Please stop making that sound !

Nurses General Nursing

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TheGooch

775 Posts

I suffer like the OP. I do have allergies too. My peeve this weekend regarding noise are the smart mouth kids in my apartment complex who don't abide by the rules and when they are confronted they make some smart ass comment or play "let's knock on your door and run" or "how's about we throw rocks at your door and then run".

Off to the office tomorrow and if it keeps up a call to the police for harassment.

Yeah noise irritates me. From the upstairs clods who can't walk quietly in their apartment to the motorcycles running past on the street I live on.

TheGooch

775 Posts

The sound of someone chewing gum, cracking it, etc sets my nerves on edge. Slurping food too.

Me too. Or someone who likes to smack their food while eating.

kalycat, BSN, RN

1 Article; 553 Posts

Specializes in CVICU CCRN.

I used to work with someone who was constantly, deeply and loudly, clearing her sinuses by inhaling through her nose. I don't know how to describe it other than it sounded like she was gearing up to hock a loogie. She did it so much, it was almost like a tick. Year round.

I'm not particularly sensitive but repetitive sounds, like the ESWL machine for kidney stones, make me insane. The more she did it, the more tightly coiled I became. It got so bad, I had to basically work to focus myself deeply on another task or idea. I had the luxury of using ear buds at that time, so that did help, but I couldn't exactly throw them in every time I saw her coming. It was too bad because I really enjoyed her company on most levels!

I have the ability to hyper focus at times. I had to totally redirect myself away from that sound, and find something else to focus on during meetings. Writing, flooring, ceiling tiles, mentally designing a surgical intervention for sinus problems, whatever.

All I can really say is maybe try some cognitive behavioral techniques.... And hang in there!!

Emergent, RN

4,243 Posts

Specializes in ER.

I used to be much more sensitive to sounds. I'm finding as I age my hearing is less acute, I'm more like a normal person now.

I'm also prone to sensory overload generally, especially in loud social situations. I've developed coping mechanisms over the years that have helped.

Some people are just more sensitive than others. The human nervous system is complex. As we age, our senses dull, so it makes us more sensitive folk tolerate the world better. (And can make older men better lovers than the hair trigger youngsters ;) )

OldGrayNurse

50 Posts

Specializes in Medicare Reimbursement; MDS/RAI.

Didn't know there was a name for it, but I gotta tell you, it's very difficult to work in a quiet setting with someone who is constantly making noises. I work with a lady who, if she's not passing gas, belching, or sniffing/blowing her nose, is chewing and smacking her gum. She will also mumble to herself from time to time; she will hum to some kind of music she only hears and is quite tone deaf. We share office space, and it gets so bad I have to get up and just leave out for a few minutes to calm myself down. I think in my case though, I probably wouldn't be as sensitive if our office wasn't so quiet. And, we aren't allowed to wear any kind of headphones. So, I play music through my computer speakers very softly to try and get my mind off it, or just try my best to ignore it. I don't really have any answers for you, though. Just leaving my own take, I guess. :)

djh123

1,101 Posts

Specializes in LTC, Rehab.

Repetitive sounds annoy me too - not the same thing as what you're saying, maybe, but somewhat close. Where I work, sometimes almost all at once there can be 2-3 residents yelling for me (and/or CNA's) to help, an alarm briefly going off on the door of the secured unit, someone repetitively yelling and/or banging something on the table in the closest dining room, cats yelling for treats (no, I'm not making this up :^), someone's tube feeding machine beeping ... no, it's not always that bad, but it does happen. Just makes my days off even more eagerly anticipated.

Ruby Vee, BSN

17 Articles; 14,030 Posts

Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.

I will bite anyway ( not too loudly). I have a sensitivity as well, not as severe as yours.. but some sounds are actually painful. You could listen to music with ear buds when you are not at work.

The only suggestion I can think of for work, is to work from home. I have to tell the mutt to stop barking once in awhile, but other than that, it's pretty quiet.

Ear buds are a no-no at work. You cannot hear alarms, patients crying for help, visitors approaching, etc.

tsm007

675 Posts

She did it so much, it was almost like a tick. Year round.

Maybe it was. My oldest child has Tourettes and oh my he has both a coughing and a throat clearing tic that are enough to make you a little crazy. I have become very aware of tics now and find myself diagnosing tics in strangers all the time now. Once you know what they are and how difficult it is for people with them to control it, it does make you a little more tolerant.

kalycat, BSN, RN

1 Article; 553 Posts

Specializes in CVICU CCRN.

You're absolutely correct. And by the time I realized my typo "tick" it was too late to edit! I really feel for anyone who struggles with that type of issue. I've had patients with the throat clearing tic before...and man did they struggle with self esteem, etc.

Julius Seizure

1 Article; 2,282 Posts

Specializes in Pediatric Critical Care.

I kind of understand what you are describing, OP.

For me, something rather nice comes with that "sound sensitivity". Have you ever heard of ASMR? Its sort of the opposite - its a distinctly enjoyable visceral sensation that some people get from certain sounds or other stimuli. You can find a lot of videos on youtube if you search for that term - I pop my headphones in at night, put an ASMR youtube video on and instant relaxation...

OneohOne

4 Posts

I have songs and poems memorized that have pleasing cadences and alliteration, and when sounds get to me, I run over them in my head. Sometimes out loud, but quietly. It's like a mental coping soundtrack.

Golfer87

73 Posts

You may reconsider if your'e interred in the collateral damage of an individual who does not partake in the aforementioned annoying behavior.

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