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 p

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.