Christmas Transforms Into a Nightmare for Individuals Living with Sound Sensitivity.
Lottie hopes for being with her family this Christmas, but admits one of the only ways she'll manage to get through it is by wearing her hearing protection - especially during the holiday meal.
In her case, the holidays can be a particularly difficult period as the noises of family members munching, slurping and sniffling trigger intense distress.
"I experience this feeling of instant dread, my entire being will just tighten and it seems as if I'm in a threatening situation, and I need to somehow control these noises."
She has lived with sound sensitivity since she was 16 and for her that makes the Christmas time "incredibly overwhelming".
Misophonia is an intense sensitivity to certain sounds, particularly those made by other people.
The condition is widespread across the population. Researchers discovered nearly 20% people are affected by it.
Frequently it's noises linked to bodily functions that lead to discomfort, including examples such as crunching, heavy breathing, and foot tapping.
A Source of Dread
The sufferer notes: "I face so many various auditory triggers at Christmas and that can be anxiety inducing and make you fear it.
"My relatives are supportive, but I'm very aware that I don't want to upset others. It's like a really big battle of managing my symptoms to make sure others enjoy themselves."
So it's easy to understand why the traditionally happy period can transform into a stressful ordeal for those with the condition.
Sounds that may seem harmless, like someone slurping a Buck's fizz, rustling a roll of wrapping paper, or enjoying festive food can trigger a powerful reaction that can even cause them skipping events entirely.
She, a young adult, who has struggled with misophonia since aged 10, states currently her plan is to listen to music to manage the meal. Usually, she would often retreat in a different room to minimize triggering sounds.
She notes her misophonia is more intense around people she's closest to, so the holidays is always "challenging".
"People assume you to spend time with loved ones, and I wish to, but it's draining.
"The sensation is this sudden rage takes hold, which can feel shameful, or I'll feel panicked and begin to weep and then the stress response will activate.
"It may seem as if I'm being unreasonable and melodramatic, but it's difficult to convey unless you've experienced it."
Three Ways to Handle It
For those affected then there are some different techniques you can attempt to manage the situation, based on advice from specialists.
- Picture Something Else: Creative thinking is crucial. Work on connecting the particular sound causing distress with a neutral concept. As an illustration, try to picture someone's noisy drinking is just a sink draining water. The goal is to help your brain learn that the sound affecting you poses no threat.
- Make it a Game: Have a bit of fun and turn the annoying sound into a competition involving the source. As an example, if someone is eating noisily attempt joining in. By joining in, rather than feeling like the sound is being imposed on you, you become an willing part. And the challenge should help redirect your focus and make you somewhat less sensitive.
- Develop a Narrative: One more method is to try to create a little story about why the person creating the sound is behaving that way. Imagine if someone was making a nasal sound, perhaps they're not at their best or could be emotional. By doing this is changing the meaning of the sound. Even though the noise remains identical, your reaction of it shifts from being irritating, to feeling a bit more accepting about it.
