Funny enough, my brain treats total silence like a red alert. I once tried sleeping with earplugs and ended up hearing my own heartbeat, which was somehow more stressful than city traffic. Now I use a fan year-round, even in winter, just for that steady hum. It's pathetic how dependent I've become on basically a household appliance for basic rest.
Yeah, totally get that. My brain fights total silence, it just feels wrong. I started using a simple phone app that plays a steady rain sound. The key is it's not too loud, just enough to cover up the random house creaks. It's like my mind can latch onto that steady pattern and finally switch off. Way better than laying there hearing every little noise.