First off it's great to find this place and see that there are hundreds of variations on noise anxiety.

My biggest problem is amplified sound, i.e., the bass thump of neighbors' music as well as the car behind me when I am stopped at a traffic light. The neighbors TV and their loud voices when they are outside on the patio.

At work, the many co-workers who participate on conference calls on the speaker phone with the volume turned way up, actually even if it's not too loud it still really annoys me to distraction.

I can't concentrate on my work and I sometimes ask them to close their office door. I strive for total silence and even that becomes a problem when I hear the rumble of the rooftop ac units or the tick tick tock of the kitchen wall clock. The absolute madness of my noise sensitivity is in the still of the night. I hear my heart beat; now that's a sound that can keep you awake and ear plugs only makes worst.

I think "Noise Geek", that you should get off of your rump and admit that we do indeed, live in a crappy, noise fueled, corporate controlled, greedy world of our own making. If we have noise sensitivity it's not our problem.

Years from now, we will realize just how damaging all the crap noise we generate has affected not only our planet but our health, physically and mentally as well. I think it's time for people to band together for a nice, big collective lawsuit against the makers of these "noise makers."

I'm kinda surprised because that's exactly how I feel, and the only way to shut it out is too put on earphones and play music so loud it hurts.

Although chewing is by far the worst, my brother's voice when he's on the xbox (all the time) really annoys me and others. I don't fly into a rage but I do get angry.

Luckily my family does try to be quiet, except my brother who doesn't realise. Might have to get help though.

One more thing: Amtrak has Quiet Cars. And some other rail lines do also now. Does that mean that that a huge majority of the population has "noise anxiety," or do you think that perhaps many people are just fed up and just want peace and quiet from the growing number of rude, self centered, lazy, disrespectful, ill mannered people in this world?

I am exactly like all of you. All of those noises make me very upset also. I share an office with someone who chews with her mouth wide open. She slurps, smacks and makes me want to vomit. She also cracks her gum. Then there is a guy who walks around whistling loudly and shrilly, and when he sneezes, you’d think we just had an earthquake.

This is what I don’t get: many of you feel that you have a problem (and I guess it is “our problem” to some degree), but haven’t you all noticed that this “problem” has gotten worse over recent years? Lack of manners, lack of courtesy, lack of common sense, lack of respect have all increased lately too. And no one seems to care. Everyone looks the other way. Why is that ok? Why is it ok that other people walk around yelling into their cell phones and whistling when we are trying to concentrate and work?

Why is it ok that people cough (and pull up constantly) without covering their mouths? Why is it ok that they are screaming on the commuter trains when I am tired from working a 55 hour week and I just want to read or relax?

Why should I be the one to shove ear buds in my ears to mask their yelling (and I haven’t found any yet that really mask their yelling- I still hear them anyway- which makes me even more angry).

But my point is – I am not convinced that we need the (noise anxiety) "label." The world has become lazy, disrespectful, ill mannered and rude. And it seems like every day there is yet another type of anxiety label put on people, rather than the obvious truth be told: Wake up- stop being a rude pig and respect your neighbor- it is not all about you.

Don’t get me wrong. It is very comforting to find all of you. But I don’t see any solutions here, and I can only imagine what the "new" anxiety labels will be five years from now if this "live and let live" attitude continues.

Thank you! I am home! I felt so alone. I feel and agree with every thing here. Yes, I guess it is a "problem" "we" have; yet I can't accept that it is "ok" for everyone else to stop being well mannered.

I didn't always feel this way. It is a more recent thing. The last few years. And it has gotten worse. But so have the lack of manners and the lack of disrespect. People are pigs. I share an office with someone who chews loudly with her mouth open. I can't concentrate on my work. She drives me crazy. I ride the LIRR with people who yell and shriek all the time. Why is that ok?

I just want to relax and I can't. I wish I could but I can't.

Wow! This is somewhat therapeutic to know that I'm not crazy. however, we are all living with real issues and just knowing someone else has that same issue does not make ours go away or seem less intense.

I have the "thumping" and door slamming aversion and currently am trying to deal with neighbor noises; even though they are normal living noises and no loud music, I'm still sensitive and my home sanctuary seems invaded!

I don't know how to remedy this situation but I'm trying to learn to deal with disappointment. Seems that being disappointed that I'm being disturbed is a root cause of my issue.

I too sleep with ear plugs all the time: hotels, you name it, and I must always be on a top floor.

We'll all hopefully lessen the effects sometime! And I too want to live in the country far away from other people's noise!

I can't stand the sound of a "thump." anything that makes a thumping noise will send me up a wall, especially the garbage lid closing since it seems like it happens 1,000 times a day.

The sound of walking also irritates me. I live on the third floor of my parents' house and anytime I hear them (they are on the first floor) I want to yell for them to shut up.

I hear footsteps and talking and the garbage lid. I hear the clearing of throats and the sucking of teeth (which makes me want to knock my father's teeth down his throat when he does it). I get very irritated at all of these things when I am on the third floor, however when I am closer to the noises, like on the first floor, they seem to bother me much less.

Car doors closing drives me insane since it's one of those thump noises but a car alarm won't bother me much. Obnoxious music coming from a car stereo will only bother me if there is loud bass. I'm glad that I'm not alone with these noise issues but I think it's getting worse because recently I've been contemplating intentionally making myself deaf to escape the noises, but with my luck I'll probably still "feel" the annoying "thump" sound and be just as irritated.

Its nice to know others. I personally like quiet, almost never have a radio on at home, only in the car. There is a chihuahua next door that once it is out the door it does not shut up.

Neighbors who drive by at midnight with the bass turned all the way up. venting is good.

My next house will have a two-foot thick solid stone wall and two-foot think exterior house walls made of stone. Maybe then i will have serenity albeit I will be broke.

What exactly is the treatment for this?

this isn't about neighbors and unnecessary disturbances. when too many sounds are occurring at once: someone is talking and the television's on, and say a plane flies overhead or a truck drives past, i get pissed. my daughter's asthma machine (nebulizer) drives me into fits of rage.

i feel terrible for my family, but i feel relieved to know it's not just me. - j, dallas.

While I will admit to having "noise" issues, I just can't figure out why I must tolerate the rude behavior that appears to have become the norm.

The neighbors party like they live in the country. I have to work with someone who never shuts up. I could go on. It goes on all day and all night. What happened to respect for and consideration of others? You know, this is my space/that is yours. It's not me-it's the rest of the world.

I have an extreme sensitivity to noise, especially trucks, buses, and any repetitive noise. I can't use the blinker in my car and I can't be around clocks ticking.

When I can't get away from the noise I get confused and hide or go into a rage. I think this is the result of a PTSD experience I had four years ago. Friends, research Hyperacusis. It is similar.

I am bothered by the droning sound that projects from the grocery store roof that is across the street from me. I wrote a letter to them once and they dismissed it.

I have investigated this topic and there are things that companies can do to mitigate the amount of noise their roof-top equipment makes. I can't enjoy my own back yard.

I can't stand it when people in my house "my brother" wash the dishes like a bull in a china shop! I feel like stabbing him with a fork! hes also no stranger to revving his engine for 10 or so minutes in the driveway to let it "warm-up." ugh. i am kind of an introverted person but i think it's just another word for being a considerate person! i needed to vent.

Wow, I am not alone!

I have the worst time in the shower. It seems to happen out of nowhere and stops just as quickly. Everything is so loud and makes me feel like I'm going crazy. The worst part is my inner voice feels like it is screaming. There is nothing I can do to make it stop. I've tried breathing exercises, I've tried thinking of something totally unrelated, nothing.

I also tend to have panic attacks in the shower randomly. I don't know what to do to remedy this. I have no money and no insurance.

It's really helpful to know that I'm not the only one. I'm very annoyed by a loud neighbor (I live in an apt. complex) and it's really hard for me to control my anxiety.

I think it started a couple of years ago while I was living in another complex( different state) and every night there were some loud people gathering just below my window-drinking, yelling, arguing and even fighting each other. I had to call the police so many times and I guess I got this from there.

Then, when last year I moved to Dallas, TX we (with my bf) got a nice place in another complex and just right when we moved in there was that loud person above us making so much noise every night that I was really getting so mad that eventually we waited our six-month lease to expire and moved out.

Now I'm in the complex across the street and for six months, it was nice and quiet until those people below us moved in and began moving furniture in the middle of the night. I could hear everything -- and now they are still moving some stuff that late and I don't know what to do anymore.

That triggers my anxiety towards car engines, slamming doors, loud music and so on. I don't really know what to do. I began sleeping with earplugs and they help, but I don't want to use them every night. I really need to get over that.

I am so glad I read this! I have been complaining to my supervisor for quite awhile as I work in a cubicle workplace.

I tend to make more mistakes, get really angry and seethe inside my cubicle, over people holding random lengthy conversations. People who let their "missed call" on their cell phone beep in the cube for hours while they are away from the cubicle. People who sniffle all day or snort up their snot like disgusting pigs!

When I brought this to my manager's attention she said she had never heard of such a thing as being sensitive to noise like that and I am making excuses. Thank You!

I can't believe what I'm reading- what a relief to see that I'm not alone. I get very angry when I hear people chew, sniff, sneeze loud, clear their throats -- the list goes on. It's really hard in a relationship. I'm on prozac for anxiety but it doesn't fix this problem. Any other ideas out there?

I have a problem with people playing radios at work. I can't tolerate earplugs. I don't like music while I'm working - otherwise it's fine. Does anyone know how to get over this?

My anxiety toward noises occurs mainly when I am at home in my own private "sanctuary". At least I'd like to someday have a home that I can call a true sanctuary. A home free from neighbor's noise making and thumping car stereos. I currently live in a condo that connects to my neighbor's unit on one wall. I have moved out of my master bedroom and into the smaller one down the hall because my neighbor's kitchen is located on the other side of the master bedroom's wall. I've moved to the other bedroom because my neighbors love to drag their heavy (I'm guessing) dining room chairs across their tile floor several times a day, even early in the morning (5:30 a.m.). They are such a nice couple and are otherwise pretty quiet. So rather than confront them about it, I've altered my way of living. Other than retrieving clothing from the closet in that room, I try to stay away as much as possible because I know that the noise will infuriate me. I even keep the room's main door closed whenever possible. Like some of you, I also do fly into a rage if the offensive noise persists. I know it's not a normal response, and I also know that I should see a therapist about it, but financially I'm not in a position to do so at this point. I just want to be normal. This disorder colors my entire life gray. I long for the day when I can live in the country miles away from any neighbor.

I have been sensitive to a variety of noises (e.g. people chewing, sirens, etc.) for many many years, but air traffic above my house such as police helicopters and military jet noise is by far my biggest problem. Anyone else suffer from this as their primary noise issue? I moved from one area of town to another recently, primarily to get away from the noise, but I now experience chronic noise from military fighter jets instead of police helicopter patrolling (this is not occasional noise, but daily/nightly habitual noise). I am extremely sensitive to it. Obviously people live in these places and cope somehow, but the anxiety it creates for me is all consuming. I have lived in places earlier in my life where this was not an issue, so I know I'm not making it up. It ruins what is otherwise a pretty good life for me. I have a great/stable job, kids are content, and otherwise don't want to leave, but I don't know what else to do at this point. I can't afford to keep moving, and I have other people to consider besides myself. Wish there were a reasonable solution. I'm truly concerned that I might wind up in an institution if I don't find a happy medium. Thoughts?

I've never had this problem before! and now i wake up all the time when someone is snoring, and i can't concentrate or read in any of my subjects when someone is talking, it interrupts my train of thought. People would just say like "you have to learn to tolerate it" which is *so* frustrating because they don't understand i can't!

I can't take the sounds of people talking or making any type of noise like humming, singing or whistling especially. I feel insane all the time because I actually feel a rage come over me when people are talking around me. I was shocked to google sensitivity to noise and find this. I am going to speak to my doctor about it now that I know it's not just me!

"Obnoxious jerk disorder". It causes extreme insensitivity to sounds, as well as to the well-being of people around them. Certain groups are more at risk: men, extroverts, and persons who have gone numb as a result of many years of study in authoritarian medical schools. Recommended treatment is medication as well as sensitivity-training type therapies. Especially recommended are therapies which increase empathy.

Nice try, psychiatrists. "Women and introverts" suffering from a terrible medical affliction that makes them unable to tolerate other people's oh-so-normal sounds. Take a pill, get some therapy. No. Obnoxious extroverts, aggressive men, rude and disrespectful neighbors need to be quiet! Medicalization of social distress does not serve anyone but the hyper-normal.

I work in a hospital, and the noises from equipment, alarms, and people drive me insane!

to anon41690, I would seek professional help if you have not done so already. My wife deals with this (along with other forms of anxiety) and I know how she can get because of it. The biggest injustice you can do to yourself is to tell yourself you don't have a problem and that you don't need help. I am not saying that this is you, but it is my wife, and it makes both of us miserable. She used to be on Lexapro and Ativan, but is pregnant now and has stopped all of her meds, and the world can tell the difference. Even her coworkers have dropped hints to her, but she just doesn't get it - she blames others or says "she is doing pretty well being off of the medicine". I would disagree. Bottom line, if it is hampering your day to day activities, or if you are making other people uncomfortable or being short with others because of your anxiety - seek help. There is nothing to be ashamed of in seeking help - and it may improve your quality of life (and others around you).

I have always had a problem with noise anxiety.

The sound of people eating food, any especially chips. People that sniffle, my dad sucks up his snot all the time and it gives me rage and I tell him to stop making the sound and my mom says, "just get over it, people make sounds," but i can't! I can't concentrate at school especially while taking a test because so many people chew gum and cough and sniffle. I try so hard but i cannot tune it out. It literally hurts my ears so much I cry. Its only gotten more severe over the years. I refuse to have friends that make the noises that i don't like and if someone does make a noise, i will point it out and people do get upset with me. I don't know what is wrong with me though. What am I supposed to do? I was living away from home in the dorms at university but i'm back home going to community college and because of the sounds. my anxiety is extremely bad now and i don't know what to do. Any advice, please?

I'm also sensitive to noise, doors slamming close, loud car engines, tapping. I've tried taking deep breathes whenever I feel anxious and think of something else which sometimes works.

To anon33090.

My noise anxiety is exactly what you describe. Loud chewing, popping gum, my mom's "s" sound, heavy breathing. Same thing with me. It started when I was in grammar school. Can't just tune these sounds out. What do you do about it?

I have awful noise anxiety, it's been affecting me since I was a little kid. I can't stand the sound of loud chewing, sniffing, loud talking, clicking of a video game controller, mouse clicking, keyboard typing, nail clipping, and my mom's coughing. It seems a new annoying noise arises every year.

I too have this condition, when trucks or airplanes pass my house, I have to run outside and look at them so stop myself having a heart attack. Nat, 22, Aust.

I have noticed for a while that I am sensitive to noise , makes me jumpy even not so loud noises. I have experienced hyperventilating, angry, nervous, shaking, feeling that I need to go to the doctor, chest pains ect. Is all this related to anxiety ? I feel I am totally nuts sometimes. I can't concentrate.