Things you find stressful that other people don't notice.

Gift wrapping paper. Both M&S and Next, (other shops are available),are guilty of the bizarre habit of putting 3 or 4 sticky labels on the roll which then has to be removed.

Why? What good does it do? All that happens is loss of a few centimetres of paper because ìt tears. I believe one can peel the labels off if intense care is being taken.

I've not managed it yet

Radio one in my dentists waiting area was driving me to distraction the other day, rapping type music if you can call it that. When I complained to the dentist she said “it’s difficult to please everyone”. So don’t have it on at all I thought but didn’t say out loud. Next time I will.

Oh, and talking of calming and relaxing: that doodle music you get in spas that never goes anywhere.

Indoor fountains. Fortunately they have gone out of fashion now, but the sound of running water makes me want to scream. It is supposed to be calming and relaxing but I don't see how.

Parking or not finding a space or not knowing how to pay- not enough coins or needs an app.
Putting air in tyres.
Noisy places.
Eating out alone in the evening when away.

Greyisnotmycolour

Driving anywhere and not knowing where I'm going to park. I just dread it. I have satnav and a parking camera so all I need to keep it simple but it ties me in knots. Also driving at night but I'll only do that now if it's absolutely necessary.

Absolutely my most stressful experience especially in multi storey car parks with lots of concrete pillars and narrow spaces!
Not to mention the hassle of paying by phone when eventually one finds a space.
Glad I am not the only one who gets anxious about this!

LindaPat

Re the flashing Christmas lights - if only the manufacturers would make "steady" the first option , instead of number 7, we would be ok!.
My DH tries to make everything as simple as possible for us, so all our lights , inside and out, are connected to something on his phone, and they all come on/go off together. Great - except we still have to go around and press the button 7 times on each transformer to get them onto the steady mode. Otherwise the house looks like a spaceship!

Oh how I agree! Every time I switch on our tree lights, I have to go through the whole sequence for ‘steady on’. I can’t bear flashing lights!
I’m sure anyone who made a set with ‘steady on’ first - or, even better, the only option - would sell masses.

Greyisnotmycolour

Driving anywhere and not knowing where I'm going to park. I just dread it. I have satnav and a parking camera so all I need to keep it simple but it ties me in knots. Also driving at night but I'll only do that now if it's absolutely necessary.

This is 100% me greyisnotmycolour. I don`t drive at night these days, by choice and I get very anxious if I am unsure about the parking. I can park correctly but there is an anxiety in case there are no spaces and if there is parking at all

Noise (music, talking, tv) - I don't like distractions.

I'm just the opposite ! Filling in stuff online. Everything seems to move too quickly. Every site seems to have a different method of navigating through the pages. I'm always terrified of mucking things up and the situation being then irretrievable, particularly if it's important.also I'm afraid that any mistake of mine might set a number of digital hares up and running with God knows what consequences.
Paper Forms ? Plenty of time to consider and source advice.No problem. One man's meat..........

I can't bear flashing lights, they make me feel really anxious and like LindaPat I go around each time they are switched on pressing for number 5, or 7 or whatever.
In a restaurant I have often asked for music volume turned out without any issue.
I don't like driving at night either and used to tackle anything.

I’m like you aggie I get very stressed with phone calls and knocks at the door in case it’s bad news. I also stress about packing for going away. I seem to have developed a need for having all my own things around me and I have so many lists - also sorting out the house before I go. Never used to bother me at all.

Flashing fairy lights drive me mad! Don't mind the slow fading function but our tree lights are static !

Catering for other people, I can cope with my DD and her family (just) but I am finding more stressful than I used to, I think one of the reasons is we moved a few years ago and this kitchen is very small compared to my old house, great for 2 but not for more . limited worktop space to put things on.

When the computer does its own thing !!!

While there are many things that annoy me, there are not too many that actually cause stress.

The years of waiting awake for teenagers to come home is over for me know that they are all adults, so for the most part I don't have too many stress points.

Highway driving in snowy conditions of course, but for the most part that can be avoided. We rarely leave town in winter. The next town is 140 km away, but we have no need to go there.

Re the flashing Christmas lights - if only the manufacturers would make "steady" the first option , instead of number 7, we would be ok!.
My DH tries to make everything as simple as possible for us, so all our lights , inside and out, are connected to something on his phone, and they all come on/go off together. Great - except we still have to go around and press the button 7 times on each transformer to get them onto the steady mode. Otherwise the house looks like a spaceship!

I’m another one who can’t bear flashing lights. I get very stressed if I have to use my mobile phone when I’m out as I can’t hear a thing if there’s background noise. As to noisy restaurants and cafes I’ve been told that they are deliberately designed with lots of hard surfaces because it’s believed that the noise creates a ‘buzz’ which draws customers in!!

I really cannot cope with tinsel or coloured flashing fairy lights.

The GC wanted coloured fairy lights in the playroom here, I gave in but they do not flash 🤣

Tizliz

Flashing Christmas lights. I understand that people want to decorate their house and tree but why do the lights have to flash on and off?

You are my youngest daughter! And you're not alone. Loads on Tiktok about it.

We have 2 very large trees downstairs with hundreds of lights. Which flash. Daughter ends up faffing around with the plug 🔌 thingie to get them to remain static.

Personally, I love them

Driving especially at night. Used to be competent/ confident but not any more!

Being rung on my mobile phone. Not a problem when I am at home, but find it so stressful when out.

By the time I find the phone, the caller has rung off and I simply cannot hear anything anyone is saying, if there is any kind of background noise.

I hate being late or others being late. I can't give direct instructions to adults I make open suggestions.

Not sure I’m alone in this, TVs left on for background noise, or when nobody is actively watching something.

Sudden noises, loud noises flashing lights and people appearing out of the blue they set off my startle reflex and I go as stiff as a board. Cramped spaces make me anxious. And I hate being late I get everywhere at least 30 mins earlier. People saying they will be there ay such a time and are always late. I have a rare hereditary neurological condition and it effects my limbs but lots of other things as well. Plus stressful situations set my PAF off.

But otherwise I am fine 🤣