RedZed
11-12-12, 21:47
Hi Everyone,
First I wanted to say how impressed I am at the community built up here. Its comforting to know that you are not alone - as it is often easy to feel that way!
I am a 32 year old guy and I have been dealing with anxieties from my mid teens. From the ages 15 - 20 I suffered with agoraphobia and didn't leave the house much. I got myself out of that, and began to live something approaching a 'normal' life in my mid to late twenties.
However, I guess my anxieties never truly went away and in the last few years, I have become particularly sensitive to noise. Particularly noise that I deem to be threatening - examples include (but not limited to) guys shouting in the street, cars revving loudly where I can hear them.
I am particularly bothered by noise I can hear when in my house. A neighbour playing music at a level I can hear can send me into a frenzy of panic. I will feel unsafe and begin to have catastrophic and doom-laden predictions. Of course, no harm visits me, and it is merely inconsiderate, and normal life going on. And whilst I can write this rationally now, I know that the next time I hear something, I will go into fight or flight mode.
I have just moved house for the 4th time in 14 months - each time escaping a noise source that I found to be intolerable. This is taking it's toll on my partner, not to mention our finances. I really like our new place, and it feels well made and I haven't really heard any neighbour noise here. However I do notice that I am occasionally listening out for noise, and almost subconsciously trying to feed the anxiety.
I can't properly explain the envy I feel for people who aren't overtly bothered by external noises. I recognise it is my anxieties, but it's tough to understand.
Its a struggle some days to feel like I'm not sabotaging myself!
First I wanted to say how impressed I am at the community built up here. Its comforting to know that you are not alone - as it is often easy to feel that way!
I am a 32 year old guy and I have been dealing with anxieties from my mid teens. From the ages 15 - 20 I suffered with agoraphobia and didn't leave the house much. I got myself out of that, and began to live something approaching a 'normal' life in my mid to late twenties.
However, I guess my anxieties never truly went away and in the last few years, I have become particularly sensitive to noise. Particularly noise that I deem to be threatening - examples include (but not limited to) guys shouting in the street, cars revving loudly where I can hear them.
I am particularly bothered by noise I can hear when in my house. A neighbour playing music at a level I can hear can send me into a frenzy of panic. I will feel unsafe and begin to have catastrophic and doom-laden predictions. Of course, no harm visits me, and it is merely inconsiderate, and normal life going on. And whilst I can write this rationally now, I know that the next time I hear something, I will go into fight or flight mode.
I have just moved house for the 4th time in 14 months - each time escaping a noise source that I found to be intolerable. This is taking it's toll on my partner, not to mention our finances. I really like our new place, and it feels well made and I haven't really heard any neighbour noise here. However I do notice that I am occasionally listening out for noise, and almost subconsciously trying to feed the anxiety.
I can't properly explain the envy I feel for people who aren't overtly bothered by external noises. I recognise it is my anxieties, but it's tough to understand.
Its a struggle some days to feel like I'm not sabotaging myself!