Yuletide Often Proves to Be a Terrifying Experience for Individuals Living with Sound Sensitivity.
Lottie hopes for being with her relatives this Christmas, but notes a key strategy she'll manage to get through it is by relying on her noise-cancelling devices - particularly at the holiday meal.
For the 23-year-old, the holidays often feels like a particularly difficult time as the noises of family members munching, slurping and sniffling cause her profound anxiety.
"There's this feeling of immediate anxiety, my whole body will just freeze and it as though I'm in danger, and I need to stop these sounds."
She has suffered from this condition since she was 16 and for her that renders the Christmas time "incredibly overwhelming".
Misophonia is a reduced tolerance to certain sounds, particularly those coming from other people.
It is prevalent across the population. Researchers reported a significant portion of people are affected by it.
Typically it's sounds linked to bodily functions that lead to discomfort, as well as examples such as crunching, heavy breathing, and foot tapping.
'Anxiety Inducing'
Lottie says: "There are so many different triggering sounds at Christmas and that can be daunting and make you dread it.
"My relatives are supportive, but I'm very conscious that I don't want to make other people feel uncomfortable. It's like a internal conflict of sacrificing my own sanity to make sure the event goes smoothly."
So it's easy to understand why the most wonderful period can quickly turn into a living nightmare for affected individuals.
Sounds that may be considered normal, like someone sipping a beverage, rustling a roll of wrapping paper, or eating the holiday meal can cause a visceral feeling that can even result in them withdrawing from gatherings.
She, a young adult, who has experienced sound sensitivity for over a decade, explains currently her plan is to use headphones to cope. Typically, she would usually isolate herself in a quiet area to avoid problematic noises.
She explains her sensitivity is worse around people she's closest to, so Christmas is always "challenging".
"People assume you to spend time with family, and I want to, but it's exhausting on all levels.
"I feel as if this sudden rage washes over me, which can feel awkward, or I'll feel stressed and immediately start crying and then panic will take over.
"It may seem as if I'm being oversensitive and melodramatic, but it's tough to describe without firsthand experience."
Several Strategies to Manage
For those affected then there are some different techniques you can try to cope the situation, based on advice from experts.
- Visualise Something Else: Mental imagery is crucial. Attempt to link the triggering sound causing distress with an unrelated image. For instance, try to picture someone's noisy drinking is just a waterfall. By doing this is to help your brain learn that the sound triggering you poses no threat.
- Make it a Game: Use lightheartedness and make the irritating noise into a challenge with the person. For example, if someone is crunching loudly try copying the noise. Through participation, instead of feeling like the sound is being imposed on you, you become an willing part. And the game aspect should help shift your attention and make you slightly more tolerant.
- Develop a Narrative: One more method is to try to create a little story about why the person making the noise is having to make that sound. For example if someone was making a nasal sound, maybe they are not at their best or are troubled. This approach is re-framing the context of the sound. While the noise doesn't change, your interpretation of it shifts from being irritating, to feeling a slightly more compassionate towards it.
