To the people who have sound sensitivity

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Do you feel mentally tired after being exposed to loud sounds for more than about ten minutes? For me, it just drains my mental energy, although I don't know why. Any thoughts are welcome.

I feel overstimulated rather than tired. Distressed and anxious, and in extreme cases I'm crying, hugging myself, covering my ears (futilely), and can't breathe. Once the noise stops, and I calm down - yes, I'm exhausted after that.

I usually get anxious, overwhelmed, and annoyed if the sound is obnoxious like a repetitive beeping noise.

Sorry, OP here, I forgot to mention this is after the anxiety and panic, my brain sort of retreats within itself and I can't do anything that requires much mental effort after the main anxiety has passed.

I feel mentally and physically tired.

I feel panicked. I can't relax. If the sound is very loud and long, I may feel like I need to go hide somewhere and sleep.

Overstimulated is the perfect description..nowadays what follows next is my brain sort of just shuts down and ignores everything that is going on. I remember when I was 5 and had my first birthday party at chuck-e-cheese, it was an absolute nightmare. I didn't understand why I was feeling the way I was, kinda felt like I was being pummeled into quicksand.

One thing I get from NT's is because of my sensitive hearing they assume I have excellent hearing that can detect voices miles away or through walls, that's not how it works!

Heh, that would be handy! The reality is I have to use subtitles to watch TV, because it's hard to understand what people are saying. (Have trouble with the phone for that reason too.)

I don't get tired, just very irritated, tearful and overwhelmed

I tend to have a hard time hearing quiet people in public, especially my mom. She doesn't talk very loud.

I dont feel tired, i completely shut down, this is also true with light sensitivity. Talking becomes harder, i can't really hear anyone or understand what anyone is talking about, everything looks kinda dream like and dazey. people say im like a zombie when i shut down.

Oh yes- I do this. If it is really bad enough and pushing me over the edge- I cry and scream as loud as I can- which frustrates me more. If I've gotten to this point already though... well, needless to say it won't be so great of a day, but I will probably shut down after the meltdown... I get very very very upset by sounds they are my kryptonite. Other triggers such as texture and the like don't bother me as much as sound, but god... sounds in particular... ugh.
I've often wished I would go deaf because I hate sound so much. But then again I like music so ... If I could just have a dial that only I can control to control what I hear and don't hear that would be great!

I can NEVER really understand people when they talk- I just recently discovered that the way I understand people when they speak is because I subconsciously build up databases of sound information on individual people and then after hearing them in various settings over a long period of time I get to the point where I can fill in enough gaps and understand what they are saying at about 95% clarity/understanding. This is a MAJOR problem in other languages though because people just assume that I am being dumb and can't speak the language.... when really I can't process what they are saying and it would probably be the same no matter what language they spoke ! !!
I also need the TV with subtitles- no matter what language- even my native language!

Today in Lowe's, someone started a loud, shrill drill in the next aisle. It literally almost set my teeth on edge. I told my husband I would wait at the end of the aisle. When he got done looking for his item, he came and found me...he wasn't bothered so much but he knew instantly when I high-tailed it out of there what i was running from. I actually went to the laundry end of the aisle and the smell of the fabric softeners was rather comforting--smelled like my grandmother's house as she uses the brand that was showcased (as long as i didn't stick my nose in the boxes--then they were too strong and overwhelming). Strange i guess.

But sound sensitivity can ruin an otherwise good trip. After the drill incident, every sound and sensation was borderline overwhelming. I am almost always exhausted at the end of a shopping trip and i think it is the combination of sound sensitivity and effort needed for visual processing. Shopping makes me SOOOOOOO tired. But it seems to be a necessary evil.

I am the exact same way!

Multiple sounds do irritate, confuse, disorient and distract me, but not to the level I've seen some people on here have. As it is, I drive with no music playing because it distracts me too much and I make mistakes.