Are you bothered by this?

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I'm living in a dorm right now. It's usually rather quiet, at least there's no loud music or party at night most of the time. However, I am often distressed by "normal" everyday noises right now. I startle everytime someone slams a door or coughs. The walls are pretty thin so you hear everything. Right now my neighbour - who is usually rather quiet and considerate - has a friend visiting and they seem to be pretty drunk, screaming and laughing like crazy, and it's really distressing to me right now. "Human" noise is usually kind of threatening and intimidating to me, even when it's something "harmless" like laughter or talking. I want to run away right now, outside, in a quiet forest and just sit in perfect silence for a while. Pretty weird considering that I don't usually overload in some much louder environments, like in a disco or when there's loud machines running.

Those sorts of sounds don't threaten me as such, but they irritate me. I live in a share house, and from my bedroom I can hear everything from the lounge room and kitchen, even with the door shut. Drives me crazy. Even just the sound of someone closing the front door on their way out, it seems like surely they could do it more quietly.

If there are other, more "general" noises around (e.g. if I'm watching TV or listening to music) this is easier to handle, because the other noises don't stand out. But if it's quiet, I don't want to hear things in the next room. I guess it's like I don't have control over the auditory aspect of my space. My intention was for it to be quiet, but noises from nearby are invading my zone.

The "natural" noises from outside, however, do not bother me. Birds and such.

I will tell you honestly, sounds like someone breathing and chewing can put me right over the edge. Cups set down on a counter, walking across the floor, yawning, just generally moving around, etc - it all gets to me.

One of the things that drive me crazy during the summer months, where going "camping" is common, is when I have to sleep next to people and hear them smacking their lips, breathing, making "sleep sounds", ect.. My body's reaction to that is to make me nauseous which is not fun at all.

Noises in nature don't bother me (unless I hear that certain sound a large tree makes when it's about to break and come down in an unpredictable place... this can be quite dangerous!). I hear mountain lions, coyotes, big owls. Birds follow me around, because I often share crackers or bread with them, so they know me and start "reminding me that they're hungry." Sounds of forest, ocean, desert are sounds I love and no, I am not afraid at all. I'm alone in nature and suddenly hear a human sound and my heart seems to fall into my stomach. Very odd, indeed.

I love music, unless it is ridiculous throbbing bass that threatens to destroy one's ear drums as someone drives by. This is one I've never quite figured out, especially when it's a guy on a motorcycle!

Camping is something I do in isolation or don't do at all. I went to Monument Valley four years ago and pitched my tent on a ridge, all alone. The Navajo people, they let you be. You go off by yourself, away from where the tourists drive in with their RVs and all is well. If you do not want to hear or see people? You speak to the Navajo when you enter Monument Valley and they will tell you where the tourists will not be. You must be very self-reliant, willing and able to hike and pack food, tent, sleeping bag, and water in and be truly good about cleaning up your camp site (please!). There are outhouses, but you must hike to where the tourists park way up in a lot to find and use them. It is "rough camping". I was a woman traveling alone and had no problems. I cannot say the same was true at "white man's" camps, where I was nearly molested on two occasions at two different USFS camps. Native Americans do not behave like many other people (this is meant as a DEEP compliment!). The white man's camps are invariably more crowded, noisier and there is alcohol. On the Native reservations, alcohol is not permitted.

Sounds I cannot handle: the sounds of drunken people. Revving engines and screeching tires. Gunshots and other explosions. Loud TV or radio announcer voices coming from another room.

My husband's chewing, especially crunchy things, does my head in.

I hate hearing other people through the walls too.

I also have this problem. I think it might be called Misophonia.

What I hate the most is sudden door slams, makes me flinch. There always has to be a dog in the neighborhood barking endlessly.

Yes these kinds of noises drive me crazy too. I tend to make my own noise to block it out. I play music on my computer and sing along with it or I start reading out-loud to block out the "little" noises , closing doors, coughing, chewing, putting away dishes ect. that my mom makes around the house.

Headphones - never underestimate the advantage of a damn good set - and a cheap mp3 player. Does wonders to drown out all this. Since walkin round all day with it permanently in my pocket, soon as i feel anxious on go the ear mufflers. Been happier for weeks.

My husband and I are both NT but neither of us can handle 'external' noises - our neighbours music and tv specifically. We are okay when we are outside but once I am in the sanctity of home, I don't expect to be able to hear other people's crap I can't wait to get out of our place with shared walls!!