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Sensory issues

Slater1

Hello all. 

I'm awaiting an assessment for diagnosis, it's a 27 month wait list and my god am I struggling. I find my main struggles are sounds. I'm struggling to sleep because things are waking me, cars on the road, dogs barking, others in the house moving around.....the smallest of things. I've got white noise playing when I sleep and also sometimes have ear plugs in. If I'm at home and sat watching TV etc and I hear a dog bark, loud car pass my house etc it really triggers me, I can only describe it as making me feel ill and angry. I hate these feelings. Not sure what I can do. There's a list of other things too but the sounds is definitely the worst! Any advice would be so appreciated 

Thanks

Lois 

  • in reply to JuniperFromGallifrey

    Or to be posted at an old fashioned weather station somewhere at the back of beyond... 

  • Many autistic individuals would suit being Lighthouse keepers...

  • in reply to Slater1

    Yes, I understand. It makes me feel helpless to be so vulnerable to the impacts of sound, as though my well being, peace of mind and ability to function is at the mercy of endless factors that I cannot influence. Obviously we cannot control the sounds that other people make (I seem to be okay with natural sounds) but I wish I could learn to not react so badly and/or be able to recover quicker. I am currently waiting for an assessment but goodness knows how many months/years it will be.

  • Sounds are my number one nemesis too. Engines (cars and motorbikes), pots and pans clanging together and people sighing are some of the worst in my opinion. When I experience these, it feels like my head is going to explode. 

    I have heard that people use loop earphones and noise cancelling headphones, but I’m yet to try either. I tend to play my own music over the top if I’m doing something when there is the chance I’ll run into one of the dreaded sounds. I put earphones in and play music when I’m taking the bins out front where cars drive by. At least that way, even though I’m still experiencing sound, at least it’s partially on my terms.

    I’ve even been known to ‘check the coast is clear’ before venturing out my front door. One of my neighbours was even vacuum cleaning the porch roof the other day. That really did make a racket, but also was a very funny image!

  • in reply to NAS79256

    Wow, this sounds like I could have written this! I'm also the same with smells too. The sounds dictate my mood and can ruin my day to day life - sounds dramatic but honestly it does. I wish I could take it all away, or even just cope with it, but it's so hard. May I ask do you have your diagnosis yet or are you also waiting for assessment?

    I'm sorry you are going through this too :( Disappointed 

  • in reply to NAS79256

    Also, I hate the angry/ill feeling I get when a sound triggers me. I hate this feeling more than the sound itself. The worst thing is, even after the sound (or smell) has stopped/gone away, the horrible feeling in my body remains for quite some time and I find it very hard to calm down. Then I feel an anger towards the sound/smell for doing this to me but even more so, frustration at myself for being apparently unable to control my response to the sound/smell. 

  • Hello, I experience the same thing as you with sounds - and the same sensation of them making me feel ill/angry. (That is a good way of describing it). I also don't know what to do. I would love to live on a Scottish Island and not be able to hear any of the things that upset me! I love silence and feel as though I need silence the same way as I need oxygen.  I feel as though sounds interrupt my thought processes and it feels as though they are sort of assaulting and invading me. I can feel the vibrations of sounds on my body too and it bothers me that I can not escape from them or control whether or not they enter my personal space. I am the same with smells too. Sometimes it is not too bad and I can cope, but depending on my state of mind and how much pressure or stress I am under it can be terrible - and it is something that affects me very much every day. I am sorry I can't be of any help - hopefully some other people on here will be able to give you some tips, but I just wanted to let you know that I can relate.