Yuletide Transforms Into a Living Hell for Individuals Living with Sound Sensitivity.
A 23-year-old anticipates being with her relatives during the festive period, but says one of the only ways she'll manage to get through it is by relying on her noise-cancelling devices - especially during the holiday meal.
For her, this time of year often feels like a especially challenging period as the noises of people eating, drinking noisily and nose-blowing make her feel intense distress.
"I get this wave of sudden panic, my whole body will just tense up and it seems as if I'm in peril, and I need to somehow control these noises."
Lottie has lived with misophonia for several years and for her that makes the festive season "exceptionally stressful".
Misophonia is a reduced tolerance to specific noises, particularly those produced by those around you.
The condition is widespread across the population. Researchers discovered a significant portion of people suffer from it.
Frequently it's noises connected to mouth, throat or facial movements that cause distress, along with examples such as crunching, breathing, and foot tapping.
Triggering Stress
Lottie says: "I face so many assorted problematic noises at Christmas and that can be anxiety inducing and make you want to avoid it.
"My relatives are supportive, but I'm very conscious that I don't want to upset others. It's like a constant struggle of managing my symptoms to ensure others enjoy themselves."
So it's easy to understand why the supposedly joyous period can quickly turn into a living nightmare for sufferers.
Noises that may appear innocuous, like someone sipping a beverage, opening presents, or tucking into a Christmas dinner can trigger a visceral feeling that can even lead to them withdrawing from gatherings.
She, a 21-year-old student, who has experienced sound sensitivity for over a decade, explains her strategy is to put her earphones in to get through dinner. On any other day, she would often retreat in a quiet area to minimize problematic noises.
She says her misophonia is worse around people she's closest to, so Christmas is always "difficult".
"People assume you to be around family, and I desire to, but it's exhausting on all levels.
"I feel as if this intense irritation comes over me, which can feel embarrassing, or I'll feel panicked and burst into tears and then panic will take over.
"It can come across as if I'm being difficult and overreacting, but it's tough to describe unless you've experienced it."
Several Strategies to Manage
If it's an issue then there are various strategies you can use to handle the situation, as suggested by clinical psychologists.
- Visualise a Different Scenario: Imagination is key. Work on connecting the specific noise affecting you with a neutral concept. So for example, try to envision someone's slurping is just a sink draining water. The goal is to teach your brain that the sound affecting you poses no threat.
- Make it a Game: Have a bit of fun and turn the annoying sound into a game with the culprit. As an example, if someone is eating noisily attempt copying the noise. Through participation, instead of feeling like the sound is an attack, you become an active participant. And the competition element should help distract your brain and make you somewhat less sensitive.
- Develop a Narrative: A further strategy is to try to fabricate an explanation about why the person creating the sound is doing it. So if someone was making a nasal sound, maybe they are not feeling well or are troubled. By doing this is altering the perception of the sound. Even though the sound stays the same, your interpretation of it moves from being irritating, to feeling a slightly more compassionate towards it.
