Soothing sounds: Hi all, This is an... - Positive Wellbein...

Positive Wellbeing During Self-Isolation

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Soothing sounds

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Hi all,

This is an adaption of a post I do weekly in the Care Community of HU, which I thought I'd share with you.

I've been thinking about sounds. The sort of sounds that I find soothing, rather than irritating. It started when I was awake in the early hours of one morning. All was silent except for the sound of a not too far distant train rumbling slowly along the tracks. I love that, but I'm not sure why.

When I was quite young, I loved to be tucked up in bed and listen to heavy rain drumming against the windows. That lasted till I bought my first house, when I would lie awake worrying about whether rain might be leaking through the roof. But now that my roof is a communal responsibility, I like that sound again too.

There are others as well, including the usual favourites like the sound of trickling water or waves breaking on the beach.

If you are looking after someone with dementia, you can sometimes tap into this liking for certain sounds, even in someone with limited cognition. Deep inside we retain the memory and love of those sounds we find comforting, and if you can discover what they are, they can be a real aid in soothing someone who is feeling restless or angry.

I'd love to know what sounds you find comforting, if you'd care to share.

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28 Replies
bobbybobb profile image
bobbybobbAmbassador

I love to hear trains in the distance, howling winds, distant thunder, rain on the conservatory. Waves, all types of waves, it's so relaxing. 😊🌸👍

I also love to hear trains, the waves at night when I go to bed, the dawn chorus, the cows and sheep in the field and just the wind moving the leaves on a tress, it's all so relaxing. I'm fortunate that I live by the sea so often hear the waves.

in reply to

All lovely Alicia! 😊🙏👍

in reply to

I'm hoping to hear the waves tonight.🙏

sunnyweek profile image
sunnyweek

I love to hear the trains too, and wind and rain, and waves breaking on the beach. And the seagulls, for a while!

I also like the sound of a cricket bat hitting the ball, a short sound but nice.

Quietish sounds I like are a real fire crackling and the sound of tea being poured from a teapot.

in reply to sunnyweek

Oh yes, a crackling fire... indoors or out!👍

Agoodenough profile image
Agoodenough in reply to sunnyweek

I live on the borders of a cricket pitch so we get the sound of the ball quite often and hopefully not the following sound of the ball hitting our car, roof or coming through the window lol 😂

sunnyweek profile image
sunnyweek in reply to Agoodenough

Ha ha yes I sometimes think when they hit a six off the pitch hope it does no harm.

Craftyperson profile image
CraftypersonReading Rabbits in reply to sunnyweek

You can't beat sound of a real fire crackling away

I agree mydexter! 👍

AML80 profile image
AML80

I don't know about noises I like but my husband does not understand how I can sleep with the tel. on, not hear nosies from outside unless I am actually listening for them and sleep with the light on. It all stem from my childhood. I was born six days after the start of the War although I can't remember I know it was noisy at night. then living on a main road from 1947 until I married which even in those days was noisy at night.

Agoodenough profile image
Agoodenough

I love to hear the rain too and the wind rustling through the trees. If I’m in bed it’s not hard to imagine that sound is the sea.

I love hearing footsteps of people walking late at night although I haven’t heard that since I was a child.

The smell of a stoney beach reminds me of when we used to go evening fishing with my dad in deal.

I used to care for a lady who was 99. When she was dying I remember during that fortnight there was a huge low moon. It felt so peaceful and now when I see a big low moon it reminds me of that lovely lady.

Ali 🙂

AndtH profile image
AndtH

I love the sound of Buddhist chants, waves and stream water flowing.

S11m profile image
S11m

I think it is strange that no-one has mentioned birdsong?

There was a wood outside my bedroom window where I was brought up, and I find coo-ing pigeons therapeutic. There are pigeons very close here (I found one in the sitting room yesterday) and my lat wife did not appreciate the noise they made. I also like the sound of cicadas (south of France) and pink and grey gallars (Australia). I am trying to remember what sounds remind me of Africa.

Craftyperson profile image
CraftypersonReading Rabbits in reply to S11m

I've just mentioned birds

Peptink profile image
Peptink in reply to S11m

The Mourning Dove’s song is a beautiful sound.

in reply to S11m

You're right about the cicadas S11m. I love that sound too and for me it also conjures up the south of France, as well as Hong Kong. I like the cooing of doves and pigeons, but not the mess they make. I've never heard a gallar, but I think it's true that it's largely the memories that go along with the sounds which make them special.

Midori profile image
MidoriVisually impaired

Distant trains, especially the older steam trains, surf on a beach, waterfalls, trees in the wind, cattle and sheep in fields, horse hoofs trotting along a road. Storms, crackling fire in a grate. Gentle music, quietly. The dawn Chorus in the early morning.

Cheers, Midori

Craftyperson profile image
CraftypersonReading Rabbits

One sound I can't stand is a ticking clock especially if I'm trying to sleep.

One sound I like, like you is rain on the conservatory roof.

I love to hear the birds twittering outside my window in the early hours and occasionally at night the owl hooting

The best sound in the world is a babies giggle.

in reply to Craftyperson

Oh I love a ticking clock Alicia, especially a slow soothing one.

Midori profile image
MidoriVisually impaired in reply to

Oh yes, me too. I find if there's a clock, the regular tick helps me get to sleep, but if it stops in the night, I'm awake, wondering what is missing!

Cheers, Midori

Craftyperson profile image
CraftypersonReading Rabbits in reply to

No drives me potty can't sleep for listening to it!! Tried having a nap on couch other day on couch as had stripped bed and not made it up and I had to get up and take battery out of clock

Hi Sue, I like the noise of the train aswell but my favourite one is just hearing the clock tic tock as it's so quiet around me I just think it's so soothing and I stopped winding the chimes up as I just love it to be quiet so I can nod off x

in reply to

Oh yes, Clive. I'd forgotten how lovely that is. It's so long since I had a clock with a soothing tick!

RLN-overcomer profile image
RLN-overcomer

I really like #1 hearing the sound of crashing waves :) , as long as it is not hurricane tornado storm waves, #2 the sound of a fan blowing when I sleep :) , #3 The sound of children/people giggling/laughing :) , and #4 the sound of waking to bird's tweeting, soft jazz, or soothing gospel music :) .

in reply to RLN-overcomer

A lovely selection of sounds which I too appreciate RLN-overcomer! 👍😊🙏

RLN-overcomer profile image
RLN-overcomer in reply to

We have so much to be thankful for, :) especially the very things we take for granted :) . Imagine a child being born unable to hear, and being unable to appreciate the very things we are privy to hear every single day :( . I am sure there are some people on this sight who were born unable to hear the very sounds we enjoy daily. I try not to complain about life's challenges that we will, and do experience :| .

That is so true. It is all too easy to take things like our senses for granted as though they are a trivial thing. Not so trivial when we don't have them. 🙏

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