Hi Fellow Sensitive People, I've just moved into an apartment to escape another noisy apartment in which I lived for only three months. I was luckily able to re-assign that lease. My current Landlord was fair enough to allow me my first month before signing a one year lease. Before this month ends, I have to decide if I'm going to stay. The main problem in my last apartment was that it was in the basement of an older house. Therefore, every noise from the apartment above was as if it was in my apartment. It sounded like the only thing between me and the floor above was a piece of thin plywood. So, when the small but heavy footed woman above me walked, it created intolerable thumps and vibrations like a diving board. Not every day but on certain occasions, she had some unsavory characters over. These visits often resulted in foul language, shouting, threatening words and "Get Out" between them etc. I had to fork out over $150 a month more in rent to move into my current apartment. I'm in a triplex and the current landlord assured me that there is concrete and plaster between the floors and walls. Now, I don't have the thin floorboard above me. So, I can't hear the person walking. However, I think I hear cupboards closing and the water pipes clunk after the water is shut off. This is especially irritating in the morning when people are getting up and at night before they go to bed. Apparently, the vibrations and thumps from cupboards and furniture being dragged across the floor aren't muffled by the heavier materials. My floor is carpeted but not all of the other apartments are. I live near the stirs and those who like to run up them or walk heavily are quite audible as well. I could have taken a third floor apartment elsewhere but the area or condition of the building weren't as good. Besides, as others in this forum have mentioned, irritating sounds come from below as well. I hesitate to move again because this place is better than the last one. In addition, if a totally sound proof apartment does exist, it would be out of my price range. I think what we're all finding out here is that there is no "Bed of Roses." If you find it, enjoy it while it lasts because circumstances always change beyond our control. And, I think "Control" is the key word here. If we were all to form a club, it would be called the "Living Space Control Club." We are all nice people--I'm sure we've all heard that before. We're nice because we control our own behaviour to try not to offend or upset others. We're not wimps--if pushed too far, we'll unleash a world of hurt on the offender--but we'd rather avoid that, if possible. That being said, we often don't understand others who don't control their behaviour according to our standards. We tend to become resentful and interpret their "noise making" as an attack on our space. If we showed that lack of consideration to others, that would be our intention, right? So, we instinctively attribute such malice to others behaviour. Usually, they don't have a problem with us and no offence is intended. They just have different priorities to us. Here's the rub. Humans have very different priorities but we're all territorial to one degree or another. In my last apartment, I very politely confronted the noisy woman above me. I asked her if she could hear sounds from my apartment. She replied, "I can hear everything but I'm not a complainer." To that I replied, "Well, I have to do computer work down there." She was "getting drunk" because she just lost her job. So, she asked if we could talk about it the next day. I said that I just wanted to know if she could hear things from my apartment. Since she'd answered that, and was now aware of my situation, I saw no point in discussing it any further. Unfortunately, the situation did not improve. So, my point is that whether your neighbor reacts positively, negatively or indifferent, if they don't share your priorities, they'll think, "Who does he/she think they are?" "I pay rent here as well and I'm going to live according to my priorities." Based on the replies in this forum, there are more of us than I thought. In general society, I think we're in the minority. I have O.C.D, although I've kept it managable for years now. I suspect that I have A.D.D. as well. Someone else in this forum mentioned that he/she had A.D.D. These conditions along with many others are anxiety based. They would not have names or acronyms if everyone had them. Through my experience, I don't believe that there is any 100% cure for anxiety based conditions. However, through therapy, they can become manageable. I've had therapy for my O.C.D. and it helped. I will do a web search looking for suggestions to help me deal with my current sensitivity to noise. Perhaps, I'll follow up on the "nerve damage to ears" suggestion that another person made in this forum. I had many earaches as a kid. I've always found that the breathing exercises that I learned through behavioural modification helped. Maybe I'll try that as well. Any other suggestions would be appreciated as well. Take Care All!

"Sinus meds can cause anxiety" I've always had allergies and allergy meds either make me drowsy or totally wired up and edgy, this is OTC and prescription meds. I now use a herbal tablet for my sinus allergies, and it works quite well but I dont feel any side effects from it so pay attention to the meds you are taking, the non drowsy ones usually have stimulants in them that can really set you on edge. One time I took allergy pills with pseudoephedrine in them and woke up with heart palpitations feeling like I was going to have a heart attack and it was really scary and I'll only use the herbal ones now.

Thanks everyone, I'm so discouraged just thinking about going on antidepressants. I had 2 depressed parents and a depressed brother, so I think its in my genes. I've been depressed my whole life. But I've really tried not to be! I've had very strange, bizarre physical sensations my whole life too. In retrospect, I've had panic since around age 7. On top of Fibromyalgia, and an extremely horrendous perimenopause, I have very little reserve left to tolerate obnoxious SSRI side-effects. The thought of going through more of this craziness makes me even more depressed! Sometimes I think I'm an alien! My husband is a doctor and he seems to agree with the others that if the main tests are okay, then there's no sense in thinking its (for example) thyroid, adrenals, etc. I keep thinking I should go to an endocrinologist, but my husband (and my internal medicine doctor) seem to think that an endocrine doc won't know anymore than they do. I'm thinking they probably do. Even if this isn't caused from panic/anxiety/depression, I should probably give the antidepressants a try......considering I've been depressed for 58 years. Its gotten worse since menopause. I've talked to alot of women who actually developed panic/agoraphobia, etc., after menopause. I feel like I've failed somehow in needing an antidepressant. I'm a "natural" kind of person, and am disappointed in myself for needing something. I know that's a bad attitude. The brain can misfunction, just like any other organ. I'm usually extremely sensitive to meds. A tiny amount of xanax puts me to sleep all night.......but it didn't seem to get on top of this daytime anxiety. The Toprol is working on the lowering the heartrate, which is good, since I tend to panic when my heart takes off. But I was on it for 5 years in the past and it had some unpleasant side-effects. My husband is encouraging me to see an OB/GYN endocrinologist. The one I went to during perimenopause for horrendous migraines and other various horribleness was absolutetly useless. She didn't even seem to realize you could get headaches from hormone fluctuations..??????????? Maybe I can find another one. You're right about the "panic disorder" label. Docs do that all the time with my fibromyalgia label and it really ticks me off. I'm fortunate that if there's a test I want run, my DH can run it.........but I'm still sort of lost, since unfortunately he doesn't think "out of the box". I'm being very careful with the xanax and try to only take .25mg in the morning. It takes the edge off the panic a little bit, and the Toprol is slowing my heartrate, but I'm still getting the hot flashes, weakness and shakiness. I don't want to go anywhere now, since I fear that feeling when I'm out. I'm so tired of having to deal with this body! I just want to get on with life! Thanks to everyone for their replies.

Busy, busy days so I couldn't get here for an update - better late than never, right? What a difference 24 hours can make. For starters, Ross seems to have gotten a much better night's sleep (no racing thoughts) and that alone will start a day with a better perspective. He texted me first thing Friday to say that he's put a lot of things together in his mind and has a better understanding of why he 'crashed' and feels more in control, at least in the context of the program he's in. Two days ago he wanted to bail but last night he felt empowered to stay, glean what he can, and let go of feeling inadequate for the program - most of the students are feeling the same way. We've spoken a few times since but between his 18 hour days and the time difference, we don't have a chance to get into long conversations. He sounds so much better, though and I can breathe a bit again. He's coming home the day after the program ends, will have a week here with us and his cousins/my nieces and their kids. It's an interesting dynamic because there's a 1/2 step generation difference - my nieces are like my little sisters and his older sisters at the same time. I've been speaking with my middle niece who has dealt with anxiety issues and she will be great council for Ross. He has really isolated himself at college by choosing the location he did and much as he loves the place, the mountains, the snowboarding, it seems he is feeling the distance as he comes to the end of his college years. And I really think the state of the world, economy and job market are weighing heavily on him. It's damn scary to think about having to launch yourself at this time - I feel so sorry for all of our kids! But coming home will let him see what a large and varied support system he has - just wish his brother could be here also. We'll be doing some research to find a good medical fit for him at school. He has a horrendous fall schedule between classes, labs and research so I know going in he's going resist carving out time for regular sessions if that's needed. With his background, he's been 'therapied' up one side and down the other but maybe he's ready to approach it from the standpoint of an adult in control of the choices as opposed to a child being directed by mom and dad. I appreciate every perspective given here and don't want anyone to think their words were misplaced. In my mind, any information is good information and it's always in my power to sift through and use what fits. Or not. I think the internet can be a great place for advice but it's only a first step, nothing more - no expectations for instant cures. Chickadee I don't know the program you're referring to but there are no guarantees with this one so doesn't seem to be the same. Again, way too long! Thank you all for your comments and support. When I know more, you'll know more.