Two sounds
As a neurodiverse woman, sound plays a significant role in my day-to-day experiences. Soothing, comforting, and even monotone sounds can help me feel relaxed or productive; they can help me focus or scatter my thoughts like autumn leaves in a breeze. Below are two sounds that can really help—or hinder—my mood and concentration.
One of my favorite sounds in the world is the sound of my cat, Ollie, purring. Her purr has a deep resonance, and when she's sitting near me (or on me!) the vibrations of her purring are soothing. The sound of her purring can calm my anxiety and distract me from worrying too much. Fun facts about purring—"the frequency of a cat’s purr, typically between 25 and 150 Hertz, has a relaxing effect on the human nervous system," says Rutherford Veterinary Hospital.
One sound, however, can shatter a good mood for me faster than any other: weed whackers. These fantastic landscaping tools make a sound that makes me want to permanently sew my ears shut. They can feel like sharp sticks being repeatedly jabbed into my ears, and if it goes on too long, it causes headaches and anxiety. Google's AI overview tells me that gas-powered weed whackers operate at 90-105 decibels (dB) and a rock concert (one of my favorite hobbies) can be 100-115 db. How can two sounds at similar decibels have such different impacts on my mind and body?
