Christmas Transforms Into a Terrifying Experience for Individuals Living with Sound Sensitivity.
A 23-year-old hopes for being with her relatives over the holidays, but notes one of the only ways she'll cope is by relying on her noise-cancelling devices - particularly at the main festive feast.
For her, the holidays often feels like a especially challenging period as the noises of people eating, sipping loudly and breathing heavily cause her profound anxiety.
"I experience this sensation of instant dread, my whole body will just tighten and it as though I'm in peril, and I need to somehow control these noises."
Lottie has lived with this condition for several years and for her that makes the festive season "deeply taxing".
Misophonia is a reduced tolerance to specific noises, especially noises produced by those around you.
It is prevalent in the UK. Researchers found nearly 20% people experience it.
Frequently it's sounds connected to eating or drinking that trigger a reaction, along with examples such as crunching, breathing, and repetitive finger tapping.
'Anxiety Inducing'
The sufferer notes: "You encounter so many various auditory triggers at Christmas and that can be daunting 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 constant struggle of enduring my distress to ensure others enjoy themselves."
So it's easy to understand why the supposedly joyous season can transform into a living nightmare for sufferers.
Triggers that may be considered normal, like someone slurping a Buck's fizz, unwrapping gifts, or eating the holiday meal can trigger a powerful reaction that can even result in them skipping events entirely.
The student, a university student, who has experienced sound sensitivity for over a decade, explains currently her plan is to use headphones to cope. On any other day, she would often retreat in a different room to avoid problematic noises.
She explains her condition is more intense around people she's most familiar with, so the holidays is always "hard".
"There is pressure to socialize with loved ones, and I want to, but it's draining.
"It's like this uncontrollable anger takes hold, which can feel shameful, or I'll feel panicked and burst into tears and then panic will kick in.
"It may seem as if I'm being oversensitive and dramatic, but it's difficult to convey if you haven't felt it."
Three Ways to Cope
If you suffer then there are some different techniques you can use to handle the situation, as suggested by experts.
- Picture Something Else: Mental imagery is key. Attempt to link the particular sound affecting you with something completely different. As an illustration, try to picture someone's noisy drinking is just a sink draining water. The goal is to help your brain learn that the sound affecting you poses no threat.
- Make it a Game: Use lightheartedness and make the irritating noise into a competition involving the source. For instance, if someone is eating noisily have a go at mimicking the sound. By joining in, instead of feeling like the sound is unwanted, you become an active participant. And the game aspect should help distract your brain and make you somewhat less sensitive.
- Craft a Story: Another technique is to try to create a little story about why the person creating the sound is having to make that sound. For example if someone was making a nasal sound, maybe they are not feeling well or could be emotional. The idea is altering the perception of the sound. Although the noise stays the same, your reaction of it moves from being annoying, to feeling a slightly more compassionate about it.
