Published on 12, July, 2020
I'm looking for some recommendations or advice from anyone else with noise sensitivity. I currently use loop ear plugs to help reduce noise levels but I don't really like them because of the horrible echo of my heartbeat and breathing, I can't decide what's worse, the external noise or feeling trapped in my own head. I also find that my own voice feels really loud so I talk too quietly and can't communicate with my husband without taking them out. I was wondering if ear defenders or music headphones would be better? I am looking to get two sets, one that just muffles sound so that I can still hear my husband when we are out and another set that completely blocks out everything (possibly music headphones because I find my own music soothing) for when I need to brave the shops alone. I know the best option is to try them out in a shop but I really hate shops!
It would also be nice to hear if anyone has any other coping mechanisms for sensory overload or just to know that I'm not alone. This has been a relatively recent issue for me because I've taken medication for depression and anxiety for all of my adult life until about a year ago. My meds were interacting with another medication that I was taking so I had to stop. As soon as I came off my meds it was like someone turned up the volume! If I'm stressed even the running of a tap or my husband unzipping his coat causes me distress!
I apologise in advance if I am slow replying or if my replies seem unfriendly or formal, I haven't worked out the rules of social online communication yet and find it a bit scary. Thanks in advance, I really appreciate you reading this.
I like over the head noise cancelling headphones. Noise sensitivity is an overwhelming thing to experience and pretty much every environment outside of my home triggers this, with a few odd exceptions. But for me it has to be certain noise cancelling headphones as some can make sounds of footsteps, breathing and heart beats overwhelmingly loud and booming, which when you're autistic and suffer from sound sensitivity, you definitely don't need this.
When in sensory overload from sound I get out of there ASAP. If I'm in a shop I abandon the trolley and go outside, or to the toilet, anywhere where the sound is quieter and I can breathe and come back down to earth. I've realised if I stay where I'm being overloaded I generally won't cope and it will get worse and worse until I'm hit with a meltdown, which just makes the entire situation all the worse. Frequent meltdowns is why I bought noise cancelling headphones in the first place and they really do help. They have made a positive difference in my life and allow me to go out and shop, something I really struggled with before. They don't stop me getting sensory overload but it definitely has helped it happen a lot less than it used to.
I also found a trigger for me when out and about is light sensitivity so now no matter what, or how many looks I might get from people I always wear sunglasses, even when it's not sunny. Light of all kinds affect me in such a way that this is completely necessary. Since being diagnosed last year I've found so many things can trigger me and slowly but surely I'm working them all out and taking action to make it easier for me.