I've moved from the countryside to a noisy road and it's destroying my sanity

Hi, hoping anybody has any word of wisdom/comfort?

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I moved from the countryside to London for a new job last week and, because it was very last minute, ended up settling on a studio on Finchley Road without seeing it.

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It also happens to be the most noisy road I've ever been near - ambulances, buses, motorbikes - and I'm averaging 4-5 hours of sleep a night. I've tried ear pods, but I'm sleep-deprived, exhausted and dread coming 'home' each day. I constantly feel anxious about the next big sound. I stay in the office till late to avoid coming home. I feel so sad that this was meant to be a new beginning and all I want to do is crawl into a hole.

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I know this is the messy middle and not that deep but I don't want to look like I'm struggling to keep it together at work when I feel shattered and sad.

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Thank you in advance.

Posted Jun 11, 2026, 9:30 PM UTC

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