I live in my own housing association flat, which I have done for 6 months now. The flat itself is brilliant, I can't fault it, and there is no-where else that would surpass it. For this I am grateful, and realise that many are in a far worse position than me.
However, the above being true, I have to get this off my chest because it is making me very stressed. My flat is far noisier at night-time than my parent's house, where I still spend the weekends - I need peace and quiet in order to recuperate!. The problem is that cars drive past my ground-floor flat constantly, and the noise prevents me from relaxing, something that I find hard to do anyway. On Friday night, a car woke me up at 2am, and a dog was barking. I feel tired as a result, and can only refresh myself after sleeping at my parent's house on Saturday and Sunday night. I had never before realized how much I take quietude at night for granted, because I have had no real noise issues before - apart from when my brother played loud music, preventing me from concentrating on my reading.
I also hear the neighbour everytime she has visitors (I can even hear what she is saying), and every time she turns the taps on or flushes the toilet, I hear it. She must hear me too, and it makes me feel rather paranoid and unable to fully relax in my own home. Sometimes she walks around at night, and this wakes me up.
Any advice?