Christmas Transforms Into a Living Hell for Individuals Living with Sound Sensitivity.
Lottie is looking forward to spending time with her relatives over the holidays, but notes one of the only ways she'll cope is by wearing her noise-cancelling devices - particularly at Christmas dinner.
For her, this time of year is a especially challenging season as the noises of family members munching, drinking noisily and breathing heavily cause her profound anxiety.
"I experience this wave of sudden panic, my every muscle will just freeze and it as though I'm in danger, and I need to somehow control these sounds."
The individual has suffered from sound sensitivity since she was 16 and for her that renders the festive season "exceptionally stressful".
Misophonia is a reduced tolerance to certain sounds, particularly those coming from individuals.
It is prevalent in the UK. A study found almost one in five people are affected by it.
Frequently it's noises connected to bodily functions that trigger a reaction, including examples such as crunching, breathing, and pen clicking.
A Source of Dread
She explains: "I face so many various auditory triggers at the holidays and that can be daunting and make you dread it.
"Those close to me are aware, but I'm very conscious that I don't want to spoil the mood. It's like a constant struggle of enduring my distress to ensure the event goes smoothly."
So it's easy to understand why the most wonderful period can rapidly become a living nightmare for those with the condition.
Sounds that may seem harmless, like someone sipping a beverage, rustling a roll of wrapping paper, or eating the holiday meal can provoke a strong emotional response that can even cause them avoiding social settings altogether.
Jenna, a 21-year-old student, who has dealt with sound sensitivity from childhood, explains currently her plan is to use headphones to get through dinner. On any other day, she would often retreat in a quiet area to minimize triggering sounds.
She explains her sensitivity is more intense around people she's closest to, so Christmas is always "challenging".
"People assume you to spend time with loved ones, and I wish to, but it's draining.
"It's like this intense irritation washes over me, which can feel awkward, or I'll feel stressed and immediately start crying and then panic will activate.
"It can come across as if I'm being oversensitive and melodramatic, but it's tough to describe unless you've experienced it."
Several Strategies to Handle It
For those affected then there are a few methods you can attempt to manage the situation, according to experts.
- Imagine Something Else: Imagination is key. Try to associate the particular sound affecting you with a neutral concept. So for example, try to imagine someone's slurping is just a waterfall. The goal is to help your brain learn that the sound triggering you is neutral.
- Try a Competition: Introduce playfulness and make the irritating noise into a challenge with the person. As an example, if someone is crunching loudly attempt mimicking the sound. Through participation, rather than feeling like the sound is unwanted, you become an willing part. And the challenge should help shift your attention and make you slightly more tolerant.
- Craft a Story: One more method is to try to create a little story about why the person creating the sound is doing it. So if someone was sniffing, it could be that they're not feeling well or could be emotional. The idea is altering the perception of the sound. While the noise doesn't change, your interpretation of it shifts from being annoying, to feeling a slightly more compassionate towards it.
