4 ms·

This is why I left New York City. For some reason, being inside / covid lockdowns did something to my head and now I'm super sensitive to noise. Prior, I live

This is why I left New York City. For some reason, being inside / covid lockdowns did something to my head and now I'm super sensitive to noise. Prior, I lived in Boston for six years generally in very loud (third to fifth floor) apartments with reasonable amounts of street / city noise. Oddly, for a time it actually calmed my ADHD and distracted me enough that I felt I could focus. Initially I was lucky and had a great deal on a 26th floor apt in Hell's Kitchen with decent roommates - something clicked a few years later and I could no longer stand roommate noise (kitchen / dishes / gaming past midnight) and / or late night garbage collection / horns at all hours. I had enough, moved to CO. Have my own space - it's quiet and I get measurably better sleep. Does this make me feel old at 27 - yes. Do I care - no.

vanilla_nut 5y ago
Where in Colorado? I previously lived in NYC, moved to Denver. Noise was much much better here during 2020, but vehicle noise has gotten awful this year. Well, that and all of the people who drive around without catalytic converters because they've been stolen...
axolotlgod 5y ago
Man, I'm right there with you. I'm 26, and feel like none of my friends care about these things. I am quite sensitive when it comes to input like light and sound, and I would love to live in a quieter place than the city I do now. Everyone wants to be around stimulation and novelty when they are young, and I used to understand, the pandemic has sort of shifted my priorities I feel. Part of getting older, I guess.
geenew 5y ago
I think the same thing has happened to me. I’ve lived in the same apartment for a few years. Pre Covid I did notice noise, but it never rose to the level of a problem. Now, I cannot stand the noise from the refrigerator, the baseboards heaters, or some loud neighbours, and am moving in large part to get a quieter place. Something about being stuck in a place for however long lockdown lasted has changed what were minor annoyances into major stress inducers. My pet theory is that we have a certain level of tolerance that is worn down and replenished in normal, free-movement circumstances. Forced subjection to annoyances simply wears down any tolerance that exists, and once that is gone it is hard to get it back. That, or simply the mental categorization of the noises changed from something we voluntarily endure to a kind of punishment.

vanilla_nut 5y ago

Where in Colorado? I previously lived in NYC, moved to Denver. Noise was much much better here during 2020, but vehicle noise has gotten awful this year. Well, that and all of the people who drive around without catalytic converters because they've been stolen...

axolotlgod 5y ago

Man, I'm right there with you. I'm 26, and feel like none of my friends care about these things. I am quite sensitive when it comes to input like light and sound, and I would love to live in a quieter place than the city I do now. Everyone wants to be around stimulation and novelty when they are young, and I used to understand, the pandemic has sort of shifted my priorities I feel. Part of getting older, I guess.

geenew 5y ago

I think the same thing has happened to me. I’ve lived in the same apartment for a few years. Pre Covid I did notice noise, but it never rose to the level of a problem. Now, I cannot stand the noise from the refrigerator, the baseboards heaters, or some loud neighbours, and am moving in large part to get a quieter place. Something about being stuck in a place for however long lockdown lasted has changed what were minor annoyances into major stress inducers. My pet theory is that we have a certain level of tolerance that is worn down and replenished in normal, free-movement circumstances. Forced subjection to annoyances simply wears down any tolerance that exists, and once that is gone it is hard to get it back. That, or simply the mental categorization of the noises changed from something we voluntarily endure to a kind of punishment.