Christmas Transforms Into a Nightmare for Individuals Living with Sound Sensitivity.
Lottie anticipates being with her relatives this Christmas, but notes one of the only ways she'll cope is by wearing her earplugs - particularly at Christmas dinner.
For her, this time of year can be a notably tough period as the auditory triggers of family members munching, slurping and nose-blowing make her feel profound anxiety.
"I experience this sensation of sudden panic, my whole body will just freeze and it seems as if I'm in peril, and I need to stop these noises."
Lottie has experienced this condition for several years and for her that makes the festive season "exceptionally stressful".
Misophonia is a decreased threshold to specific noises, particularly those produced by individuals.
The condition is widespread across the population. A study found a significant portion of people suffer from it.
Typically it's sounds connected to bodily functions that lead to discomfort, along with things like chewing, breathing, and pen clicking.
A Source of Dread
Lottie says: "I face so many different triggering sounds at Christmas and that can be daunting and make you want to avoid it.
"My relatives are aware, but I'm very mindful that I don't want to upset others. It's like a really big battle of managing my symptoms to make sure the event goes smoothly."
So it's clear why the supposedly joyous season can rapidly become a stressful ordeal for those with the condition.
Noises that may appear innocuous, like someone sipping a beverage, opening presents, or enjoying festive food can trigger a powerful reaction that can even result in them withdrawing from gatherings.
The student, a young adult, who has dealt with misophonia from childhood, explains currently her plan is to listen to music to cope. Typically, she would frequently go in a separate space to escape triggering sounds.
She says her sensitivity is more pronounced around people she's most comfortable with, so Christmas is always "hard".
"People assume you to spend time with family, and I wish to, but it's physically and mentally challenging.
"I feel as if this intense irritation washes over me, which can feel shameful, or I'll feel panicked and immediately start crying and then panic will kick in.
"It may seem as if I'm being oversensitive and melodramatic, but it's hard to explain without firsthand experience."
Three Ways to Handle It
For those affected then there are some different techniques you can try to cope the situation, according to experts.
- Picture an Alternative: Mental imagery is key. Attempt to link the particular sound affecting you with something completely different. For instance, try to envision someone's slurping is just a sink draining water. By doing this is to retrain your mind that the sound triggering you poses no threat.
- Use Humor: Use lightheartedness and make the irritating noise into a challenge with the person. As an example, if someone is eating noisily have a go at copying the noise. By joining in, instead of feeling like the sound is unwanted, you become an active participant. And the challenge should help shift your attention and make you slightly more tolerant.
- Craft a Story: One more method is to try to fabricate an explanation about the reason someone making the noise is behaving that way. So if someone was sniffing, perhaps they're not in good health or are troubled. This approach is changing the meaning of the sound. Although the noise stays the same, your interpretation of it moves from being irritating, to feeling a little more neutral towards it.
