CC0 Licensed Image Courtesy of Magnific
Constant background noise can cause severe disruption to your life to the point it becomes almost unbearable, and you can become unstable as a result. Living close to neighbors, such as in a block of apartments, or next door to an unruly family, can be among the most irritating and life-changing experiences, and not for the better. So what are the ways it can affect you? From heightened anger to damaged relationships, here are some of the worst results of noise.
Problems with Hearing
If noise is actually loud or constant, it can contribute to a genuine medical issue with your ears. Loud music and bass aren’t only annoying, they can cause damage if there is prolonged exposure above 85 dB, which is around the same level as an airliner. And yes, some highly inconsiderate neighbors do play music that loud! You might even end up needing tinnitus relief because the constant noise from music has caused a ringing or swishing sound in your ears.
Irritability and Explosive Anger
Living with loudness, such as neighbors who play loud music, can be among the most disturbing ways to go about your day. Every time you just get settled to watch a new streaming show, relax on the couch, or even go to bed, the thumping of bass begins. When you have to put up with this all the time, it can cause relatively calm people to build resentment and anger that explodes when it reaches a certain point, and this has many other effects that others feel as well.
Constant Background Noise Causes Anxiety
One of the most difficult things to live with when there is constant noise, such as loud neighbor music, screaming children, and heavy traffic, is anxiety. It’s easy for people to tell you to learn to handle stress inducers, but you usually don’t have much control over the worst ones. Imagine you begin your bedtime routine because you have to be up early for work, but you can never sleep because you are expecting loud music to begin any second. It’s almost mental abuse.
Damage to Relationships
Putting up with loud neighbors who might play music, loiter and gather, or allow their dogs to bark all day can cause even the calmest people to become irritated and angry. When this happens, it is usually those around them who suffer more, as you can begin to take it out on your friends and family. However, romantic relationships can also suffer as you can feel embarrassed to bring a partner over to your home when you know you will just be disturbed.
Poor Focus and Concentration
An accumulation of all of the above can have long-lasting effects that make even everyday tasks harder to do. On top of that, imagine you work from home and have to put up with all the inconsiderate BS from your neighbors. One of the worst things that happens is that you end up with brain fog, and when this happens, you can find it genuinely hard to focus on the simplest tasks. Over time, this can contribute to poor sleep, lost work hours, and potential job loss.
Summary
Problems with hearing that might require specialist treatment can stem from constant background noise if it is too loud. However, exposure to random noise can also cause heightened anxiety, and you are likely to experience brain fog as a result of the disturbance.
