Christmas Transforms Into a Nightmare for Individuals Living with Sound Sensitivity.
One young woman hopes for spending time with her relatives over the holidays, but admits a primary method she'll endure is by using her earplugs - especially during Christmas dinner.
For her, Christmas can be a especially challenging time as the auditory triggers of people eating, sipping loudly and sniffling trigger intense distress.
"I experience this sensation of instant dread, my entire being will just tighten and it seems as if I'm in peril, and I need to stop these sounds."
Lottie has experienced this condition from a young age and for her that makes the holiday period "deeply taxing".
Misophonia is an intense sensitivity to specific noises, particularly those made by individuals.
It's surprisingly common in the UK. Researchers reported almost one in five people suffer from it.
Typically it's sounds connected to mouth, throat or facial movements that cause distress, along with things like chewing, heavy breathing, and repetitive finger tapping.
'Anxiety Inducing'
She explains: "You encounter so many various auditory triggers at the holidays and that can be stressful and make you fear 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 sacrificing my own sanity to make sure others enjoy themselves."
So it's easy to understand why the traditionally happy time of the year can quickly turn into a source of agony for those with the condition.
Noises that may seem harmless, like someone drinking champagne, unwrapping gifts, or tucking into a Christmas dinner can provoke a visceral feeling that can even cause them avoiding social settings altogether.
She, a university student, who has dealt with misophonia since aged 10, says currently her plan is to put her earphones in to manage the meal. Usually, she would frequently go in a different room to escape triggering sounds.
She notes her condition is worse around people she's most familiar with, so Christmas is always "difficult".
"There is pressure to socialize with loved ones, and I wish to, but it's draining.
"I feel as if this intense irritation comes over me, which can feel shameful, or I'll feel anxious and begin to weep and then the stress response will kick in.
"To others it appears as if I'm being difficult and melodramatic, but it's difficult to convey unless you've experienced it."
A Few Techniques to Manage
If you suffer then there are various strategies you can use to handle the situation, as suggested by specialists.
- Visualise Something Else: Imagination is essential. Work on connecting the specific noise affecting you with an unrelated image. For instance, try to picture someone's slurping is just a gentle stream. This technique is to teach your brain that the sound triggering you isn't harmful.
- Make it a Game: Use lightheartedness and turn the annoying sound into a challenge with the culprit. For instance, if someone is eating noisily try copying the noise. Through participation, rather than feeling like the sound is an attack, you become an engaged person. And the game aspect should help distract your brain and make you a little less affected.
- Craft a Story: A further strategy is to try to invent a reason about why the person creating the sound is doing it. So if someone was making a nasal sound, maybe they are not at their best or maybe they're upset. The idea is changing the meaning of the sound. Even though the noise doesn't change, your reaction of it changes from being irritating, to feeling a bit more accepting towards it.
