By Michael Reiley

We’re surrounded by sound every day, often without realizing how deeply it affects our well-being. Our home environments, filled with the hum of appliances, electromagnetic noise from devices, and the constant din of traffic or neighbors, can quietly impact our mental and physical health. From the soft buzz of the refrigerator to the relentless noise of nearby traffic, these sounds create a backdrop that influences stress levels, anxiety, and even our capacity to recover from trauma.

The Story of a Healing Session Interrupted by Sound

Once, I was treating a woman recovering from a traumatic accident—she had been hit by a car while walking across the street. During an at-home sound healing session, as we settled in and I began to quiet my mind to start the healing, I noticed something immediately unsettling. Her living room was filled with the constant sound of cars rushing by her window. As the healing progressed, it became clear that these constant reminders of the accident were hindering her recovery, emotionally and psychologically. Her home, which should have been a sanctuary, was a source of anxiety.

The constant sound of cars passing was re-traumatizing her, reminding her of the very event she was trying to heal from. While sound healing helped her feel some relief, the background noise made it difficult for her to fully relax. I realized that her home soundscape, with its persistent traffic noise, was contributing to her stress and blocking her emotional healing. This experience emphasized to me the critical importance of creating a calm, supportive auditory environment for healing and well-being.

The Health Impacts of a Noisy Home Soundscape

Living with constant background noise can have subtle yet serious effects on our health. The incessant hum from refrigerators, the electromagnetic buzz from Wi-Fi routers, the never-ending drone of traffic, and the sound of neighbors can create a heightened sense of stress over time. Studies have shown that chronic exposure to noise pollution can lead to increased levels of stress hormones, trouble sleeping, difficulty concentrating, and even cardiovascular issues.

While some noises are unavoidable, we often forget how noise seeps into every part of our daily lives. Even low-level sounds, such as the quiet humming of appliances or the buzz of electronic devices, create a constant undercurrent of noise that can slowly wear us down. These subtle sounds can elevate cortisol levels, disrupt sleep patterns, and make it harder to focus or relax. And unlike the sharp sound of a horn or a loud bang, these constant hums and drones often go unnoticed—until we feel their effects.

Sound of Silence (film, 2019)

There are a symphony of almost undetectable sounds that make up a moment of silence, and Peter Lucian (Peter Sarsgaard) is determined to catalog them all. Through his job as a New York City “house tuner,” the hyper-methodical Peter works meticulously to diagnose the discordant ambient noises—produced by everything from wind patterns to humming electrical appliances—adversely affecting his clients’ moods. When he takes on the particularly difficult case of Ellen (Rashida Jones), a lonely woman plagued by chronic exhaustion, Peter finds that the mysteries of the soul may be even greater than the mysteries of sound. A quietly moving portrait of a harmony-obsessed man learning to embrace the dissonances of human emotion, The Sound of Silence invites viewers to hear the world with fresh ears.

How to Improve Your Home Soundscape

Creating a peaceful, healing environment in your home is crucial to maintaining emotional and physical well-being. Here are 10 tips you can implement today to improve your home soundscape:

1. Unplug appliances when not in use: Reduce background noise from unnecessary appliances like dishwashers, microwaves, or washing machines.
2. Install soundproofing or use heavy curtains: Adding soundproof windows or thick curtains can drastically reduce outdoor noise pollution.
3. Create dedicated quiet zones: Establish spaces in your home where no electronics or media devices are allowed, creating intentional quiet spaces.
4. Incorporate white noise or nature sounds: Use white noise machines or apps that play calming nature sounds to counteract disruptive background noise.
5. Turn off televisions and media when not in use: Keep the TV and radio off when you're not actively watching or listening to minimize unnecessary sound.
6. Add rugs and soft furnishings: Carpets, curtains, and soft furniture help absorb sound and reduce echoes in rooms with hard surfaces.
7. Move electronics away from sleeping areas: Relocate routers, Wi-Fi devices, and other electronic equipment to reduce electromagnetic hum near sleeping areas.
8. Introduce indoor plants: Not only do they improve air quality, but plants can also help absorb sound in open spaces.
9. Schedule moments of silence: Dedicate time during your day to turn off all devices and appliances and sit in silence.
10. Bring in sound healing: Incorporating healing sounds—such as Tibetan singing bowls, tuning forks, or meditative music—into your environment can balance and counteract stress-inducing noise. 

Sound Healing: A Path to Creating a Peaceful Soundscape

If the noise in your home is contributing to stress or disrupting your emotional recovery, consider how a sound healing session can help. Sound healing can guide your body and mind back into balance by using calming, therapeutic sound frequencies to promote relaxation and restore harmony.

I offer sound healing sessions that can help you reconnect with peace amidst the noise. Whether it’s the hum of your appliances, the buzz of traffic, or the noise of everyday life, a personalized sound healing session can help you reset and create a more balanced auditory environment.

Book a Sound Healing Session Now to start creating a more peaceful home soundscape and support your emotional and psychological well-being.

By improving your sound environment and introducing healing sounds, you can transform your home into a sanctuary of calm, supporting both your mental and physical health.