Christmas Often Proves to Be a Terrifying Experience for Individuals Living with Sound Sensitivity.
Lottie is looking forward to being with her loved ones this Christmas, but admits a primary method she'll manage to get through it is by using her earplugs - especially during Christmas dinner.
For the 23-year-old, the holidays often feels like a notably tough period as the sounds of people eating, drinking noisily and sniffling cause her intense distress.
"I get this wave of sudden panic, my whole body will just tense up and it seems as if I'm in a threatening situation, and I need to stop these noises."
She has experienced this condition from a young age and for her that makes the holiday period "deeply taxing".
Misophonia is a decreased threshold to specific noises, especially noises produced by other people.
It's surprisingly common in the UK. Experts discovered nearly 20% people experience it.
Often it's noises associated with eating or drinking that lead to discomfort, as well as things like crunching, breathing, and repetitive finger tapping.
'Anxiety Inducing'
The sufferer notes: "You encounter so many assorted problematic noises at the holidays and that can be anxiety inducing and make you fear it.
"My relatives are understanding, but I'm very conscious that I don't want to spoil the mood. It's like a internal conflict of enduring my distress to guarantee the event goes smoothly."
So it's easy to understand why the traditionally happy time of the year can quickly turn into a stressful ordeal for those with the condition.
Sounds that may be considered normal, like someone slurping a Buck's fizz, opening presents, or enjoying festive food can cause a powerful reaction that can even cause them skipping events entirely.
She, a young adult, who has struggled with sound sensitivity from childhood, explains currently her plan is to put her earphones in to get through dinner. On any other day, she would often retreat in a separate space to avoid triggering sounds.
She notes her misophonia is more pronounced around people she's closest to, so Christmas is always "challenging".
"There's an expectation to spend time with family, and I wish to, but it's draining.
"The sensation is this intense irritation takes hold, which can feel shameful, or I'll feel panicked and begin to weep and then the stress response will take over.
"To others it appears as if I'm being difficult and overreacting, but it's tough to describe if you haven't felt it."
Several Strategies to Handle It
For those affected then there are some different techniques you can attempt to manage the situation, according to specialists.
- Imagine a Different Scenario: Creative thinking is essential. Attempt to link the specific noise causing distress with something completely different. For instance, try to imagine someone's noisy drinking is just a waterfall. The goal is to retrain your mind that the sound triggering you is neutral.
- Try a Competition: Use lightheartedness and turn the annoying sound into a game with the culprit. For example, if someone is crunching loudly try copying the noise. By joining in, rather than feeling like the sound is being imposed on you, you become an active participant. And the competition element should help redirect your focus and make you somewhat less sensitive.
- Create a Scenario: A further strategy is to try to create a little story about why the person making the noise is behaving that way. So if someone was making a nasal sound, perhaps they're not in good health or maybe they're upset. The idea is re-framing the context of the sound. While the noise doesn't change, your understanding of it changes from being annoying, to feeling a slightly more compassionate about it.
