Christmas Often Proves to Be a Terrifying Experience for Individuals Living with Sound Sensitivity.
Lottie is looking forward to spending time with her relatives this Christmas, but says a primary method she'll manage to get through it is by relying on her hearing protection - especially during the holiday meal.
For the 23-year-old, the holidays often feels like a especially challenging season as the noises of people eating, slurping and sniffling trigger profound anxiety.
"There's this sensation of immediate anxiety, my entire being will just freeze and it seems as if I'm in a threatening situation, and I need to stop these triggers."
She has experienced this condition since she was 16 and for her that makes the holiday period "deeply taxing".
Misophonia is a reduced tolerance to certain sounds, especially noises coming from individuals.
It's surprisingly common in the UK. Researchers found nearly 20% people are affected by it.
Typically it's sounds linked to bodily functions that trigger a reaction, including examples such as chewing, breathing, and foot tapping.
A Source of Dread
She explains: "I face so many different triggering sounds at the holidays and that can be daunting and make you want to avoid it.
"Those close to me are understanding, but I'm very aware that I don't want to make other people feel uncomfortable. It's like a internal conflict of sacrificing my own sanity to guarantee everyone else is happy."
So it's clear why the supposedly joyous season can quickly turn into a living nightmare for affected individuals.
Sounds that may appear innocuous, like someone sipping a beverage, unwrapping gifts, or enjoying festive food can cause a visceral feeling that can even cause them withdrawing from gatherings.
Jenna, a 21-year-old student, who has struggled with sound sensitivity from childhood, explains her strategy is to put her earphones in to cope. On any other day, she would frequently go in a quiet area to escape triggering sounds.
She says her condition is more pronounced around people she's most comfortable with, so the holidays is always "challenging".
"People assume you to be around loved ones, and I want to, but it's physically and mentally challenging.
"The sensation is this sudden rage washes over me, which can feel shameful, or I'll feel anxious and immediately start crying and then panic will activate.
"It may seem as if I'm being oversensitive and overreacting, but it's tough to describe without firsthand experience."
Several Strategies to Manage
If you suffer then there are various strategies you can use to handle the situation, as suggested by specialists.
- Picture an Alternative: Mental imagery is essential. Work on connecting the specific noise causing distress with something completely different. For instance, try to picture someone's noisy drinking is just a gentle stream. The goal is to teach your brain that the sound affecting you poses no threat.
- Make it a Game: Use lightheartedness and turn the annoying sound into a game with the person. As an example, if someone is eating noisily attempt copying the noise. By mimicking, rather than feeling like the sound is an attack, you become an active participant. And the challenge should help shift your attention and make you slightly more tolerant.
- Create a Scenario: A further strategy is to try to fabricate an explanation about the reason someone making the noise is having to make that sound. Imagine if someone was making a nasal sound, it could be that they're not feeling well or could be emotional. This approach is altering the perception of the sound. Even though the sound stays the same, your reaction of it changes from being annoying, to feeling a slightly more compassionate about it.
