television/random noise

I get sound sensitive at times of high stress as well!

...and I can't stand constant random sounds, or new age type music, or fusion jazz that doesn't have a repetitive or metered beat...so I feel your pain regarding the 'relaxing' sounds at your therapist office!

Sorry, but I couldn't help but think of those adds for 'Sonic Ear'...the one with the couple watching telelvision, and the wife says:

"Sonic Ear saved my marriage!"...cause the husband is listening at a million decibels, while she hears is at normal levels.;p

Maybe you could do the opposite, and wear some earplugs or light headphones to take the edge off the sound?

Understanding hugs,

S.C.

S.C. - that's a good idea! I have sound canceling headphones that I use for work sometimes, but I figured if I took up a habit of wearing them at home, that would be rather alienating. lol
Maybe I can find some earplugs and slip them in discretely, though. My hair is big and curly, and for now, it's still thick enough that it'd probably cover them.
I don't mind some sound, but there's a particular threshold where it just throws me into panic.

Ed - I totally understand. It comforts him, too. That's why I gave him surround sound as a gift. I've always tried to encourage anything that makes him happy or calm. He tends to play the tv at near maximum volume (you can literally tell outside what he's watching) and he'll leave radios on, etc. Normally, I could care less, but right now it is driving me batty. I guess we're just at a place where we're trying to learn how to live in a two-panic-disorder household. haha!

Thanks for your suggestion, too. I may save up some topics and just tell him I need to talk to him when I really just must escape the noise sometimes. :)