Christmas Can Be a Terrifying Experience for Individuals Living with Sound Sensitivity.
Lottie is looking forward to being with her relatives during the festive period, but says a primary method she'll cope is by using her hearing protection - notably for the main festive feast.
For the 23-year-old, this time of year often feels like a notably tough season as the noises of family members munching, drinking noisily and nose-blowing cause her profound anxiety.
"There's this feeling of instant dread, my entire being will just tense up and it seems as if I'm in peril, and I need to manage these sounds."
She has lived with sound sensitivity since she was 16 and for her that causes the festive season "exceptionally stressful".
Misophonia is a decreased threshold to particular auditory triggers, especially noises made by those around you.
It's surprisingly common across the population. Experts found almost one in five people experience it.
Often it's sounds associated with eating or drinking that cause distress, as well as examples such as chewing, breathing, and foot tapping.
Triggering Stress
Lottie says: "There are so many different triggering sounds at the holidays and that can be anxiety inducing and make you want to avoid it.
"My relatives are aware, but I'm very mindful that I don't want to spoil the mood. It's like a internal conflict of enduring my distress to guarantee everyone else is happy."
So it's clear why the traditionally happy season can transform into a living nightmare for affected individuals.
Noises that may be considered normal, like someone sipping a beverage, opening presents, or enjoying festive food can provoke a powerful reaction that can even cause them skipping events entirely.
Jenna, a university student, who has dealt with misophonia for over a decade, says currently her plan is to put her earphones in to get through dinner. Usually, she would frequently go in a different room to escape triggering sounds.
She explains her sensitivity is worse around people she's most familiar with, so the holidays is always "challenging".
"There's an expectation to socialize with loved ones, and I desire to, but it's draining.
"I feel as if this intense irritation comes over me, which can feel shameful, or I'll feel panicked and begin to weep and then panic will activate.
"It may seem as if I'm being unreasonable and dramatic, but it's tough to describe if you haven't felt it."
A Few Techniques to Handle It
If it's an issue then there are various strategies you can try to cope the situation, according to clinical psychologists.
- Picture a Different Scenario: Imagination is key. Attempt to link the triggering sound causing distress with something completely different. As an illustration, try to picture someone's slurping is just a gentle stream. This technique is to retrain your mind that the sound affecting you isn't harmful.
- Use Humor: Introduce playfulness and turn the annoying sound into a challenge involving the source. For instance, if someone is crunching loudly have a go at mimicking the sound. By mimicking, rather than feeling like the sound is an attack, you become an active participant. And the competition element should help redirect your focus and make you slightly more tolerant.
- Craft a Story: Another technique is to try to fabricate an explanation about the reason someone creating the sound is having to make that sound. Imagine if someone was making a nasal sound, it could be that they're not at their best or maybe they're upset. This approach is re-framing the context of the sound. While the sound remains identical, your interpretation of it moves from being aggravating, to feeling a bit more accepting towards it.
