Today I find young people do sex as a spectator sport. No wonder, it is ubiquitous in movies, bus advertising, toilet bowl cleaners… I got myself earplugs from the drug store. They took a night or two to get used to, but now I find it rather nice to sleep to the sound of my own heartbeat…kind of cocoon-ish, really. The main issue is laying there feeling powerless once the noise starts up. You can ask nicely, slip notes, audiotape their goings on and then replay loudly directly following their performance…will it effect any change? Let’s face it, the real issue is the feeling of powerlessness. Keeping earplugs handy gave me back my power over my own peaceful sleep.

It’s probably best (although totally awkward) to talk to them face to face. But, you could also try talking to the building’s landlord or super and ask them to intervene.

I’m so sorry to hear about your plight. When I was in college I had to deal with dorm mates being really loud and such too. I agree that you should try and talk to them face to face though it can be embarrassing. I’m basically echoing what Anonymous said, talk to them and if that doesn’t work tell the landlord/supervisor about it. They could get fined for being too loud I’m sure. Try to have pleasant sleep/dreams!

I have read your story. I think you should better explain them that you are a light sleeper and such loud noises disturbs you.

I’ll be checking back to see what advice you get because I’m having the same problem. My upstairs neighbor: I hear his TV at high volumes (no muffled sound, I can repeat what news broadcasters are saying), I hear him yelling during sports shows, I hear him fighting with what I presume to be his ex, I hear him moving what sound like boulders from one room to the next, I hear him puking after a night of drinking, and then there is the sex noise–similar to your situation except my upstairs neighbor is at it roughly 3 hours at a time. He and his female friend have managed to pound open a closed door in my flat, if that is any indication of the frenetic behavior going on above me.
He also must have shared custody of his little girl, who, when she is visiting, will spend the first two hours running from room to room jumping off of every piece of furniture she must come across.
Good times.

I sleep with a noisy air purifier on at night plus a white noise machine. I’m a terrible sleeper, and this helps. A cheap alternative is to take a fan and put it on high to make white noise; if it is cold I turn the fan towards a wall or a dresser. These kinds of people know full well they’re being disruptive, they just don’t care. I say it’s the super’s problem if you live in an apartment building. If you live in a house, I guess it’s the police’s problem but my experience is they don’t do anything.

Hi folks, thanks for your thoughts–and for reminding me that I’m not alone at all in this. What I’m realzing too is that home is sacred and it is our place to rest, nourish, and renew (at least ideally), and when it’s toxic (energy-wise), it reverberates through our whole lives. The home roots affect the life leaves–or something more poetic! I’ve definitely been considering moving even more than I was before. Top floor only!

Explain how the music is concerned, as it keeps you awake until 3 am, and you get five. If you think you can remain calm, wait can.get a local copy of the noise of the town hall or library. regulation of the noise is generally very accurate, description of the types of noise, and times when it is obeyed.