I have a massive problem with drunken 'laborers' hanging out outside my window from 6:30am (corner store opening) until noon. shouting, dancing, singing, fighting, laughing. as loud as you can imagine, shouts echoing back and forth between the buildings. nothing is really that amusing, I think the act of shouting itself is whats so damn funny. if you talk to them, or berate them, they will avoid your gaze, stop for 15 seconds, and then start up again as though nothing had happened.

after years of struggling with this, enter the classical music. apparently pure poison. they proudly try to stand their ground, but you can see the suffering in their eyes. some of them used to last a couple hours, but when they leave its always at a run.

anyways, to address your point, over time sensitivity seems to increase rather than decrease. as exposure increases, lower volumes and shorter durations are required to elicit the flight response.

you would think that the more aggressive, modern composers would be more stressful. apparently, just basic baroque chamber is the least palatable. after that romantic symphonies.

there are a thousand sad things about this situation, one being that I'm losing my appreciation for the music itself.