Why does noise give me so much anxiety?
Auditory hypersensitivity or hypersensitivity to sound may include sensitivity to specific triggering noises or loud noises in general. Individuals with auditory hypersensitivity experience distress upon hearing the triggering sounds. Some people with anxiety may experience this type of sensitivity.
Sound sensitivity can be common among individuals with OCD, anxiety disorders, and/or Tourette Syndrome.
Auditory sensitivity and overload – A quick summary
Often these individuals notice sounds or audio that others don't. Typically, their brain perceives auditory sensory sensations more intensely than others. Because of this, noise sensitivity can lead to sensory or auditory overload.
- Breathe. 1/14. We do this all the time, but to use your breathing to find stillness, be more careful and conscious about it. ...
- Watch Fish Swim. 2/14. ...
- Exercise. 3/14. ...
- Listen to Music. 4/14. ...
- Help Someone. 5/14. ...
- Go Outdoors. 6/14. ...
- Progressive Muscle Relaxation. 7/14. ...
- Hang Out With a Dog. 8/14.
What is misophonia? People with misophonia are affected emotionally by common sounds — usually those made by others, and usually ones that other people don't pay attention to. The examples above (breathing, yawning, or chewing) create a fight-or-flight response that triggers anger and a desire to escape.
As we get older, the hair cells and nerve fibers in our inner ears deteriorate. Some studies have shown that a reduced blood flow, which is a natural part of aging, causes changes in our ears. It could also be due to prolonged exposure to loud noises or a combination of factors.
Hyperacusis is a hearing disorder that makes it hard to deal with everyday sounds. You might also hear it called sound or noise sensitivity. If you have it, certain sounds may seem unbearably loud even though people around you don't seem to notice them. Hyperacusis is rare.
Get regular exercise, plenty of sleep, and manage your stress. You can also wear ear plugs and headsets to tune out sounds. Set up quiet areas or safe spots in your home where no one will make the noises that bother you.
- Redirect your attention. If possible, switch your focus from the pain of noise to something else that requires extreme focus but that's enjoyable for you. ...
- Know your triggers. ...
- Decide on a plan of action. ...
- Establish “quiet zones” ...
- Check your state of mind.
- Don't overprotect against sound. The more you protect your hearing, the more fear you invoke about these sounds. ...
- Systematically expose yourself to the sounds you hate. ...
- Talk to a medical professional. ...
- Minimize your stress. ...
- Get support.
How can I block all the noise?
- Use a towel or door sweep to seal the bottom of your bedroom door to drown out living room noise and light.
- Place a bookshelf against the wall that transmits sound to muffle vibrations.
- Place soft rugs over creaky floorboards to dampen noise.
There is usually no cure once noise sensitivity has started, because the common causes are noise damage and ageing damage to the inner ear. Avoiding exposure to noise will help. Other disorders of the inner ear, which may be mistaken for hyperacusis, are treatable, so prompt assessment of the ears is important.

Misophonia, a phenomenon first described in the audiology literature, is characterized by intense emotional reactions (e.g., anger, rage, anxiety, disgust) in response to highly specific sounds, particularly sounds of human origin such as oral or nasal noises made by other people (e.g., chewing, sniffing, slurping, lip ...
If you have hyperacusis, your brain confuses or exaggerates certain vibrations. So even if you get the same signals as someone else, your brain reacts differently to them. That's what causes the discomfort. People aren't typically born with hyperacusis.
You can search for sounds online that simulate real-life sounds: even those annoying restaurant noises! Try playing these sounds while doing something you enjoy, like reading or knitting. Slowly extend the length of time and raise the volume to desensitize you to these sounds.
References
- https://www.bettersleep.com/blog/binaural-beats-for-anxiety/
- https://www.theshift.ca/uncategorized/5-ways-to-cope-with-noise-sensitivity/
- https://patch.com/new-york/plainview/a-quick-guide-to-binaural-beats
- https://www.webmd.com/brain/sound-sensitivity-hyperacusis
- https://www.webmd.com/balance/what-are-binaural-beats
- https://www.sleep.com/sleep-tech/block-noise-and-sleep
- https://psychcentral.com/adhd/adhd-music
- https://iocdf.org/expert-opinions/misophonia/
- https://bunnystudio.com/blog/what-is-9d-audio-how-can-we-use-it/
- https://repetitionsfitness.ca/healing-benefits-music-tuned-432-hz/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26737340/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28571795/
- https://www.loopearplugs.com/blogs/blog/sensitivity-to-sound-how-to-deal-with-noise-sensitivity
- https://maxcooper.net/4d-sound-an-alternate-sensory-reality
- https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/misophonia-sounds-really-make-crazy-2017042111534
- https://www.unpublishedzine.com/astrology/spiritual-mental-and-physical-effects-of-432440-hz-frequencies
- https://insighttimer.com/teramangala/guided-meditations/solfeggio-frequency-396hz-emancipate-anxiety
- https://www.healthline.com/health/binaural-beats
- https://www.webmd.com/balance/ss/slideshow-how-to-quiet-mind
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30414050/
- https://www.healthline.com/health/alpha-brain-waves
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0167876017300387
- https://health.selfdecode.com/blog/binaural-beats/
- https://mysoundtherapy.com/us/what-is-sound-therapy/emotional-stress-relief/anxiety/
- https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/what-is-misophonia
- https://enticare.com/2020/02/05/sensitivity-to-sound-as-we-age/
- https://www.bettersleep.com/blog/solfeggio-frequencies-how-listening-to-396-hz-tones-can-soothe-your-anxiety/
- https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/320019
- https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/speaking-of-health/tips-to-help-ease-anxiety
- https://www.healthline.com/health/best-products-to-fight-stress-and-anxiety
- https://health.clevelandclinic.org/5-ways-to-cope-with-sensitivity-to-sound/
- https://www.quora.com/Whats-the-difference-between-3D-8D-and-16D-sound
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5487409/
- https://www.biofeedback-tech.com/articles/2016/9/28/adhd-and-neurofeedback
- https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/feelings-symptoms-behaviours/feelings-and-symptoms/anxiety-fear-panic/
- https://www.griffinot.com/auditory-sensitivity-autism-sensory/
- https://www.newportacademy.com/resources/empowering-teens/brown-noise-for-adhd/
- https://enlightenedsolutions.com/how-binaural-beats-can-make-a-difference-in-mental-health/
- https://www.additudemag.com/ta-dah/
- https://insighttimer.com/jeremyalford/guided-meditations/8d-and-binaural-beat-for-anxiety-guided-meditation
- https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/hearing-problems-reduced-tolerance-to-sound
- https://www.calmclinic.com/anxiety/symptoms/hypersensitivity-to-sound
- https://www.atlassian.com/blog/productivity/alpha-brain-waves-are-associated-with-a-flow-state-of-mind-heres-how-to-ride-yours
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gamma_wave