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What about sensitivity to noise? The guy upstairs walking around in an old uninsulated house causes thumping which instantly wakes me up. A rug didn't help.

What about sensitivity to noise? The guy upstairs walking around in an old uninsulated house causes thumping which instantly wakes me up. A rug didn't help. Next door, my bedroom is next to stairs where stompers stomp up and down the stairs morning and night. Earplugs and noise machines don't help. While thinking causes me to remain awake, sensitivity to disturbances causes me to wake up. It's been a sort of punishment my entire life, made worse because no one takes me seriously or cares, since they cannot relate.

dominotw 9y ago
I moved to a highrise cos I had the same problem. Plus something about having a doorman made it easier to fall asleep. I can totally relate to ppl not taking it seriously.
- pasbesoin 9y ago
  I was afraid it would be worse. In part, no matter what something "should" be, I seem to end up with the worst version of it. I moved to my own house -- all to myself. To end up with the loudest neighbors yet. Car stereo subwoofers "thudding" through my sealed up house, along with indifferent law enforcement. I didn't want a huge drive, nor to be socially isolated (hah!). I bought into what was supposed to be a modest but nice community. I didn't have the money for a snobby one where law enforcement has a big stick up their butt. In retrospect, on that point, be very careful about the community. If I hadn't become so afraid of apartment/condo neighbor noise (after repeated experiences), I could have afforded a more upscale one. Or buy out in the sticks with enough land to physically keep neighbors at bay. But then, of course, you have the challenge of Internet connectivity -- among other things.
  - mancerayder 9y ago
    I'm going to have to be honest here and say that moving to an upscale neighborhood lowers the chances of thumping noise / party noise type environments. In NYC at least, the higher end areas have snootier people and police who are more active. As a super light sleeper and tech geek who needs to concentrate, I have to ally myself with the snooty.
jciochon 9y ago
I have a similar problem. Luckily the combination of ear plugs, a room fan, and a dose of melatonin usually works on restless nights. I think it will end up forcing me out of the city life eventually, though.
- mancerayder 9y ago
  I have soft foam earplugs (33 db attenuation), one 'fan-based' noise machine, one speaker noise machine playing a rainstorm (the thunder helps mask the stomping somewhat), and it helps a bit. Just a bit. It's very frustrating.
pasbesoin 9y ago
I can totally relate. If I could "do it again", I would respect myself first, and realize that until I got myself out of such circumstances, the rest of my life was not going to advance. I had years, decades of people telling me I "just need to get used to it". And I tried. And tried. And tried. And tore myself up more and more, inside. And missed out on many things. Work. Social life. Everything. Find comfortable, dare I say "nurturing" circumstances for yourself. That's the only way, I now believe, that the rest improves. Look at other people's reactions. If they see you stressed, uncomfortable, etc. If they think you aren't taking care of yourself. You may get a moment's expressed "sympathy", but then they will avoid you. Wishing you better circumstances -- or rather, the presence and coherence of mind and emotion to get yourself to them.
jventura 9y ago
It happens to me as well. I fixed it with earplugs (silicone type such as these: https://www.ebay.com/p/10-Pairs-Blue-Soft-Silicone-Earplugs-Swim-Flexible-Ear-Plugs-Swimming-Sleeping-N/2073951326 https://www.ebay.com/p/10-Pairs-Blue-Soft-Silicone-Earplugs-...)
jm__87 9y ago
So I used to have the same problem until recently. The way to get over it is to pay attention to how you feel every time you hear these noises and to train yourself in to feeling that the noise isn't really a big deal (you could even take this further and start to have positive associations with the noise - it's the sounds of your home, where you are most comfortable). I used to wake up to every little thing, now I live next door to a fire station with sirens blaring every hour, and a major construction project going on next door and it doesn't bother me at all.

dominotw 9y ago

I moved to a highrise cos I had the same problem. Plus something about having a doorman made it easier to fall asleep. I can totally relate to ppl not taking it seriously.

pasbesoin 9y ago
I was afraid it would be worse. In part, no matter what something "should" be, I seem to end up with the worst version of it. I moved to my own house -- all to myself. To end up with the loudest neighbors yet. Car stereo subwoofers "thudding" through my sealed up house, along with indifferent law enforcement. I didn't want a huge drive, nor to be socially isolated (hah!). I bought into what was supposed to be a modest but nice community. I didn't have the money for a snobby one where law enforcement has a big stick up their butt. In retrospect, on that point, be very careful about the community. If I hadn't become so afraid of apartment/condo neighbor noise (after repeated experiences), I could have afforded a more upscale one. Or buy out in the sticks with enough land to physically keep neighbors at bay. But then, of course, you have the challenge of Internet connectivity -- among other things.
- mancerayder 9y ago
  I'm going to have to be honest here and say that moving to an upscale neighborhood lowers the chances of thumping noise / party noise type environments. In NYC at least, the higher end areas have snootier people and police who are more active. As a super light sleeper and tech geek who needs to concentrate, I have to ally myself with the snooty.

jciochon 9y ago

I have a similar problem. Luckily the combination of ear plugs, a room fan, and a dose of melatonin usually works on restless nights. I think it will end up forcing me out of the city life eventually, though.

mancerayder 9y ago
I have soft foam earplugs (33 db attenuation), one 'fan-based' noise machine, one speaker noise machine playing a rainstorm (the thunder helps mask the stomping somewhat), and it helps a bit. Just a bit. It's very frustrating.

pasbesoin 9y ago

I can totally relate. If I could "do it again", I would respect myself first, and realize that until I got myself out of such circumstances, the rest of my life was not going to advance. I had years, decades of people telling me I "just need to get used to it". And I tried. And tried. And tried. And tore myself up more and more, inside. And missed out on many things. Work. Social life. Everything. Find comfortable, dare I say "nurturing" circumstances for yourself. That's the only way, I now believe, that the rest improves. Look at other people's reactions. If they see you stressed, uncomfortable, etc. If they think you aren't taking care of yourself. You may get a moment's expressed "sympathy", but then they will avoid you. Wishing you better circumstances -- or rather, the presence and coherence of mind and emotion to get yourself to them.

jventura 9y ago

It happens to me as well. I fixed it with earplugs (silicone type such as these: https://www.ebay.com/p/10-Pairs-Blue-Soft-Silicone-Earplugs-Swim-Flexible-Ear-Plugs-Swimming-Sleeping-N/2073951326 https://www.ebay.com/p/10-Pairs-Blue-Soft-Silicone-Earplugs-...)

jm__87 9y ago

So I used to have the same problem until recently. The way to get over it is to pay attention to how you feel every time you hear these noises and to train yourself in to feeling that the noise isn't really a big deal (you could even take this further and start to have positive associations with the noise - it's the sounds of your home, where you are most comfortable). I used to wake up to every little thing, now I live next door to a fire station with sirens blaring every hour, and a major construction project going on next door and it doesn't bother me at all.