camilla123
11-15-2008, 03:25 PM
I am extremely sensitive to noises. when i hear someone sniffle or clear their throat, it sends me into a manic state and i start screaming and swearing at people. i can't help it i just can't stand the disgusting wet sloppy sound of people sniffling and i hear it everywhere at school. i have to wear ear plugs all day long, but it still doesn't completely block out the sound. I've been on medication and it doesn't help.
Can someone please help? I'm so desperate
thank you.
Can someone please help? I'm so desperate
thank you.
Sponsor
kathryn00
11-16-2008, 12:44 AM
it is definitely due to anxiety.
when i tried to sleep at night, the sound of the cable box cycling became really loud in my head. like it went from there to directly inside my head. crickets were the worst!
soon as i got on an anti-depressant (do not take if manic!) things got a lot better.
and the music. everything sounded like music!
this went away, but will still experience at times.
it will go away with the right treatment so hang in there!
best to you,
kathryn
when i tried to sleep at night, the sound of the cable box cycling became really loud in my head. like it went from there to directly inside my head. crickets were the worst!
soon as i got on an anti-depressant (do not take if manic!) things got a lot better.
and the music. everything sounded like music!
this went away, but will still experience at times.
it will go away with the right treatment so hang in there!
best to you,
kathryn
ldsfriend
11-16-2008, 02:44 PM
Your not alone. I am really sensitive to sounds when I am feeling tired or hungry or if I have missed a dosage of my meds to name a few triggers. My daughter's voice is a huge trigger. She's six and loves to talk and sing non stop. I had to put ear plugs in this morning and stay in bed until 12:30 because I was afraid I would start yelling at everyone.
I agree that the right treatment will help. I ran out of my meds and didn't refill for a few days plus I'm still not on the right antidepressants. I know once I get the right cocktail I will be able to manage much better.
Talk to your doctor asap.
I agree that the right treatment will help. I ran out of my meds and didn't refill for a few days plus I'm still not on the right antidepressants. I know once I get the right cocktail I will be able to manage much better.
Talk to your doctor asap.
Bright day
11-16-2008, 03:40 PM
1) Does sniffling or clearing the throat remind you of any particular
person? If you can't think of anyone, maybe your parents know
of someone you've been around who used to do it a lot?
Perhaps there are some feelings towards a person who does this involved.
2) Do you experience images of spit or snot when hearing these sounds?
Then maybe you can begin to overlook them.
Or does it give you a feeling physically of doing so yourself?
3) What could you actually say to a person doing so about the sound?
I mean other than "it's disgusting" or "I can't stand listening to it."
Remember it's people who are doing it, and people are nice.
They have no ill intentions doing so. It's part of being around people,
so include it in that context - there are so many nice sides to being
around people, and this is one downside.
4) I could be that you generally in verbal communication rely to a
high degree on voice characteristics in order to perceive info
that is not directly expressed through the words. (Emotions,
motives, nuances in meaning etc.) While other people may rely
more on facial expressions and others yet may perceive the
words more logical-analytically.
Many schizophrenic persons process emotional qualities of voices
with both their left and right hemisphere of the brain, while the
majority of others mainly do so with their right hemisphere.
This might be related to bipolar as well, particularly since the
borders between the two diagnosis are somewhat arbitrary.
For me sounds often give a strong sense of personal characteristics,
attitudes, and personal motive. So I can understand that certain
sounds are perceived as in some way very intolerable.
I think too that anxiety sounds like it can provoke your responses.
But the emotional pressure that causes you to act out, I think
has very little to do with the sound, rather other issues. If you
work on those, your pressure to act out when hearing these sounds
will be reduced.
A suggestion that may sound repulsive:
Record the sounds on an mp3-player or see if you can find recordings of
the sounds on internet. Sit up straight in a relaxed and focused state,
and listen to the sound repeatedly, and learn to listen to it in a detached manner.
I used to be bothered by whistling. Because often it is musically very
insensitive. But I think it was a sort of fix idea as well. That I liked disliking it,
partly because of the response I got from speaking negatively about it,
when someone did it to tease me, and also that i enjoy describing and
imagining sounds.
Now I'm not affected by it. I try to think of that the person might be enjoying himself and that it's a nice person. I switch the focus from
listening to it as music / sound to thinking about the person. Or I don't pay attention to it.
Anyway, I hope things will turn out nice for you.
Have a lovely Sunday!
person? If you can't think of anyone, maybe your parents know
of someone you've been around who used to do it a lot?
Perhaps there are some feelings towards a person who does this involved.
2) Do you experience images of spit or snot when hearing these sounds?
Then maybe you can begin to overlook them.
Or does it give you a feeling physically of doing so yourself?
3) What could you actually say to a person doing so about the sound?
I mean other than "it's disgusting" or "I can't stand listening to it."
Remember it's people who are doing it, and people are nice.
They have no ill intentions doing so. It's part of being around people,
so include it in that context - there are so many nice sides to being
around people, and this is one downside.
4) I could be that you generally in verbal communication rely to a
high degree on voice characteristics in order to perceive info
that is not directly expressed through the words. (Emotions,
motives, nuances in meaning etc.) While other people may rely
more on facial expressions and others yet may perceive the
words more logical-analytically.
Many schizophrenic persons process emotional qualities of voices
with both their left and right hemisphere of the brain, while the
majority of others mainly do so with their right hemisphere.
This might be related to bipolar as well, particularly since the
borders between the two diagnosis are somewhat arbitrary.
For me sounds often give a strong sense of personal characteristics,
attitudes, and personal motive. So I can understand that certain
sounds are perceived as in some way very intolerable.
I think too that anxiety sounds like it can provoke your responses.
But the emotional pressure that causes you to act out, I think
has very little to do with the sound, rather other issues. If you
work on those, your pressure to act out when hearing these sounds
will be reduced.
A suggestion that may sound repulsive:
Record the sounds on an mp3-player or see if you can find recordings of
the sounds on internet. Sit up straight in a relaxed and focused state,
and listen to the sound repeatedly, and learn to listen to it in a detached manner.
I used to be bothered by whistling. Because often it is musically very
insensitive. But I think it was a sort of fix idea as well. That I liked disliking it,
partly because of the response I got from speaking negatively about it,
when someone did it to tease me, and also that i enjoy describing and
imagining sounds.
Now I'm not affected by it. I try to think of that the person might be enjoying himself and that it's a nice person. I switch the focus from
listening to it as music / sound to thinking about the person. Or I don't pay attention to it.
Anyway, I hope things will turn out nice for you.
Have a lovely Sunday!
camilla123
11-17-2008, 06:31 PM
I can't thank you enough for putting a lot of time and effort into helping me with my problem. You made me realize that people are nice, it's the sounds that are bothering me.
I have to work on developing a friendlier attitiude I suppose. Thank you very much once again.
I have to work on developing a friendlier attitiude I suppose. Thank you very much once again.
Bright day
11-18-2008, 08:50 AM
Thanks. It wasn't much of an effort though.
Also.. I hope you don't think I meant to criticize your attitude!
I only wanted to point out a perspective that might help.
Have a wonderful week and best of luck with everything!
Also.. I hope you don't think I meant to criticize your attitude!
I only wanted to point out a perspective that might help.
Have a wonderful week and best of luck with everything!
seaturtle
11-18-2008, 10:10 PM
Hi,
I have that hyper-sensitivity to sounds, also. Plastic bags, water from the tap, certainly the chewing and snorting you mention...anything of a certain frequency will drive me batty. I know someone else who is like this. We both cannot stand the sound of brushing against the dry leaves of a tree, or of a shopping cart rattling. Before I met her, I thought I was completely looney tunes. But she is actually my psychiatric caseworker!
I haven't found a way to make this better, spoke with pdoc about it, and she said that some people have this hyperacusis. I wear earplugs a lot, too, and put a fan on at night to get me to sleep.
You're not alone, and I don't think it's peculiar to bp.
Are you by any chance musical? I am, and that has something to do with it.
Seaturtle
I have that hyper-sensitivity to sounds, also. Plastic bags, water from the tap, certainly the chewing and snorting you mention...anything of a certain frequency will drive me batty. I know someone else who is like this. We both cannot stand the sound of brushing against the dry leaves of a tree, or of a shopping cart rattling. Before I met her, I thought I was completely looney tunes. But she is actually my psychiatric caseworker!
I haven't found a way to make this better, spoke with pdoc about it, and she said that some people have this hyperacusis. I wear earplugs a lot, too, and put a fan on at night to get me to sleep.
You're not alone, and I don't think it's peculiar to bp.
Are you by any chance musical? I am, and that has something to do with it.
Seaturtle
dreams in neon
11-19-2008, 06:01 AM
I am also overly sensitive to noise -- especially loud noises such as crowds, slamming doors, car horns, chair legs when they are slid across the floor, the TV or radio when they are turned up too high, police/fire/ambulance sirens and people who yell -- to name a few.
Loud sounds make me manic and unfortunately, there's nothing I can do about it except to take my meds in order to relieve the mania.
dreams in neon
Bipolar I - Rapid Cycling
Schizoaffective Disorder - Bipolar Type
Loud sounds make me manic and unfortunately, there's nothing I can do about it except to take my meds in order to relieve the mania.
dreams in neon
Bipolar I - Rapid Cycling
Schizoaffective Disorder - Bipolar Type
ldsfriend
11-19-2008, 01:59 PM
Wow, this is facinating. I am bipolar and sensitive to sounds but my son is autistic and is very musical and also incredibly sensitive to sounds. He used to walk around with his hands over his ears all the time. I thought it was just one of his quirks. I found a sensory specialist and he suggested ear plugs for my son. He used to wear them all the time until he started taking them out and chewing on them.
Yesterday morning my daughter,s voice sent him into a rage. Her voice irritates me also. She doesn't have a grating voice it's just very sing songy and she talks non stop. She's six. Anyhow my son ended up in a time out because he wouldn't stop yelling at her which was triggering me also. I decided to get his earplugs out again and he put them in right away. As soon as he put them in he took a deep breath looked at his sister and said "Good morning, Anna. I'm sorry I was grouchy." My jaw dropped.
Yesterday morning my daughter,s voice sent him into a rage. Her voice irritates me also. She doesn't have a grating voice it's just very sing songy and she talks non stop. She's six. Anyhow my son ended up in a time out because he wouldn't stop yelling at her which was triggering me also. I decided to get his earplugs out again and he put them in right away. As soon as he put them in he took a deep breath looked at his sister and said "Good morning, Anna. I'm sorry I was grouchy." My jaw dropped.
JanBhere
11-26-2008, 09:44 PM
This is my son to a T... He is very sensitive to noise, smells and sensations. From a very early age he didnt want you to put lotion on him. He is bipolar also. We found out last Summer. He is 14 years old. He is totally hypersensitive to many things. He also has OCD and Tourettes ( mild ).
AuntieLeela
11-27-2008, 04:02 AM
Me too. Even though my BP1 is well controlled with lithium, I'm still hypersensitive to sound. The sound of people chewing is just vile. I can handle it better emotionally since I went on lithium. (and reached the right blood level - which took about a year)
In the cases where there's a hatred of certain sounds (often chewing/swallowing/nasal sounds), rather than an intolerance to loud noise, sometimes the term misophonia is used instead of hypercusis.
In the cases where there's a hatred of certain sounds (often chewing/swallowing/nasal sounds), rather than an intolerance to loud noise, sometimes the term misophonia is used instead of hypercusis.
cool9
11-28-2008, 02:57 AM
I definitely relate to this. I had periods which may last 3-5 days where every noise (footsteps in the house, doors closing, someone in the kitchen moving dishes around, etc.) around me sounds like they're amplified and bothered me to no end. Then it would cease for 10 days or so and I would have another episode. I actually would get up in the morning and go park in a large parking lot and rest for awhile in the car to get away from sound because I thought I was going mad. Luckily all of this has gone away the last few years because I found a very, very quiet apartment. My PDOC said this can also be a symptom of uni-polar depression and not just manic depression.
ljenner831
11-28-2008, 11:53 PM
Wow! So interesting to read these posts. Ever since I went through a severe depression about 3 years ago, I have been so easily irritated by sounds/noises. Chewing, tapping, popcorn bags rattling in the movie theater, hearing two or more conversations going on at once.......it all makes me tense inside. It's a little better since my depression has lifted, but I still struggle with it. Sometimes I have to physically remove myself from places to get away from an annoying noise.
TAJ8219
11-30-2008, 11:44 AM
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TAJ8219
11-30-2008, 11:49 AM
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ldsfriend
12-01-2008, 02:18 PM
Has anyone ever thought that maybe we were never designed to hear so many sounds all at once. Here's my theory. The world is progressing in it's technology so quickly that everything is moving faster, sounds are clearer and louder, colours are unnaturally vivid. I don't even know what the beats per min. are for the average commercial not to mention action flic. We are bombarded by chemicals in our everyday household cleaners, the drugs we take, in the food we eat, the air we breath and the water we drink.
Perhaps another way to look at our sensitivities is that we are in fact the more sensitive part of humanity. I would much rather fall asleep to the sound of lapping water on a shore and crickets chirping. Instead there is the steady hum of everything electrical in my home. It's seems like everything we are exposed to is artificial and manufactured. I don't think our body, mind and spirit were created to thrive in such conditions. But such is progress!
Perhaps another way to look at our sensitivities is that we are in fact the more sensitive part of humanity. I would much rather fall asleep to the sound of lapping water on a shore and crickets chirping. Instead there is the steady hum of everything electrical in my home. It's seems like everything we are exposed to is artificial and manufactured. I don't think our body, mind and spirit were created to thrive in such conditions. But such is progress!
camilla123
01-07-2009, 08:25 PM
What do you mean by asking me if i am musical?
thank you.
thank you.
seaturtle
01-08-2009, 01:58 AM
hi, I asked because I am a musician and am extremely aware of sounds the rhythms. I wondered if part of your sensitivity came from being talented in music.
katlin09
01-08-2009, 05:26 PM
That does make a big difference I believe. I also have a background in instrumentation, and am a muscian and it does make me more aware of rhythms, cadances, and the beats of sounds around me.
dreams in neon
01-09-2009, 12:03 AM
Seaturtle,
I think you may have hit on something. I'm also a musician who sings and plays several musical instruments. As a result, I'm very aware of the various patterns of sounds including their pitch, staccato, duration and intensity. I never thought to link my musical abilities to sound sensitivity, but it makes perfect sense.
I think you may have hit on something. I'm also a musician who sings and plays several musical instruments. As a result, I'm very aware of the various patterns of sounds including their pitch, staccato, duration and intensity. I never thought to link my musical abilities to sound sensitivity, but it makes perfect sense.
seaturtle
01-09-2009, 12:06 AM
Hi, kat,
Do you sometimes hear the rhythm and not the sound? I mean that when I hear something drop, say, I will hear the rhythms in the sound (if it hits the floor, for example, I will hear ta-da,ta-da more than I hear the sound of it actually making impact).
Long time, no speak to you. How are you?
Take best of care, friend,
Seaturtle
Do you sometimes hear the rhythm and not the sound? I mean that when I hear something drop, say, I will hear the rhythms in the sound (if it hits the floor, for example, I will hear ta-da,ta-da more than I hear the sound of it actually making impact).
Long time, no speak to you. How are you?
Take best of care, friend,
Seaturtle
katlin09
01-09-2009, 12:55 AM
Seaturtle,
Yes most often I hear the rhythm and cadence of the sound as opposed to the "noise" of it. Even with music its self, I tend to pick out the beat and different pitches of the instuments, I can always catch a flat or sharp out of tune note in a live concert setting.
Yeah, I haven't been around much, it's been a pretty bad week, the depression crept up and pushed me to the bottom of the blackhole, or as my tdoc says I've reached saturation level. So I havn't felt much like being around anyone or talking/typing.
Hope you're doing okay.
k
Yes most often I hear the rhythm and cadence of the sound as opposed to the "noise" of it. Even with music its self, I tend to pick out the beat and different pitches of the instuments, I can always catch a flat or sharp out of tune note in a live concert setting.
Yeah, I haven't been around much, it's been a pretty bad week, the depression crept up and pushed me to the bottom of the blackhole, or as my tdoc says I've reached saturation level. So I havn't felt much like being around anyone or talking/typing.
Hope you're doing okay.
k
dreams in neon
01-09-2009, 06:37 AM
Seaturtle,
I'm confused. What do you mean by "I will hear the rhythms in the sound (if it hits the floor, for example, I will hear ta-da,ta-da more than I hear the sound of it actually making impact)?"
I'm confused. What do you mean by "I will hear the rhythms in the sound (if it hits the floor, for example, I will hear ta-da,ta-da more than I hear the sound of it actually making impact)?"
seaturtle
01-09-2009, 09:34 PM
Hello, neondreams -
I think kat explained it well. Say I turn a lamp on, a lamp with a pull-chain. One pull, one sound as the chain returns to its original position. I will hear one, two, not the sound of the chain being pulled and snapping back. I have to concentrate to hear the actual sound, but the rhythm of it will always predominate.
Or if I open a screw-top jar, for another example, I will hear the number of the revolutions necessary to open the jar. It will stick in my mind as "one, two, three, four, five." (Each turn of hte jar-top makes a distinct sound.)
Hmmm, I don't know if that is any clearer. I am a pretty good percussionist, and I think I hear almost everything in rhythms.
And how are you doing today? Meds working?
I send you more hugs,
Seaturtle
I think kat explained it well. Say I turn a lamp on, a lamp with a pull-chain. One pull, one sound as the chain returns to its original position. I will hear one, two, not the sound of the chain being pulled and snapping back. I have to concentrate to hear the actual sound, but the rhythm of it will always predominate.
Or if I open a screw-top jar, for another example, I will hear the number of the revolutions necessary to open the jar. It will stick in my mind as "one, two, three, four, five." (Each turn of hte jar-top makes a distinct sound.)
Hmmm, I don't know if that is any clearer. I am a pretty good percussionist, and I think I hear almost everything in rhythms.
And how are you doing today? Meds working?
I send you more hugs,
Seaturtle
seaturtle
01-09-2009, 09:36 PM
Kat -
I thought something up because of your silence. I hope things get better soon. I miss your posts, but I sure know that place of just not wanting to speak to or see anyone, or to even read my email or s-mail, or go into a board.
Thinking of you, friend,
Seaturtle
I thought something up because of your silence. I hope things get better soon. I miss your posts, but I sure know that place of just not wanting to speak to or see anyone, or to even read my email or s-mail, or go into a board.
Thinking of you, friend,
Seaturtle
dreams in neon
01-10-2009, 08:29 AM
Hi Seaturtle,
That explanation makes sense. Thank you for clarifying.
I'm doing well. I'm feeling level and am no longer manic. The Fluoxetine hasn't kicked in yet, but I should start to notice some results in another few weeks.
I was able to get a copy of my last Depakote level from my tdoc, so when I see my pdoc on the 29th, he will be able to determine whether or not it needs to be raised. I'll continue to keep all of you posted on what happens at my appointment.
How are you doing as of late? Are you feeling any better?
Sending plenty of hugs to you as well...
((((((Seaturtle))))))
That explanation makes sense. Thank you for clarifying.
I'm doing well. I'm feeling level and am no longer manic. The Fluoxetine hasn't kicked in yet, but I should start to notice some results in another few weeks.
I was able to get a copy of my last Depakote level from my tdoc, so when I see my pdoc on the 29th, he will be able to determine whether or not it needs to be raised. I'll continue to keep all of you posted on what happens at my appointment.
How are you doing as of late? Are you feeling any better?
Sending plenty of hugs to you as well...
((((((Seaturtle))))))
seaturtle
01-11-2009, 12:29 AM
Oh, good news for you, neondreams! You are making so much progress with the meds recently, finally! Give you pdoc a silent mental hug from me for helping you.
I guess I am all right, not too severe mood swings recently. I am having a fibro flare, bu can deal with that. The weather is just crappy, a lot of snow and now around 0, to stay that way at night for at least a week. I cannot get out of my apartment because of the sheet of ice surrounding it and on the driveway and some of the roads. This alone can throw me into a depression, but that's quite normal, I think, for anyone.
I will leave you now, and it is soooo good to hear your news. Will be talking to you soon, and of course, reading your other posts.
'Bye for now, friend neondreams,
Seaturtle
I guess I am all right, not too severe mood swings recently. I am having a fibro flare, bu can deal with that. The weather is just crappy, a lot of snow and now around 0, to stay that way at night for at least a week. I cannot get out of my apartment because of the sheet of ice surrounding it and on the driveway and some of the roads. This alone can throw me into a depression, but that's quite normal, I think, for anyone.
I will leave you now, and it is soooo good to hear your news. Will be talking to you soon, and of course, reading your other posts.
'Bye for now, friend neondreams,
Seaturtle
katlin09
01-11-2009, 02:41 AM
Seaturtle,
Thanks for the kind words. I was thinking while reading your explanatory post to dreams about the Rhythm, it is difficult for people who are not trained musicians to understand it, but we who have been studying instruments and learned at an early age and had those tempo's and beats, and different times and half-times to learn and remember. It's no wonder that we still "hear" that before the noise.
I have a question for you, Last week was really, really bad...and I had a tdoc appt. scheduled for Thursday...Do you ever not want to go to your tdoc/pdoc because your just doing so bad? I so didn't want to go, it took every bit of my willpower to get there. And I told her, that I almost didn't want to go. It was a very emotional/hard session...but I guess it helped a bit. I'm just wandering if I'm the only one who feels like that?
It's been a year exactly since my "brain" decided to unlock and remember all the trauma's from my childhood and I started with my current pdoc and tdoc and I sit and try to figure out if i've gotten better. I get so tired of fighting the BP and the PTSD and the SH and the OCD and changing meds every other month...I am so damn sick of all of it, I wish I could just go to sleep and wake up the next morning and everything would be normal. On top of all that I'm working 50 hours a week, because end of the year is my busy time. So being depressed, overworked, and living on 2-3 hours a night...I pretty much crashed last week, and now I have to figure out how to crawl out...
Sorry for the rant, I guess I just had to get some of that out.
I'm glad you're doing okay.
K
Thanks for the kind words. I was thinking while reading your explanatory post to dreams about the Rhythm, it is difficult for people who are not trained musicians to understand it, but we who have been studying instruments and learned at an early age and had those tempo's and beats, and different times and half-times to learn and remember. It's no wonder that we still "hear" that before the noise.
I have a question for you, Last week was really, really bad...and I had a tdoc appt. scheduled for Thursday...Do you ever not want to go to your tdoc/pdoc because your just doing so bad? I so didn't want to go, it took every bit of my willpower to get there. And I told her, that I almost didn't want to go. It was a very emotional/hard session...but I guess it helped a bit. I'm just wandering if I'm the only one who feels like that?
It's been a year exactly since my "brain" decided to unlock and remember all the trauma's from my childhood and I started with my current pdoc and tdoc and I sit and try to figure out if i've gotten better. I get so tired of fighting the BP and the PTSD and the SH and the OCD and changing meds every other month...I am so damn sick of all of it, I wish I could just go to sleep and wake up the next morning and everything would be normal. On top of all that I'm working 50 hours a week, because end of the year is my busy time. So being depressed, overworked, and living on 2-3 hours a night...I pretty much crashed last week, and now I have to figure out how to crawl out...
Sorry for the rant, I guess I just had to get some of that out.
I'm glad you're doing okay.
K