Christmas Can Be a Living Hell for Individuals Living with Sound Sensitivity.
Lottie hopes for being with her relatives during the festive period, but admits a key strategy she'll manage to get through it is by wearing her earplugs - especially during the holiday meal.
In her case, Christmas can be a especially challenging time as the noises of family members munching, sipping loudly and breathing heavily trigger profound anxiety.
"I experience this sensation of immediate anxiety, my entire being will just tense up and it feels like I'm in peril, and I need to manage these noises."
She has experienced sound sensitivity from a young age and for her that makes the Christmas time "deeply taxing".
Misophonia is a decreased threshold to certain sounds, especially noises coming from other people.
The condition is widespread amongst adults. A study reported almost one in five people experience it.
Often it's noises associated with mouth, throat or facial movements that lead to discomfort, as well as examples such as crunching, breathing, and foot tapping.
'Anxiety Inducing'
The sufferer notes: "There are so many various auditory triggers at Christmas and that can be daunting and make you dread it.
"Those close to me are aware, but I'm very conscious that I don't want to upset others. It's like a internal conflict of managing my symptoms to guarantee the event goes smoothly."
So it's obvious why the most wonderful period can transform into a living nightmare for those with the condition.
Sounds that may appear innocuous, like someone sipping a beverage, rustling a roll of wrapping paper, or enjoying festive food can cause a strong emotional response that can even result in them withdrawing from gatherings.
Jenna, a university student, who has struggled with misophonia since aged 10, says currently her plan is to listen to music to cope. Usually, she would frequently go in a quiet area to avoid problematic noises.
She notes her sensitivity is more pronounced around people she's most familiar with, so the holidays is always "challenging".
"People assume you to be around loved ones, and I wish to, but it's draining.
"It's like this intense irritation comes over me, which can feel awkward, or I'll feel anxious and immediately start crying and then the stress response will kick in.
"It may seem as if I'm being difficult and overreacting, but it's difficult to convey if you haven't felt it."
A Few Techniques to Handle It
For those affected then there are various strategies you can use to handle the situation, based on advice from experts.
- Visualise an Alternative: Creative thinking is key. Try to associate the triggering sound causing distress with something completely different. So for example, try to envision someone's noisy drinking is just a sink draining water. This technique is to retrain your mind that the sound triggering you poses no threat.
- Make it a Game: Have a bit of fun and make the irritating noise into a game with the person. For instance, if someone is crunching loudly try copying the noise. Through participation, instead of feeling like the sound is unwanted, you become an engaged person. And the challenge should help distract your brain and make you a little less affected.
- Create a Scenario: Another technique is to try to invent a reason about why the person creating the sound is doing it. For example if someone was making a nasal sound, perhaps they're not at their best or are troubled. This approach is re-framing the context of the sound. While the noise remains identical, your reaction of it shifts from being aggravating, to feeling a little more neutral about it.
