How do you deal with sensory issues?

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I'm hyper-aware of sound to the extent that it causes me significant stress.I hear clocks ticking, my watch ticking, people moving around next door. I've tried earplugs but I don't think that's a long-term solution. Does being more relaxed typically lessen the impact of sensory issues? Does anyone have any tips that aren't based on just avoiding loud noises?

I also have issues with touch, vision, taste and smell but the sound issue is the most distressing and distracting.

I find that my sensory issues will increase dramatically with stress. What I would do is to address whatever is stressing me out. Then I would gradually expose myself to the thing that bothers me. If I, for example, turn up the tv volume gradually rather than suddenly, the sound becomes easier to tolerate.

That makes sense. I'm quite stressed at the moment and I'm going to do more relaxation exercises. Thanks for the advice.

I find some noises are more tolerable than others. I mask unwanted sounds with white noise from fans, or, in cool weather, static between stations on the radio. In general, I deal with stress by retiring to a quiet, dimly-lit room with a book. I find spending some time in an imaginary world allows me to return to this one refreshed.

I have a lot of sensory issues, but sound and smell are the ones which I find most difficult to deal with. (I just don't put anything I can't stand the taste of in my mouth, for example. )

Sound and smell are difficult or impossible to shut out, and very intrusive for me. There are always things which bother me and disrupt my day; a leaf blower going full tilt just next door, for example. *shudder* And I have no idea how to deal with those. I wish I did have useful tips for helping you cope. (What makes it worse is that I also can't stand stale air, so whenever it is at all warm enough, I must have a window open, thus depriving myself of the extra muffling factor.)

But I've noticed several things which affect how much I'm bothered by sounds or smells which are sometimes bearable. If I am stressed, they will bother me more. If I am tired, they will bother me more. And one of the first signs I'm coming down with something is the fact that smells I barely notice normally are unbearably intense. If I am stressed, and tired, and sick, I wind up a whimpering, completely non-functional mess.

Try to stay relaxed and maybe block out the different ticking noises with music via headphones? For myself in order to block out one stimulus my body exchanges on hypersensitivity for another (sound-touch usually).