Nature sounds usually don't feel overwhelming

[AuroraBorealis]

I noticed that sounds of nature - birds chirping, a river rushing, wind howling - usually don't feel overstimulating.

Exception: A pack of huskies all howling and barking at the same time

Seriously, though. It seems like the main overstimulating sounds are human-made (including human speech), even though sounds in nature can be quite loud, too. I'm noticing this as I'm walking through a park right now and, since it's spring time, the birds are quite noisy.

But, opposed to human sounds, I often even feel the need to remove my headphones to listen to the birds and other sounds of nature.

Do you notice this as well? What do you make of it?

 

[Jumpinbare]

Yes i noticed. Just another indication to me that we went the wrong way when we chose "sillyvisation".

 

[FayetheAspie]

I noticed that sounds of nature - birds chirping, a river rushing, wind howling - usually don't feel overstimulating.

Exception: A pack of huskies all howling and barking at the same time

Seriously, though. It seems like the main overstimulating sounds are human-made (including human speech), even though sounds in nature can be quite loud, too. I'm noticing this as I'm walking through a park right now and, since it's spring time, the birds are quite noisy.

But, opposed to human sounds, I often even feel the need to remove my headphones to listen to the birds and other sounds of nature.

Do you notice this as well? What do you make of it?

Maybe because they are what's natural for us to listen to, the things God's created for us to enjoy.

 

[Xinyta]

The sounds of nature are the only thing that seem to be calming for me. At least, it use to be the only extetnal thing that calmed me, besides barriering myself in my own head. Living in my ideas and character creation.

I've never had the headphones for blocking out human sounds. But it sure would of helped my mental health back then. Honestly. I think they would help even now. At least in public places that are crowded.

But back on the tangent of nature. I like being surrounded by it. It IS the only thing that calms the high speed spinning gears in my mind. Especially in anxiety ridden moments. My visit to a arboretum near where I use to live, when I lived on my own. Was a place that was worth walking to. That I wanted to walk to. A place of calm and happiness, in a otherwise chaotic world. I honestly wish I visited it more than I ultimately did. Because it was the only happiness, in my otherwise unhappy life.

 

[AuroraBorealis]

When out in nature, it genuinely feels as though two parts within me are struggling against each other. One part craves stimulation (such as music or an audio book) and loathes being understimulated and bored, while the other one craves those nature sounds and wishes for less input.

 

[WhitewaterWoman]

Agreed. The sounds of nature feel like home, welcome and comforting.

 

[TBRS1]

You will find the same to be true with nature colors, and natural landscapes.

Even though hey are extremely complex, they are calming, rather than overwhelming.

I'm pretty sure that this is due to the way we evolved, as opposed to the way we live.

Well, not me. I live in a forest.

 

[Judge]

I'd think that most nature sounds amount to being classic ambient sounds. Helpful to most people in terms of relaxation and even sleep. I use them as MP3 loops in my Homemedics clock radio to help me get to sleep.

Amazon.com : homedics clock radio sound machine

Though such a list of them wouldn't include howling coyotes from the most local hilltop.

 

[WhitewaterWoman]

Well, not me. I live in a forest.

Me too.

 

[Mary Terry]

All of nature sounds are soothing to me. Well, except for hurricane force winds snapping off trees in the woods. I like the sound of gentle rain falling and the way the earth smells when it rains after a hot, dry spell. But I'm probably weird because I actually like the smell of the barnyard and how puppies smell.

A couple of weeks ago, I walked outside at night and a screech owl or some kind of owl let out an ear-splitting shriek from the top of the magnolia tree in the front yard. I don't know who was more alarmed - me or it. Those things are LOUD when you're close to them.

 

[TBRS1]

All of nature sounds are soothing to me. Well, except for hurricane force winds snapping off trees in the woods. I like the sound of gentle rain falling and the way the earth smells when it rains after a hot, dry spell. But I'm probably weird because I actually like the smell of the barnyard and how puppies smell.

A couple of weeks ago, I walked outside at night and a screech owl or some kind of owl let out an ear-splitting shriek from the top of the magnolia tree in the front yard. I don't know who was more alarmed - me or it. Those things are LOUD when you're close to them.

I suspect that natural sounds/colors/landscapes are soothing because they convey meaningful information. A sheltered area means safety. A bright color means "something special." The sound of the wind tells you what the weather will be for the next hour or so. A loud noise (like an owl or sudden thunder clap) is meaningful - "possible danger!"

In cities, the sheltered areas are like traps to lure you and your money. Bright colors all scream "Look at ME!," but tell you nothing useful. The sounds are loudly incoherent, cacophonic, where a thousand meaningless voices all scream for attention at the same time, uselessly.

I live in a forest because it is the only place where I do not constantly feel like I am losing my mind. I recommend it to all my friends

 

[SusanLR]

Another example of how our brains evolved differently to most humans.
Being in nature and with animals is where a lot of us on the spectrum find peace and comfort.

I had a lot of sound sensitivity issues when I was in my teens. I adapted somehow and it got better. Now I have a neurological condition that causes hyperacusis. Much like the sensation of derealization, it can be unbearable.

Nature sounds and ambient music are my relaxations.
Nature surroundings are relaxing and feel at home.
Relaxation is the only thing I've found that helps with auditory overstimulation.
The sound of people who talk loudly or when surrounded with people talking doesn't relax. Sensory overload.

 

[Jumpinbare]

Now I have a neurological condition that causes hyperacusis.

There are two small muscles attached to our eardrums. Their purpose is to tighten up the eardrum when exposed to loud noise to make the ears less sensitive. Mine stopped working in my late 20s. So my ears are always set to "full volume". On top of that, for the last couple of years, one or both of the muscles on my left eardrum fasciculate frrequently. Muscle fasciculation is involuntary twitching or quivering of the muscle.

If you ever had someone flick their finger right at your ear canal, imagine that feeling over and over in rapid succession. Besides feeling really icky, it sounds like a low pitched roar in that ear.

 

[Mary Terry]

I live in a forest because it is the only place where I do not constantly feel like I am losing my mind. I recommend it to all my friends

It's the peace and quiet, the natural rhythms of life, the beauty of nature, the changing of the seasons, the little discoveries like a bright orange salamander in a creek, the sound of little waterfalls in creeks after rain, the natural smells - all of those things keep me sane.