Sensory issues

Same here, if only we could learn to control it. I hope you are not waiting too long for your assessment. 

buy yourself sound dampening headphones and get used to wearing them all the time, you can even sleep in them,

though complete lack of sound for longer periods of time is eerie, and might cause you discomfort too, so you would have to find  balance between them, and it doesn't stop tinnitus

I am sorry that you experience this too. At the same time it is a good feeling to discover that there are other people who struggle with this. I have spent my entire life desperately trying to control how sounds make me feel and thinking I am a terrible person for being so intolerant. Until I came to this forum I never encountered another being who understood in the slightest bit, and I never attempted to explain to anyone how I felt as I was embarrassed and ashamed that things which didn't bother anyone else affected me so much. I feel a little bit less alone now.

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

Many autistic individuals would suit being Lighthouse keepers...

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.

Hi Lois, yeah sounds can really make you wince and make your head ache. Electric sounds like fans, hoovers, people clicking their tongues, whistling and buses going chhsssss. Just thinking about it makes my head spin.

I saw another member suggest noise cancelling headphones and I definitely second this suggestion. Definitely invest in some, believe me they are a lifesaver and you won't regret it. I took the gamble and I'm so glad I did, I wear them every time I go out now and it makes sounds outside more bearable.

I'm sorry you've got to wait so long. Feel free to keep in touch here whilst you wait, I find this community such a helpful place to 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!

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 :(  

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.