Christmas Can Be a Living Hell for Individuals Living with Sound Sensitivity.
Lottie is looking forward to seeing her family during the festive period, but notes one of the only ways she'll endure is by wearing her noise-cancelling devices - especially during the main festive feast.
For her, the holidays can be a particularly difficult period as the sounds of other people chewing, drinking noisily and sniffling make her feel intense distress.
"I get this feeling of sudden panic, my every muscle will just freeze and it feels like I'm in danger, and I need to manage these triggers."
The individual has lived with misophonia from a young age and for her that causes the festive season "incredibly overwhelming".
Misophonia is an intense sensitivity to specific noises, particularly those produced by other people.
The condition is widespread amongst adults. A study reported almost one in five people are affected by it.
Typically it's noises linked to eating or drinking that lead to discomfort, including things like chewing, heavy breathing, and repetitive finger tapping.
A Source of Dread
The sufferer notes: "You encounter so many different triggering sounds at the holidays and that can be anxiety inducing and make you dread it.
"Those close to me are supportive, but I'm very mindful that I don't want to upset others. It's like a internal conflict of enduring my distress to guarantee the event goes smoothly."
So it's clear why the most wonderful period can transform into a source of agony for those with the condition.
Noises that may appear innocuous, like someone sipping a beverage, rustling a roll of wrapping paper, or enjoying festive food can trigger a strong emotional response that can even result in them skipping events entirely.
She, a university student, who has experienced sound sensitivity since aged 10, explains the approach she intends to use is to listen to music to manage the meal. On any other day, she would usually isolate herself in a different room to escape problematic noises.
She notes her misophonia is more pronounced around people she's most comfortable with, so Christmas is always "challenging".
"There is pressure to spend time with loved ones, and I wish to, but it's physically and mentally challenging.
"The sensation is this sudden rage comes over me, which can feel awkward, or I'll feel stressed and immediately start crying and then the stress response will take over.
"To others it appears as if I'm being difficult and dramatic, but it's tough to describe unless you've experienced it."
Several Strategies to Manage
For those affected then there are a few methods you can try to cope the situation, based on advice from experts.
- Imagine an Alternative: Mental imagery is key. Work on connecting the triggering sound causing distress with an unrelated image. So for example, try to picture someone's slurping is just a gentle stream. This technique is to help your brain learn that the sound affecting you isn't harmful.
- Use Humor: Have a bit of fun and turn the annoying sound into a competition involving the source. For example, if someone is eating noisily try joining in. By mimicking, instead of feeling like the sound is an attack, you become an willing part. And the competition element should help redirect your focus and make you somewhat less sensitive.
- Develop a Narrative: Another technique is to try to fabricate an explanation about the reason someone creating the sound is behaving that way. So if someone was making a nasal sound, it could be that they're not at their best or could be emotional. By doing this is altering the perception of the sound. While the sound stays the same, your reaction of it changes from being irritating, to feeling a slightly more compassionate towards it.
