I noticed I was annoyed by sound more than by people

Dear Delyara, That distinction helped. For a while I thought I was becoming emotionally antisocial, but tonight I realized I was mostly sound-tired. Doors, traffic, notifications, other people speaking from the next room, the TV still running, cutlery, cupboards, one more voice asking one more thing at the end of the day. It wasn’t that I hated anyone. My nervous system had simply lost its appetite for additional sound. That matters because it changes the kind of care I need. Not deep conversation. Not a full personal analysis of my mood. Just less noise. Fewer things entering me. A lower volume life for a few hours. Sometimes accuracy is relief all by itself. Tonight, it was.