New Zealand and guess what sort of noise you hear before a big earthquake? you guessed it, BASS sound, in thinking about it this is probably the root cause of my Noise Anxiety. I like the suggestions some of the posters have put here, such as desensitization therapy, I think I am going to give that a go.

I built my house about 3 years ago, and originally I had the only house in the street, as more neighbours have moved in and started playing bassy stereos I've gone around and had a friendly conversation with them to please keep the music on but just turn the bass down or off - one particular house was a whole street away and I could hear the bass in my living room! When I knocked on their door and told them their bass was so loud I could hear it a street away, they had no idea and were really embarrassed about it, being friendly helps sometimes.

One neighbour had a barking dog, my partner and I got so fed up with it that we filled in a noise diary provided by council. Eventually, it stopped the noise thankfully.

I wish you all the best.

Hi

II have the same but with me, it's the sound of the mouse clicking at work, of all the sounds to get irritated at, why this! There is nothing I can about it, the office is quiet, which makes it worse, I'm trying not to let it get to me & try to listen more to it, so that I get used to it & force myself to like it