Yuletide Transforms Into a Living Hell for Individuals Living with Sound Sensitivity.
Lottie is looking forward to seeing her loved ones over the holidays, but says a primary method she'll manage to get through it is by relying on her earplugs - especially during the holiday meal.
For the 23-year-old, the holidays can be a particularly difficult season as the sounds of people eating, sipping loudly and breathing heavily make her feel intense distress.
"I experience this sensation of sudden panic, my whole body will just tense up and it as though I'm in danger, and I need to somehow control these noises."
The individual has experienced this condition for several years and for her that makes the Christmas time "exceptionally stressful".
Misophonia is an intense sensitivity to particular auditory triggers, particularly those coming from other people.
The condition is widespread across the population. A study discovered a significant portion of people suffer from it.
Typically it's sounds associated with bodily functions that cause distress, along with things like chewing, breathing, and repetitive finger tapping.
A Source of Dread
The sufferer notes: "You encounter so many different triggering sounds at Christmas and that can be anxiety inducing and make you dread it.
"My relatives are supportive, but I'm very aware that I don't want to upset others. It's like a really big battle of managing my symptoms to ensure others enjoy themselves."
So it's easy to understand why the traditionally happy period can transform into a living nightmare for those with the condition.
Noises that may appear innocuous, like someone sipping a beverage, unwrapping gifts, or enjoying festive food can provoke a visceral feeling that can even lead to them skipping events entirely.
Jenna, a university student, who has dealt with sound sensitivity since aged 10, explains her strategy is to listen to music to manage the meal. Usually, she would often retreat in a quiet area to minimize problematic noises.
She notes her condition is more pronounced around people she's closest to, so Christmas is always "difficult".
"There's an expectation to spend time with loved ones, and I desire to, but it's physically and mentally challenging.
"I feel as if this intense irritation comes over me, which can feel embarrassing, or I'll feel stressed and begin to weep and then fight-or-flight will kick in.
"It may seem as if I'm being oversensitive and melodramatic, but it's tough to describe if you haven't felt it."
A Few Techniques to Cope
For those affected then there are various strategies you can use to handle the situation, according to clinical psychologists.
- Visualise a Different Scenario: Imagination is crucial. Work on connecting the triggering sound causing distress with an unrelated image. For instance, try to envision someone's slurping is just a gentle stream. By doing this is to retrain your mind that the sound affecting you is neutral.
- Use Humor: Have a bit of fun and turn the annoying sound into a competition involving the source. For example, if someone is eating noisily have a go at mimicking the sound. By mimicking, rather than feeling like the sound is being imposed on you, you become an willing part. And the competition element should help redirect your focus and make you a little less affected.
- Create a Scenario: One more method is to try to fabricate an explanation about why the person making the noise is doing it. So if someone was making a nasal sound, perhaps they're not in good health or maybe they're upset. This approach is changing the meaning of the sound. While the sound doesn't change, your reaction of it moves from being irritating, to feeling a slightly more compassionate towards it.
