Bright Lights and Noise

Post Reply New Topic

I went 10 Pin Bowling last night for my mums birthday. We had a good time, but I really struggled to cope with the bright lights and music at the venue. There was too much going on.

Anyone else struggle with these kind of things?

Short answer: yes.

Long answer: I prep for the times when I know I will be "exposed." It's kind of like counting calories. If I know I will have a big/high calorie meal later on, I will eat less now and after. If I know I am going to something where I will have a lot of sensory input like loud noise and bright lights, I will limit my exposure beforehand and leave time for "recovering" afterwards.

Longer answer: I have structured my life to reduce a lot of this input, which makes it easier to cope with going out to these places and dealing with unexpected exposure. For example, I don't have a TV. I have been amazed at how much less stressed I feel because of that. I occasionally watch movies, but when I do I can pause in the middle and take a break, etc.

Oh yes! Music - I hate having to listen to music I can't stand for a long time, i.e. shopping, etc. or when it's good music but the sound quality is terrible or sounds tinny or the radio is not quite tuned right.

I almost always wear my dark sunglasses outdoors. Even on overcast days! I might look like an idiot but I hate squinting. Of course you were indoors so wearing sunglasses might not have been convenient

I'm the same, often wear my sunglasses even on dull cloudy days.
I much prefer dark places than bright places.

Sensitivity to light seems to come and go; sometimes I'm very bothered, other times not so much, though my preference would be low light. Apparently, as an infant (don't remember) I was VERY sensitive and the only way I would be calm is in a pitch dark room. Any light whatsoever would result in screaming fits.

Noise is another matter; don't like it, never will. Loud noises totally set me off and a sudden noise near me usually gets the offender a 'reminder' (usually a few choice, angry words) not to do that.

I agree with you

I don't like noise and busy, chaotic environments, so much so that even trying to talk to one person in the park yesterday actually set me on edge as badly as if I'd been in that bowling alley of yours!

The noises were: lots of geese honking in our immediate vicinity; dogs barking in the distance; someone's car alarm sounding over and over and over for what seemed like fifteen solid minutes before it got turned off.

While all this was going on, my friend was sitting with me talking to me. I was trying to stay focused on the conversation, but all I could stay aware of was how much everything sounded like a cacophony of chaotic noise all around me. I really struggled to stay calm and make responses. I felt like I "couldn't hear myself think." I even mentioned "Oh god, I wish that car alarm would stop". My friend seemed like it didn't bother her, or like she barely registered that it was sounding.

How is it that other people seem to just filter all this stuff right out?? She seemed calm and content. I was feeling like all the noises plus her voice going on and on were driving me crazy.

Finally the geese stopped honking but somehow my friend talking still felt like there was "a lot of noise in the room" kind of thing.

When she had to go, I couldn't believe how suddenly there was this all consuming quiet. It was SO peaceful. I'm still trying to figure out how her presence managed to make it seem like the whole world was caving in on me, and when she left it was like a magic wand had cast a spell of serenity over everything in my head.

You sound just like me, I would be exactly the same.

I got angry in a Pizza Express a while back. There were noisy screaming children and I could not cope anymore. I told the mum to leave and never come back ! !

Yep, I think I'd be hard-pressed not to have that same reaction also!

Restaurants can be a nightmare for me -- I wish I could find one that's actually quiet, but it seems like that doesn't exist.

What are you like at home. I have to sleep in a dark room,
I cannot even have a bath with the lights on

Good on you!!

I actually love bright lights. I grew up in a household where there were many fluorescent lights in the living room. Darkness makes me uncomfortable. I'm surprised that so many people IRL (non-autistic) find a dimly lit room "cozy". I find it extremely uncomfortable because I can't see well.

However, I'm extremely sensitive to noise. It's not just the loudness of the noise. At work when the radio is on, even if it's not loud, I can't concentrate on work and feel very irritable and angry. I have argued with people about it. I will refuse to work in a room where the radio is on. Even if I get hated by everyone who wants music on, I will turn it off.

I was at a dave & busters last night the lights from the screen(s) weren't too bad however the noise from the machines were then there were strobe lights which kinda bothered me I just wanted to play a game of pac man lol. Normally I allow my self 15 mins in such places before it becomes total sensory overload.

I use to wear dark sun glasses even on cloudy days however since I got prescription glasses I can wear them anymore so sometimes it's hell going out on a bright day....Tho thankfully my glasses are transitions so it mutes out the brightness somewhat.

I hate bright lights. I have to wear sunglasses most of the time, but it's harder to wear them at night. Even on low beams, cars are soooo bright for me at night. It doesn't matter if I'm looking at them or not. I swear, it's like looking directly into the sun for me. Music, I don't care too much. Music is such a huge part of my life that I'm not bothered by what it is... so long as it's not rap or hip hop.

I always had problems with that but my sensitivity to bright lights is due to having a rare low vision disorder that makes me more sensitive to lighting conditions. My sensitivity to noise has gotten alot better over the years due to working in noisy environments, getting my anxiety better under control & being out more; I sort of daydream & zone out so I don't notice the noise as much nowadays.

Bright light does bother me, in particular florescent lights, and can be quite painful to look directly at. I have had several episodes at the local grocery store where I have temporary lost my ability to focus my sight after experiencing sensory overload from the florescent lights in combination of walking up and down the aisles look at the products. It's a confusing and unpleasant experience not being able to even focus my eyes on my own hands.

Sudden noises does bother me, e.g. jackhammers, dump trucks, emergency vehicles, jet planes, etc, but not to the same extent as lights.

I'm mostly okay with bright lights, though prolonged exposure to fluorescent or sunlight can give me a headache and cause irritation and stress. I have a really hard time with noise, especially if it's loud and sudden. Someone can say my name behind me in a normal volume, and if I'm not expecting it, I'll still jump. I hate it. I have to bring earplugs with me whenever I go out to places like restaurants and other public areas, because the noise can throw me into sensory overload and ruins everything. I get irritated and agitated, and have to leave and withdraw to a quiet space, otherwise there is the potential for a meltdown. If there were one thing I could fix about my autism, it would be my noise sensitivity, followed closely by my food sensitivity.