y-pod wrote:
I feel anxious and can't calm down. But loud noises don't bother me at all. I suspect it's all those years singing in a choir and performing with a band desensitized me.
It's the small noises that bother me. You know like a hum or whine in the background, some distant lawn mowers, people hissing/whispering or rubbing against rough surfaces...etc. I have trouble understanding people's speech when there's lots of background noises.
Same here regarding an inability to understand people well over lots of background noise. I try to avoid going to restaurants and other venues that have loud music - makes it nearly impossible for me to talk to someone. I'm not a fan of TV, and if someone tries to talk to me over a blaring television, I'll usually politely inform that that I can listen to them OR the TV, but not both. I don't mind loud music at a concert, but I realize what I'm getting into on the rare occasion I go - there the noise is the point.
Noises that I find particularly grating are screaming children in restaurants, and people idly whistling. I work in a place where people like to whistle loudly at times, and it really bothers me. I feel like I'm screaming internally for them to SHUT UP!