[Anonymous]

I know this is going to sound really silly....

I've always had a fear of loud noises, such as balloons popping and fireworks. Recently, i've been able to get over fireworks....

But now I have the issue of halls.. the fire alarm has gone off between 3 and 4.30am every night for the last week and I've just stopped sleeping as i'm too scared to. Being woken up by sleep makes the alarm seem worse

However, I now can't trust the alarm not to go off, and so i'm still being kept up till 5am, even though i'm completly worn out.

Anyone got any tips on how I can sleep easier?

[Axel BD]

This seems like a psychological problem, I doubt any conventional methods will help you. I would probably see a doctor and they can give you some zopiclone or something.

[electriic_ink]

^ Yeah, I'd see a doctor if I were you.

[moya]

(Original post by Axel BD)
This seems like a psychological problem, I doubt any conventional methods will help you. I would probably see a doctor and they can give you some zopiclone or something.

zopiclone doesn't help you stay asleep

it's also actually very dangerous if you are forced to wake up during a sleep which was initiated by zopiclone...you can have complete memory loss and it's like being extremely drunk

@OP, why is the fire alarm going off every day?

I can actually understand why you don't want to sleep

[The Polymath]

(Original post by moya)
zopiclone doesn't help you stay asleep

it's also actually very dangerous if you are forced to wake up during a sleep which was initiated by zopiclone...you can have complete memory loss and it's like being extremely drunk

@OP, why is the fire alarm going off every day?

I can actually understand why you don't want to sleep

Well the doctor wouldn't prescribe it then

I remember when my neighbour's car alarm would go off almost every night and ring for about fifteen minutes before turning off. Then it would turn on again ten minutes later...

[Apocalyptic Fish]

Ear plugs. They help, anyway.

[morris743]

(Original post by moya)

it's also actually very dangerous if you are forced to wake up during a sleep which was initiated by zopiclone...you can have complete memory loss and it's like being extremely drunk

Why wasn't I told this when prescribed? Why are there so many people in this world that go around as if they are Gods yet do and know nothing I'm sick of it.

[moya]

(Original post by morris743)
Why wasn't I told this when prescribed? Why are there so many people in this world that go around as if they are Gods yet do and know nothing I'm sick of it.

Doctor's don't know anything about drugs, pharmacists do, and the people who take it.

Also, I forgot to say to you, go back to your doctor and try temazepam instead.

@OP, try writing in a complaint to your halls or something, or try ear plugs (which would not be good if there is a real fire...but I would probably rather sleep and die than wake up and survive)

[morris743]

(Original post by moya)
Doctor's don't know anything about drugs, pharmacists do, and the people who take it.

Also, I forgot to say to you, go back to your doctor and try temazepam instead.

@OP, try writing in a complaint to your halls or something, or try ear plugs (which would not be good if there is a real fire...but I would probably rather sleep and die than wake up and survive)

Why temazepam? Thanks again moya, when I'm rich I need to make a donation to Dr moya as you have been more help than any "professional".

[BananaWhale]

[moya]

(Original post by BananaWhale)

doctor is not necessary...the problem is that the fire alarm goes off every night...the doctor can't help the fire alarm going off

I would not be able to sleep either if I had a fire alarm waking me up every time I sleep

[BananaWhale]

I thought the problem was that you can't sleep out of fear for the fire alarm going off?

If the fire alarm is going off every night (with no fire) then you need a new fire alarm.

[hannah_dru]

Have you got hyperacusis (sensitive hearing) by any chance? I'm very sensitive to loud noises too and they can prevent me from sleeping. I tried hypnotherapy last year to change how I react to noise and its worked very well in terms of sleep as I've learnt to get accustomed to it rather than try to block it out.

[SnoochToTheBooch]

****ing halls of residence fire alarms. I do not miss that. you'll have to start sleeping again some time though, and the fire alarms will have to stop sometime, it might as well be tonight.

[Anonymous]

(Original post by moya)
zopiclone doesn't help you stay asleep

it's also actually very dangerous if you are forced to wake up during a sleep which was initiated by zopiclone...you can have complete memory loss and it's like being extremely drunk

@OP, why is the fire alarm going off every day?

I can actually understand why you don't want to sleep

Its going off because someone was setting it off. I went down and asked.

(Original post by moya)
Doctor's don't know anything about drugs, pharmacists do, and the people who take it.

Also, I forgot to say to you, go back to your doctor and try temazepam instead.

@OP, try writing in a complaint to your halls or something, or try ear plugs (which would not be good if there is a real fire...but I would probably rather sleep and die than wake up and survive)

I went to them and they told me the problem (see above). they said they were sorting it, but we've been having problems on and off since easter. I don't trust them. Ear plugs are no use. i'd never hear my alarm (clock)

(Original post by hannah_dru)
Have you got hyperacusis (sensitive hearing) by any chance? I'm very sensitive to loud noises too and they can prevent me from sleeping. I tried hypnotherapy last year to change how I react to noise and its worked very well in terms of sleep as I've learnt to get accustomed to it rather than try to block it out.

not that I know of. I just cannot stand loud noises. I THINK (But not sure) it started related to headaches. I used to get them alot and loud noises made it worse. My main issue is loud "bangs," such as fireworks, balloons etc. I can't be in the same room as a balloon, but i'm okay with fireworks now, i guess because I know its coming by the light.

Now that i'm at home, things seems to have got a little better, but not perfectly better. I still find it hard to sleep etc.

[lebron_23]

Go to sleep with earplugs in or something similar? That might help you with the noises. But the best thing to do would probably be to expose yourself to the sounds as often as often as possible (as silly as it may sound) and soon you will undergo habituation (become accustomed to the sound. I can sort of empathise with you.. slightly.. because i had the same problem, although it was about 7 years ago...

[TheSmithsIndeed]

I too had huge difficulty getting sleep while in halls. I just couldn't tolerate noises and the walls were, unfortunately, very thin.

It might be a drag but maybe you could go to bed really early (like 7/8 at night) and then set your alarm to a time just before the fire alarm usually goes. That way, at least you'll get some sleep and you won't have to wake up to the sound of the fire alarm.

[hannah_dru]

(Original post by Anonymous)
not that I know of. I just cannot stand loud noises. I THINK (But not sure) it started related to headaches. I used to get them alot and loud noises made it worse. My main issue is loud "bangs," such as fireworks, balloons etc. I can't be in the same room as a balloon, but i'm okay with fireworks now, i guess because I know its coming by the light.

Now that i'm at home, things seems to have got a little better, but not perfectly better. I still find it hard to sleep etc.

If you're more sensitive to fireworks and balloons etc, wouldn't you be able to hear your alarm clock with earplugs in? They don't block out sound completely. Maybe use your phone and stick it on vibrate.

Glad things have gotten a bit better.

[Anonymous]

I know about habituition, its worked to some extent with fireworks. I never feel alarm clocks go off and my alarm has to be on really quiet otherwise it panics me in the morning. I have it set to the radio though that seems easier than a buzzer.

I've also noticed recently that i'm particularly jumpy at things. such as if a washing machine suddenly starts up or like if a phone goes off. its frightens me

[hannah_dru]

(Original post by Anonymous)
I know about habituition, its worked to some extent with fireworks. I never feel alarm clocks go off and my alarm has to be on really quiet otherwise it panics me in the morning. I have it set to the radio though that seems easier than a buzzer.

I've also noticed recently that i'm particularly jumpy at things. such as if a washing machine suddenly starts up or like if a phone goes off. its frightens me

Maybe you do have sensitive hearing. I'm the same if a phone goes off and I always jump at things like gunshots when I'm watching a film at the cinema.