Christmas Transforms Into a Nightmare for Individuals Living with Sound Sensitivity.
Lottie is looking forward to spending time with her loved ones over the holidays, but notes a primary method she'll endure is by relying on her noise-cancelling devices - notably for the main festive feast.
In her case, this time of year is a especially challenging time as the noises of people eating, sipping loudly and nose-blowing cause her profound anxiety.
"I get this sensation of sudden panic, my entire being will just tighten and it as though I'm in peril, and I need to manage these triggers."
The individual has suffered from sound sensitivity for several years and for her that renders the Christmas time "exceptionally stressful".
Misophonia is an intense sensitivity to particular auditory triggers, notably sounds made by other people.
The condition is widespread amongst adults. Researchers found almost one in five people suffer from it.
Frequently it's noises associated with eating or drinking that trigger a reaction, including things like crunching, breathing, and repetitive finger tapping.
Triggering Stress
Lottie says: "I face so many different triggering sounds at Christmas and that can be stressful and make you dread it.
"Those close to me are understanding, but I'm very conscious that I don't want to make other people feel uncomfortable. It's like a really big battle of sacrificing my own sanity to guarantee everyone else is happy."
So it's easy to understand why the traditionally happy season can rapidly become 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 cause a powerful reaction that can even cause them skipping events entirely.
Jenna, a young adult, who has struggled with misophonia for over a decade, explains her strategy is to put her earphones in to manage the meal. Usually, she would usually isolate herself in a quiet area to minimize triggering sounds.
She explains her condition is more intense around people she's most familiar with, so the holidays is always "difficult".
"There's an expectation to spend time with family, and I wish to, but it's draining.
"The sensation is this sudden rage takes hold, which can feel awkward, or I'll feel anxious and begin to weep and then fight-or-flight will activate.
"It can come across as if I'm being unreasonable and dramatic, but it's tough to describe without firsthand experience."
Three Ways to Handle It
If you suffer then there are some different techniques you can attempt to manage the situation, based on advice from clinical psychologists.
- Imagine an Alternative: Creative thinking is key. Try to associate the specific noise bothering you with a neutral concept. So for example, try to picture someone's slurping is just a waterfall. This technique is to teach your brain that the sound affecting you isn't harmful.
- Make it a Game: Use lightheartedness and turn the annoying sound into a competition with the culprit. As an example, if someone is eating noisily have a go at copying the noise. Through participation, instead of feeling like the sound is unwanted, you become an engaged person. And the competition element should help shift your attention and make you somewhat less sensitive.
- Create a Scenario: Another technique is to try to fabricate an explanation about why the person making the noise is doing it. So if someone was making a nasal sound, it could be that they're not in good health or are troubled. The idea is re-framing the context of the sound. Even though the sound remains identical, your understanding of it moves from being irritating, to feeling a little more neutral towards it.
