Christmas Transforms Into a Living Hell for Individuals Living with Sound Sensitivity.
A 23-year-old is looking forward to spending time with her relatives over the holidays, but notes a primary method she'll manage to get through it is by relying on her earplugs - especially during Christmas dinner.
For her, the holidays can be a especially challenging time as the auditory triggers of people eating, drinking noisily and nose-blowing cause her profound anxiety.
"There's this wave of instant dread, my whole body will just tighten and it seems as if I'm in danger, and I need to stop these triggers."
Lottie has experienced sound sensitivity since she was 16 and for her that renders the festive season "deeply taxing".
Misophonia is a reduced tolerance to specific noises, especially noises coming from individuals.
It's surprisingly common amongst adults. Experts reported almost one in five people are affected by it.
Typically it's sounds linked to bodily functions that lead to discomfort, including things like chewing, heavy breathing, and pen clicking.
A Source of Dread
She explains: "There are so many assorted problematic noises at Christmas and that can be stressful and make you dread it.
"My relatives are understanding, but I'm very mindful that I don't want to spoil the mood. It's like a really big battle of enduring my distress to ensure everyone else is happy."
So it's easy to understand why the most wonderful season can quickly turn into a living nightmare for affected individuals.
Sounds that may seem harmless, like someone sipping a beverage, rustling a roll of wrapping paper, or tucking into a Christmas dinner can provoke a strong emotional response that can even result in them withdrawing from gatherings.
Jenna, a university student, who has experienced misophonia for over a decade, explains the approach she intends to use is to put her earphones in to cope. Usually, she would usually isolate herself in a different room to avoid problematic noises.
She notes her condition is worse around people she's most familiar with, so the holidays is always "difficult".
"There is pressure to be around loved ones, and I wish to, but it's draining.
"I feel as if this uncontrollable anger washes over me, which can feel shameful, or I'll feel stressed and immediately start crying and then panic will take over.
"It may seem as if I'm being unreasonable and overreacting, but it's tough to describe unless you've experienced it."
A Few Techniques to Handle It
If you suffer then there are various strategies you can attempt to manage the situation, as suggested by experts.
- Visualise a Different Scenario: Imagination is key. Work on connecting the particular sound causing distress with an unrelated image. As an illustration, try to envision someone's noisy drinking is just a waterfall. The goal is to retrain your mind that the sound triggering 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 attempt copying the noise. By mimicking, rather than feeling like the sound is unwanted, you become an willing part. And the game aspect should help redirect your focus and make you somewhat less sensitive.
- Craft a Story: Another technique is to try to fabricate an explanation about the reason someone making the noise is behaving that way. So if someone was making a nasal sound, perhaps they're not feeling well or could be emotional. The idea is altering the perception of the sound. While the noise doesn't change, your interpretation of it shifts from being annoying, to feeling a slightly more compassionate about it.
