How do you deal with noise?

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Honestly I would try and find a way to move out of that area if I was in that situation...there is no way I could deal with screaming kids all the time...sudden loud noises freak me out because on top of being sensative to sound and light in general I have PTSD which makes it worse.

I'm the same: small children I know tend to be fine but it's the anonymous noise of anonymous children that gets to me. I rarely go out for dinner for this reason: it seems that children are allowed to run riot in places where people have gone to spend a quiet evening. Ediself: I personally feel that there is a massive difference between children who run riot and whose parents don't seem to give a jot about other people around them and just allow this behaviour, and the parents who try (even if not successful) to get their kids to quieten down. I have respect for the latter group because they have respect for others, and I often flash them a sympathetic look, but parents who just allow their children to run wild and don't care, they reall irritate me.

Sweetleaf: I'm the same. I have always wondered whether I have PTSD although the particular trauma of my childhood isn't related to noise so I don't know if this is related to why I jump out my skin when I hear a loud noise. It seems to be particularly bad when I'm at home for some reason: I am more immune to loud noises when I'm out probably because I know I can walk away. In my house, I just feel trapped by the noises and in my head. I have had so many problems with neighbours: I had to move out of my last house because my neighbours left their two howling dogs outside last night so the entire 5 months of my tenancy was just one long and unbearable panic attack. I don't want the same to happen again.

I found out with myself, that I am extremely sensitive of noice, but it has got to do with different pitches of sound or sound coming from too many sources.
To explain: I can go into my room and play music quite hard (must be in the mood for it) but that hard sound doesn't bother me, because
a) I know, what I can expect
b) it's from one source
c) it's harmonical
Put me for example in a restaurant with sounds coming from all different sources...I "dissolve".
Sometimes even the slightest noises get me to overload, but I guess it's because they are out of my control. It's also harder when sound is accompanied by irregular movements, like going on a shopping-street.
Sometimes I feel then, like I have no boundries anymore and the world can just get into me and I loose myself completely.
This does not happen when I decide I want to listen to a piece of music -very loud.

I'm like that too.

Also, another example: the noise of a vacuum cleaner, hairdryer or a power tool doesn't bother if I am the one using it. If someone else is using these, I'll freak out.

But I can't stand screaming children, chatter, human voices mixed with music or other noises (like in a shopping mall or restaurant), traffic, trucks, motorcycles, helicopters, etc under any circumstances.

I can really relate to you Eloa and Adam: I think the controllability of noise is a major factor. I even feel that I can tolerate the noise of a screaming child I am with, i.e. a friend's child or my little cousin because it seems more controllable, but other kids, it's awful. Similarly: I can play music no problem and feel totally fine but when I hear the heavy bass of a car or a neighbour, I feel very threatened.

Yup. You're right. I have a big subwoofer under my desk and I pump it sometimes when no one is around. But sound of a bass coming from a passing car freaks me out.

I get headaches easily. I just have a meltdown when it is loud. Mostly when my son is hyper and screaming I can't take it.

I have to have music or a TV or something on most of the time because of neighborhood noises that bother me. I know it's not good for my hearing, especially when I have to turn it up loud, but whenever I try to have it silent I hear people, animals, etc. making weird creepy noises. Someone gave me ear plugs but I have yet to become comfortable wearing those. I have to take them out pretty quickly.

The worst neighbors that I have are actually adults, one stands out in the street with a bull horn & the other one throws parties, outside with very loud music/guests for the span of about 8 hours at a time overnight & into the morning.

Oh & someone mentioned basketballs, in my old neighborhood people used to walk up & down the alley next to my house bouncing them (not playing) in the summer & it drove me batty. That noise is like nails & a chalkboard to me.

LadySera,

That sounds enough to drive anyone batty, poor you. Is it possible for you to move? My one saving grace is that I can move soon and I am being extra-specially picky about my neighbourhood. I have found a detached house in a quiet street and another on a farm so I'm deciding between them. I think I'd fork out some extra $$$ if it could ensure my peace of mind!

There is an elementary school right next to my apt. When they have festivals or special days, they "practice" for weeks ahead of time in the morning. I don't go to bed until 3 am or so, but these kids are at it from 9am-12 pm- screaming, singing, banging taiko drums, playing music through loud speakers- and the lack of sleep I get makes me physically ill. I don't understand why this is allowed. Isn't it basically noise pollution in a residental area?

The only thing I could do was put on my iPod and wrap a towel around my head to seal in the headphones. It's not comfortable though.

This is horrible. It absolutely is noise pollution, but it seems that when it comes to children, any noise can be made, it's pretty hoorendous having to deal with it. I am currently sitting here with the neighbour's kid screaming the house down. My mum is partially deaf and doesn't think it's that bad but I just can't imagine why they don't tell her to STFU because it happens all day. Grr.

I deal with the noises by having over the ear headphones and my iPod. I carry my iPod and headphones everywhere, to the mall, a festival,etc.

The only way I can sleep at night is if I have my fan running.

I very much rely on my iPod too, although listening to it in public places makes me feel a bit disorientated. I actually sleep with white noise playing in my ipod because the sound of my fan isn't enough to block out noise. I am finding that the majority of time I spend at home, I have my ipod in listening to classical music to relax me. This is affecting my relationship with my mum because I become almost fearful of taking my earphones out to speak to her because I will have to hear the noise from my neighbours and I get upset when I do so whenever i speak to my mum, I feel anxious or angry.