There are some sounds like vacuum cleaners that are painful to me. Luckily, for the most part, I'm able to wear head phones and blast songs at my higher than usual volume to not hear them however... what if I can't? Are there any ways of calming yourself down? I know inside my head, I'm all relax it's just a sound you'll be ok, you don't want to look like a crazy person, but having to talk myself down and being like consciously doing it is exhausting. I also don't want to damage my ears by playing music too loudly... Any tips? Like the logical part of me is all don't be stupid you're going to be ok, but sometimes it's hard to keep that logical person in my head when I want to run away. >.< Then I'm all you're a grown adult stop being silly and yeah... As a teen, my dog didn't like them either and we'd cuddle under the covers with each other, so it was nice to have someone understand that feeling.

I don't think you're being silly. As a person with combined SPD and PTSD, I indestand how some sounds, especially loud ones, are painful, overwelming, exhausting, and frankly terrifying. Remember that this isn't something you choose; it's how your brain and nervous system reacts to sound.

Have you tried noise canceling headphones or industrial noise reduction earmuffs? Either can bring the noise level down pretty significantly. And since music also helps you cope, with noise canceling headphones you can still listen to music but at a lower level since outside noises are cut done. And with industrial earmuffs I've even worn earbuds underneath.

Hope this helps!

(02-03-2018, 07:28 PM)Jmelda1 Wrote: I don't think you're being silly. As a person with combined SPD and PTSD, I indestand how some sounds, especially loud ones, are painful, overwelming, exhausting, and frankly terrifying. Remember that this isn't something you choose; it's how your brain and nervous system reacts to sound.

Have you tried noise canceling headphones or industrial noise reduction earmuffs? Either can bring the noise level down pretty significantly. And since music also helps you cope, with noise canceling headphones you can still listen to music but at a lower level since outside noises are cut done. And with industrial earmuffs I've even worn earbuds underneath.

Hope this helps!

I have good headphones on my computer and when I turn my desk fan on and listen to music it helps to get rid of background noises. I'm a SPD with OCD, a lot of it I think stems from me trying to relax the anxiety with it, but then that's a chicken and egg question, you know? Though having headphones on more often does sound like a good way to deal. I never thought to bring around noise canceling earmuffs. It's hard when your logical rational side is all, this is silly why are you being this way, but then in that moment your rational side doesn't exist, or is hiding in a cave somewhere mocking you, you know? You see other people being ok and you aren't, then you can't really go up to the guy who's just doing his job and tell him please stop doing your job. Even in college we had to do rat brain surgery and I did the first cut, but couldn't stand the sound of the drill, so that's why I volunteered to do that part. So when the drill was on, I could plug my ears. I did my part of the lab and didn't do the part that was painful to me, it's a good thing we were in groups. I think we have to learn how to be more forgiving when it comes to ourselves, you know?