If I am not careful, this semester will be me, slowly devolving into a grouchy hermit who wears shooting muffs or earplugs all the time. 

It’s kind of ironic, really.  I’m loud, and I love loud music and loud explosions, but what happens when I get especially stressed is that everything becomes too loud.  Other people’s conversations, doors, fans, the god damn dishwater.  It’s all too loud.