Christmas Transforms Into a Terrifying Experience for Individuals Living with Sound Sensitivity.
A 23-year-old is looking forward to spending time with her loved ones this Christmas, but says a primary method she'll cope is by wearing her noise-cancelling devices - notably for the holiday meal.
For her, this time of year is a notably tough time as the sounds of family members munching, drinking noisily and sniffling trigger intense distress.
"I get this sensation of sudden panic, my entire being will just tighten and it seems as if I'm in peril, and I need to somehow control these triggers."
Lottie has experienced sound sensitivity since she was 16 and for her that renders the holiday period "incredibly overwhelming".
Misophonia is a decreased threshold to particular auditory triggers, notably sounds produced by other people.
It is prevalent in the UK. Researchers discovered nearly 20% people experience it.
Typically it's noises linked to eating or drinking that lead to discomfort, as well as examples such as crunching, heavy breathing, and pen clicking.
A Source of Dread
Lottie says: "There are so many various auditory triggers at Christmas and that can be daunting and make you fear it.
"Those close to me are aware, but I'm very mindful that I don't want to make other people feel uncomfortable. It's like a internal conflict of managing my symptoms to guarantee others enjoy themselves."
So it's obvious why the traditionally happy period can rapidly become a source of agony for those with the condition.
Sounds that may be considered normal, like someone drinking champagne, rustling a roll of wrapping paper, or enjoying festive food can provoke a powerful reaction that can even cause them skipping events entirely.
Jenna, a young adult, who has experienced misophonia since aged 10, says her strategy is to put her earphones in to manage the meal. Typically, she would usually isolate herself in a different room to escape problematic noises.
She says her misophonia is worse around people she's most comfortable with, so Christmas is always "challenging".
"People assume you to be around loved ones, and I wish to, but it's physically and mentally challenging.
"It's like this intense irritation takes hold, which can feel awkward, or I'll feel anxious and immediately start crying and then panic will activate.
"It may seem as if I'm being oversensitive and dramatic, but it's hard to explain without firsthand experience."
Three Ways to Cope
If it's an issue then there are a few methods you can attempt to manage the situation, based on advice from specialists.
- Imagine an Alternative: Mental imagery is key. Attempt to link the triggering sound bothering you with an unrelated image. So for example, try to envision someone's noisy drinking is just a waterfall. The goal is to teach your brain that the sound affecting you poses no threat.
- Use Humor: Use lightheartedness and turn the annoying sound into a challenge with the culprit. For example, if someone is crunching loudly try joining in. Through participation, rather than feeling like the sound is being imposed on you, you become an engaged person. And the competition element should help redirect your focus and make you slightly more tolerant.
- Develop a Narrative: Another technique is to try to create a little story about why the person making the noise is having to make that sound. Imagine if someone was making a nasal sound, perhaps they're not in good health or could be emotional. This approach is altering the perception of the sound. While the sound remains identical, your understanding of it changes from being irritating, to feeling a bit more accepting about it.
