@pixeldrama
If you are using Ad Block, try temporarily disabling just your "Anti-Circumvention" Filter.
If you are using Ad Block Plus, try temporarily disabling your ABP Filters.
In the past, those filters have been associated with slow-loading search results and search pages hanging due to inappropriate triggering on search results.
If that is not the issue, try temporarily disabling custom filter options.
If that is not the issue, try temporarily disabling each filter subscription (such as EasyList), one at a time to see if you can identify one causing a problem.