Yuletide Transforms Into a Nightmare for Individuals Living with Sound Sensitivity.
A 23-year-old hopes for seeing her relatives this Christmas, but admits a key strategy she'll endure is by using her noise-cancelling devices - especially during Christmas dinner.
For her, Christmas often feels like a particularly difficult time as the sounds of other people chewing, slurping and sniffling make her feel profound anxiety.
"There's this feeling of sudden panic, my entire being will just tense up and it as though I'm in danger, and I need to manage these noises."
Lottie has lived with this condition since she was 16 and for her that renders the festive season "exceptionally stressful".
Misophonia is an intense sensitivity to certain sounds, particularly those produced by those around you.
It is prevalent across the population. Researchers discovered almost one in five people experience it.
Frequently it's sounds linked to bodily functions that cause distress, including things like crunching, heavy breathing, and repetitive finger tapping.
Triggering Stress
The sufferer notes: "There are so many assorted problematic noises at Christmas and that can be daunting 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 others enjoy themselves."
So it's obvious why the traditionally happy period can transform into a stressful ordeal for those with the condition.
Noises that may be considered normal, like someone drinking champagne, unwrapping gifts, or enjoying festive food can cause a visceral feeling that can even lead to them withdrawing from gatherings.
She, a 21-year-old student, who has dealt with sound sensitivity from childhood, explains currently her plan is to put her earphones in to get through dinner. Typically, she would usually isolate herself in a quiet area to escape distressing triggers.
She notes her misophonia is more pronounced around people she's most comfortable with, so Christmas is always "hard".
"There is pressure to spend time with loved ones, and I desire to, but it's exhausting on all levels.
"It's like this sudden rage takes hold, which can feel embarrassing, or I'll feel stressed and burst into tears and then fight-or-flight will activate.
"To others it appears as if I'm being difficult and dramatic, but it's tough to describe without firsthand experience."
Several Strategies to Cope
If it's an issue then there are a few methods you can attempt to manage the situation, according to experts.
- Picture a Different Scenario: Mental imagery is essential. Try to associate the specific noise causing distress with an unrelated image. As an illustration, try to imagine someone's slurping is just a gentle stream. By doing this is to help your brain learn that the sound triggering you is neutral.
- Try a Competition: Have a bit of fun and make the irritating noise into a challenge with the person. For instance, if someone is crunching loudly have a go at copying the noise. Through participation, instead of feeling like the sound is unwanted, you become an engaged person. And the game aspect should help distract your brain and make you slightly more tolerant.
- Create a Scenario: One more method is to try to fabricate an explanation about why the person creating the sound is behaving that way. Imagine if someone was sniffing, maybe they are not at their best or are troubled. The idea is re-framing the context of the sound. Although the noise remains identical, your interpretation of it shifts from being annoying, to feeling a little more neutral towards it.
