I'm sorry I don't know how to help you deal with this, but I do want you to know that I have problems coping with excessive noise. You are not alone. I know that's not what you're looking for right now, but i felt it was important to tell you that. Thanks for the post, maybe I will get some ideas too.

I have trouble with overstimulation, too. But my home is very quiet, so I don't deal with it at home.

Here's my brainstorm:
The only thing I can think of is some kind of ear protection, head gear like what people wear who work in loud environments. You could use the foam earplugs at the same time if that helps. Or, maybe a really good set of headphones to play something you find soothing during times when you can maybe go in a seperate room and close the door.

P.S. I think you can hear through the industrial ear gear enough to know what people are saying, it just reduces the decible level.

I am hypersensitive to noise. I just can't tolerate it. You certainly aren't alone with this; lots of people with PTSD feel the same way.

One suggestion is to take a time out when the noise gets out of control. Go to another room or your safe place. I don't have kids so don't know the right language to use so they can understand.

This has to be such a hard situation for you. You need to take care of you but protect your childrens childhood at the same time. I feel for you. I have had a little of this myself. I am ok when I know its going to be noisy but when it happens out of the blue I feel like my heart stops.
I think you should try the foam ear plugs, it is worth a shot.

It's important to take time alone in the quiet. It's just part of the illness. Luckily, I live alone (which also has that as a downside) and I can lock myself away. Even with that, I still get uptight and yell at my service dogs, who are an important piece of my mental health regime.

I've been getting really angry and cranky the last couple of days. Trying to push myself to do too much at once and not the things I feel in my heart are important... that makes it worse.

So, I am learning to only do what I feel is best for my health and to limit how much I do in a day and to take the time for myself. Right now, that's packing, bathing more often, brushing my teeth at times, even exercising and, best part, taking the girls out to the dog park. Everytime I do anything outside of those things, I struggle and get angry, irritable and despondent. :|

wow, I had no idea anyone els felt this way. I was trying to explain to my bestfriend how my childrens normal every day playing and loudness can just about send me over the edge!!!She said she noticed I get really edgy or moody when that happens, where she is just calmer about it and tells the kids to settle down.I'am yelling:I cant take it anymore!!!So this really does go hand and hand with PTSD?????

I agree with the headphone idea. Before I knew I had PTSD and my son much littler used to give me hell, mum, mum, mum..I would go up to him, squat down so I was on his height level, and say that I needed 30mins (ask him to repeat what I said making sure he was truly listening, then tell him I would do such and such with him after..reward) If he could manage that I would ignore ignore ignore, then failing that I would get my walkman and put it on, and sing along and dance a little while I was doing my thing...in the end we would both end up laughing, he knew I was onto him.

Every time after that, I would repeat the process for weeks, so he knew whenever I got my walkman while preparing dinner etc, he had to occupy himself for a time. (I could always hear him a little just music was louder more relaxing)

I had to do a lot of Positive Parenting and behaviour management sessions with him when he was little, (ADHD) and still need to remember those skills today (when I can remember, a little hard when your frazzled, I do understand )

I hope this helps a little.

I am also very sensitive to noise. I was told to practice being transparent so that the noise goes through me instead of bumping up against my insides. It is part of the practice of non-resistance. When we tense up, it is a kind of resistance and what we resist presists. I don't know if this makes any sense to you. I have found this very helpful and every way except I'm still working on the noise factor.

Thank you for this post! I am just realizing now that I am having a problem with noise and too many people in my space. I never used to be like that. last night I was at a business meeting that I needed to be at (I canceled the last 3 because I was so anxious about going). Last night it, as always, started to get noisey and I felt my anxiety go through the roof. It seemed that as the noise level raised people started talking louder. I didn't want to be rude, but I couldn't stand it so I moved to the furtherest chair in the room and just tried to focus on my breathing. I knew I had to be there so I just tried to employ what ever skills I could to get through the moment. It really seemed to help. At least it helped me deal with the situation until I could bail. I don't know that I have too much advice other than to say you could remove yourself as much as possible and then just try to focus on something simple such as breathing. Thanks again for the post. I too have this struggle.

I'm sorry you're going through this. It must be a terribly difficult time.

I never realised what noise did to me, until an 80 year old guy with PTSD took me to one side when I was at Combat Stress. He told me how noise affected him ( he was so bad he would often black out at loud noises ). I'd never thought about it till that point. Once I had lots of things made sense.

I can actually feel the sensation now when it's happening. That rising tension when things just seem a little overwhelming. I liken in to having a big red button in my brain, and overwhelming, sudden noises whack it squarely on the head.

In terms of what you can do, someone else suggested earplugs / music. I find my MP3 player invaluable. The other advice I'd give is that you cant help yourself and your ex at the same time. If he's making things hard for you to cope then you need to look at that. Someone with PTSD has only a limited ability to cope with additional stressors. Try and eliminate them from your life wherever possible.

Good luck,

Sammers.

noise like the phone ringing, someone chewing loud, or the tv bothers me....i used to tell my kids to constantly lower it, but that is taking away from them being kids....so i let them outside and they are as loud as they want

I DON'T REALLY HAVE ANY ADVICE. I HAVE READ ALL THE POST. I HAVE GONE THROUGH WHAT YOU ARE RIGHT NOW. IT WAS HARD WHEN MY CHILDREN WERE LITTLE. BUT, THEY KNEW WHEN MOMMY WENT TO HER ROOM THEY WERE NOT TO COME IN. MY HUSBAND WAS VERY SUPPORTIVE.
I STILL HAVE TROUBLE WITH NOISE. TODAY SOMEONE HONKED THEIR HORN AN I JUMPED SO HIGH. MY HUSBAND ASK WHAT WAS WRONG THAT IS WHEN I TOLD HIM. THAT NOISE BOTHER ME.I AM VERY HYPERVIGLANT. BUT THIS COMES WITH PTSD. FOR A LONG TIME I THOUGHT I WASN'T NORMAL. BUT A THERPIST TOLD ME THERE ISN'T ANYONE NORMAL. SHE SAID I WAS NORMAL FOR WHAT I WAS GOING THOUGH.
MY LIFE IS VERY SOLITERY. I DON'T GO OUT ALONE MUCH. I AM TO AFRAID TO FACE THE WORLD ALONE.
I FIND THAT IF I PUT ON A RELAXTION CD IT HELPS ALOT.
DIANA.MARIE

OHMYGOSH. I know exactly how you feel. I am VERY noise sensitive and startle easily. I can barely tolerate chaos and noise. I think some of this may be due to anxiety. When you are already feeling anxious and then there is this chaos surrounding you with all of this movement and noise...it just exasperates the anxiety. Maybe walk away or practice happy positive thoughts. Say to yourself, "Gosh this is noisy and I am uncomfortable, but it too will pass..." And try to remember next time what is going on in your head when the noise starts up and it is hard to cope...maybe next time you can be more aware and have a plan in place... sorry for the ramble, I thought I was the ONLY one who was noise-sensitive!!!

ear plugs....I think that would be a perfect idea for you shug....definately!! you could still hear things but it would muffle down the noise just enough to take the edge off...