Hey The Ruminant (great name btw),

A friend of mine teaches tapping techniques like that to at-risk youth as part of his job. I never gave it much thought, but I will now. I’ll take anything that works.

Anita,

I think it’s ultimately the thought that precedes the arousal, but my thoughts are so automatic that the arousal happens before I’m able to cope. That said, my brain chemistry has been altered by the extremely detrimental childhood (I don’t remember ANY love whatsoever in the house, or soothing), so I certainly am very prone to arousal and disproportionate fear, and have been my entire life. I definitely think that the arousal, the fear, the fear of panic becomes the “prompting event” (in DBT-speak) rather than the noise itself. I haven’t tried cultivating a positive inner parent, but I need a soothing figure, so that sounds like an idea.

Inky,

If only I could do the wall-to-wall carpeting. I really can’t because I live in an apartment building and can’t modify the apartment. I could do the drapes and the pillows though. I also just got a sleep mask (since I’ve been falling asleep late, the sun has been coming in through the blinds and hitting me in the face at 7:30am).

pink24,

I think you may need to read my posts again. It’s far less about the noise and much more about my fear/panic about it and my being hypervigilant with my thoughts. I mean, I’m sitting here right now, hearing them talk downstairs (it’s 4pm EST), and I’m getting mildly triggered. They aren’t being excessively loud. I however am going to call my therapist and ask him if he thinks it’s appropriate to ask them to try shutting drawers and doors a bit more quietly–when I’m deep in fear thoughts/arousal, it can be difficult for me to know what a reasonable action is.