The Holiday Season Can Be a Terrifying Experience for Individuals Living with Sound Sensitivity.
Lottie anticipates being with her loved ones over the holidays, but says one of the only ways she'll manage to get through it is by relying on her hearing protection - especially during Christmas dinner.
In her case, the holidays is a notably tough season as the sounds of family members munching, sipping loudly and nose-blowing cause her extremely uncomfortable.
"I get this feeling of sudden panic, my entire being will just freeze and it feels like I'm in danger, and I need to manage these noises."
She has suffered from this condition since she was 16 and for her that causes the festive season "exceptionally stressful".
Misophonia is a decreased threshold to certain sounds, particularly those produced by individuals.
The condition is widespread amongst adults. A study discovered nearly 20% people experience it.
Often it's noises linked to eating or drinking that trigger a reaction, as well as things like chewing, heavy breathing, and foot tapping.
Triggering Stress
The sufferer notes: "You encounter so many various auditory triggers at Christmas and that can be anxiety inducing and make you dread it.
"My family are aware, but I'm very conscious that I don't want to spoil the mood. It's like a constant struggle of managing my symptoms to ensure others enjoy themselves."
So it's obvious why the traditionally happy season can rapidly become a stressful ordeal for sufferers.
Noises that may appear innocuous, like someone drinking champagne, rustling a roll of wrapping paper, or tucking into a Christmas dinner can trigger a powerful reaction that can even result in them withdrawing from gatherings.
She, a university student, who has experienced misophonia from childhood, explains currently her plan is to put her earphones in to manage the meal. Usually, she would usually isolate herself in a quiet area to minimize triggering sounds.
She explains her sensitivity is more intense around people she's closest to, so Christmas is always "challenging".
"People assume you to socialize with family, and I want to, but it's exhausting on all levels.
"The sensation is this intense irritation washes over me, which can feel embarrassing, or I'll feel panicked and immediately start crying and then the stress response will activate.
"It can come across as if I'm being oversensitive and dramatic, but it's tough to describe if you haven't felt it."
Several Strategies to Handle It
If you suffer then there are various strategies you can try to cope the situation, as suggested by specialists.
- Picture Something Else: Imagination is crucial. Attempt to link the specific noise causing distress with an unrelated image. For instance, try to envision someone's noisy drinking is just a sink draining water. The goal is to help your brain learn that the sound triggering you isn't harmful.
- Use Humor: Have a bit of fun and turn the annoying sound into a game involving the source. For instance, if someone is crunching loudly attempt copying the noise. By joining in, rather than feeling like the sound is an attack, you become an engaged person. And the game aspect should help redirect your focus and make you a little less affected.
- Develop a Narrative: One more method is to try to create a little story about the reason someone making the noise is having to make that sound. For example if someone was making a nasal sound, it could be that they're not at their best or are troubled. This approach is changing the meaning of the sound. Even though the sound remains identical, your reaction of it moves from being annoying, to feeling a bit more accepting towards it.
