Christmas Transforms Into a Terrifying Experience for Individuals Living with Sound Sensitivity.
Lottie is looking forward to seeing her family during the festive period, but notes a primary method she'll manage to get through it is by using her noise-cancelling devices - particularly at Christmas dinner.
For the 23-year-old, Christmas can be a notably tough time as the auditory triggers of other people chewing, sipping loudly and sniffling make her feel profound anxiety.
"There's this wave of instant dread, my whole body will just freeze and it seems as if I'm in danger, and I need to stop these sounds."
Lottie has suffered from sound sensitivity since she was 16 and for her that makes the holiday period "incredibly overwhelming".
Misophonia is a reduced tolerance to certain sounds, especially noises produced by other people.
The condition is widespread amongst adults. A study reported a significant portion of people experience it.
Often it's sounds associated with eating or drinking that lead to discomfort, as well as examples such as chewing, breathing, and foot tapping.
Triggering Stress
The sufferer notes: "There are so many assorted problematic noises at the holidays and that can be anxiety inducing and make you dread it.
"Those close to me are aware, but I'm very mindful that I don't want to spoil the mood. It's like a really big battle of sacrificing my own sanity to ensure the event goes smoothly."
So it's easy to understand why the traditionally happy season can quickly turn into a living nightmare for affected individuals.
Sounds that may seem harmless, like someone sipping a beverage, opening presents, or tucking into a Christmas dinner can trigger a visceral feeling that can even lead to them skipping events entirely.
She, a young adult, who has experienced misophonia from childhood, states her strategy is to listen to music to manage the meal. Typically, she would usually isolate herself in a different room to avoid triggering sounds.
She notes her sensitivity is more intense around people she's closest to, so Christmas is always "hard".
"There is pressure to spend time with loved ones, and I wish to, but it's draining.
"It's like this uncontrollable anger washes over me, which can feel shameful, or I'll feel stressed and begin to weep and then the stress response will take over.
"To others it appears as if I'm being oversensitive and dramatic, but it's tough to describe unless you've experienced it."
Several Strategies to Manage
If it's an issue then there are some different techniques you can use to handle the situation, based on advice from experts.
- Imagine an Alternative: Mental imagery is key. Try to associate the specific noise bothering you with an unrelated image. For instance, try to picture someone's slurping is just a gentle stream. The goal is to help your brain learn that the sound triggering you poses no threat.
- Try a Competition: Have a bit of fun and turn the annoying sound into a competition with the culprit. For example, if someone is crunching loudly have a go at copying the noise. Through participation, rather than feeling like the sound is being imposed on you, you become an active participant. And the challenge should help shift your attention and make you a little less affected.
- Develop a Narrative: One more method is to try to create a little story about why the person creating the sound is doing it. Imagine if someone was making a nasal sound, perhaps they're not at their best or maybe they're upset. This approach is altering the perception of the sound. Although the sound stays the same, your interpretation of it moves from being annoying, to feeling a slightly more compassionate towards it.
