artbrooks, I found myself to be one of them, although in a much milder form than battle induced trauma.

A bit more than two years ago I was one of those burnt out of an apartment building. It is a night seared into my memory.

For the last 2 years I have been living in a rent-subsidised apartment building. The unit to which I was/am consigned to is outfitted for the severely hearing impaired. In addition to (very) loud fire, phone and door alarms, strobe lights had been installed in each room.

As it happens, I am not hearing impaired, so I don't need that assistance. However, it took just twice when a smoke alarm went off before I insisted to the office they had to either disable the features or move me to a different apartment.

I had found myself, while getting my shoes on, putting a leash on my dog, getting my coat, bent over close to the floor, whimpering to myself; my head felt almost completely incapacitated. The strobe lights were worse than the sound; they were virtually screaming Danger! Danger! I was almost collapsing by the time I got outdoors.

I had to jump some hoops after the office informed me that #1: they could not disable the system and #2: I was going to stay put. After getting outside advice they eventually allowed a friend of mine to put painters tape over the glass globes. They still flash but at least they don't streak over the walls and ceilings.

We've had perhaps two alarms since then and I have discovered that at this level I can handle it.