I remember how, as a kid, my room was next to the electricity meter which had this constant low hum and I more often than not just could not fall asleep, with my parents wondering how that could even be with “how silent it is”. And of course, if my parents or older siblings were watching TV in the evening in another room, that were some guaranteed sleepless hours as well.
Nowadays, I always sleep with earplugs and often even a sleeping mask, because even a few stray photons can completely ruin my sleep. I am thankful, that I’m not sensitive to the feeling of earplugs in my ears and find the pressure over my eyes soothing instead of stressful. But if I get any kind of inflammation of the ear canal or something similar, it’s right back to minor noises keeping me awake, urgh.
Funnily enough, I was sleeping with music since I was a kid, so if noises (or my tinnitus) is bothering me, I just have to drown it out with music. In fact, my tinnitus has the silver lining that it drowns small sounds, and I’ve mostly learned to ignore the tinnitus itself.
Kind of out of left field, so please ignore this at any point if it isn’t useful to you.
I have an acquaintance that has a similar issue. Not exactly the same, since light doesn’t bother him. But, as he’s tried ways to deal with sound sensitivity, over-ear active noise cancelling headphones have worked well when there’s some reason earplugs can’t be used.
Which, not everyone can stand the pressure on their outer ear, or be able to sleep with them on. So, again I hope the unsolicited bit of information is helpful rather than intrusive, and feel free to tell me to bugger off if you like.
Oh, it’s fine, I can empathise with worrying about giving advice, but it is much appreciated <3
I am usually walking around with noise-cancelling, over-ear earphones most of my waking time, ever since I realised I am autistic and not just a mess of a human being (only dived deep into the topic very recently, have gone undiagnosed up until now and am now on a waiting list for an official diagnosis in my 30s, but my current psychiatrist already agrees with my assessment, they are just not allowed to diagnose me.) Those earphones have been a lifesaver!
Unfortunately, sleeping with them doesn’t really work for me, as I am sleeping on my side, and even with small in-ear headphones, I found it just not working out the way I toss and turn from one side to the other. But I am sure your advice could be helpful to others, so don’t hold back :)
Reread your comment and this may not be for you due to the tossing and turning, but in case it helps someone else: Have you tried changing pillows?
Specifically, I’m thinking of buckwheat hull pillows. I sometimes make a depression to fit the headphones, even the big over-the-ear style. It’s the only way I can sleep in them.
I remember how, as a kid, my room was next to the electricity meter which had this constant low hum and I more often than not just could not fall asleep, with my parents wondering how that could even be with “how silent it is”. And of course, if my parents or older siblings were watching TV in the evening in another room, that were some guaranteed sleepless hours as well.
Nowadays, I always sleep with earplugs and often even a sleeping mask, because even a few stray photons can completely ruin my sleep. I am thankful, that I’m not sensitive to the feeling of earplugs in my ears and find the pressure over my eyes soothing instead of stressful. But if I get any kind of inflammation of the ear canal or something similar, it’s right back to minor noises keeping me awake, urgh.
Funnily enough, I was sleeping with music since I was a kid, so if noises (or my tinnitus) is bothering me, I just have to drown it out with music. In fact, my tinnitus has the silver lining that it drowns small sounds, and I’ve mostly learned to ignore the tinnitus itself.
Kind of out of left field, so please ignore this at any point if it isn’t useful to you.
I have an acquaintance that has a similar issue. Not exactly the same, since light doesn’t bother him. But, as he’s tried ways to deal with sound sensitivity, over-ear active noise cancelling headphones have worked well when there’s some reason earplugs can’t be used.
Which, not everyone can stand the pressure on their outer ear, or be able to sleep with them on. So, again I hope the unsolicited bit of information is helpful rather than intrusive, and feel free to tell me to bugger off if you like.
Oh, it’s fine, I can empathise with worrying about giving advice, but it is much appreciated <3
I am usually walking around with noise-cancelling, over-ear earphones most of my waking time, ever since I realised I am autistic and not just a mess of a human being (only dived deep into the topic very recently, have gone undiagnosed up until now and am now on a waiting list for an official diagnosis in my 30s, but my current psychiatrist already agrees with my assessment, they are just not allowed to diagnose me.) Those earphones have been a lifesaver!
Unfortunately, sleeping with them doesn’t really work for me, as I am sleeping on my side, and even with small in-ear headphones, I found it just not working out the way I toss and turn from one side to the other. But I am sure your advice could be helpful to others, so don’t hold back :)
Reread your comment and this may not be for you due to the tossing and turning, but in case it helps someone else: Have you tried changing pillows?
Specifically, I’m thinking of buckwheat hull pillows. I sometimes make a depression to fit the headphones, even the big over-the-ear style. It’s the only way I can sleep in them.