Christmas Can Be a Terrifying Experience for Individuals Living with Sound Sensitivity.
Lottie anticipates spending time with her loved ones during the festive period, but notes a primary method she'll manage to get through it is by relying on her noise-cancelling devices - notably for the holiday meal.
In her case, the holidays often feels like a particularly difficult season as the auditory triggers of family members munching, sipping loudly and breathing heavily make her feel intense distress.
"There's this sensation of immediate anxiety, my every muscle will just freeze and it feels like I'm in a threatening situation, and I need to somehow control these sounds."
She has lived with sound sensitivity from a young age and for her that makes the Christmas time "incredibly overwhelming".
Misophonia is an intense sensitivity to particular auditory triggers, especially noises produced by other people.
The condition is widespread amongst adults. A study discovered nearly 20% people experience it.
Frequently it's sounds connected to eating or drinking that trigger a reaction, along with examples such as crunching, heavy breathing, and pen clicking.
A Source of Dread
Lottie says: "There are so many various auditory triggers at the holidays and that can be anxiety inducing and make you fear it.
"My relatives are aware, but I'm very mindful that I don't want to make other people feel uncomfortable. It's like a really big battle of sacrificing my own sanity to make sure the event goes smoothly."
So it's clear why the supposedly joyous season can quickly turn into a source of agony for affected individuals.
Sounds that may be considered normal, like someone drinking champagne, unwrapping gifts, or eating the holiday meal can provoke a visceral feeling that can even cause them avoiding social settings altogether.
She, a 21-year-old student, who has experienced sound sensitivity since aged 10, says currently her plan is to put her earphones in to get through dinner. Usually, she would often retreat in a quiet area to minimize distressing triggers.
She notes her sensitivity is more pronounced around people she's closest to, so the holidays is always "difficult".
"There is pressure to be around loved ones, and I wish to, but it's exhausting on all levels.
"I feel as if this sudden rage comes over me, which can feel embarrassing, or I'll feel stressed and immediately start crying and then the stress response will take over.
"To others it appears as if I'm being oversensitive and dramatic, but it's hard to explain unless you've experienced it."
A Few Techniques to Cope
If it's an issue then there are various strategies you can use to handle the situation, as suggested by experts.
- Imagine an Alternative: Mental imagery is key. Try to associate the particular sound affecting you with something completely different. For instance, try to imagine someone's noisy drinking is just a gentle stream. This technique is to teach your brain that the sound affecting you is neutral.
- Use Humor: Introduce playfulness and turn the annoying sound into a competition involving the source. For instance, if someone is eating noisily try copying the noise. Through participation, rather than feeling like the sound is unwanted, you become an active participant. And the challenge should help distract your brain and make you slightly more tolerant.
- Craft a Story: A further strategy is to try to invent a reason about the reason someone making the noise is doing it. Imagine if someone was making a nasal sound, it could be that they're not in good health or could be emotional. The idea is changing the meaning of the sound. Even though the noise doesn't change, your reaction of it shifts from being aggravating, to feeling a slightly more compassionate about it.
