Christmas Often Proves to Be a Nightmare for Individuals Living with Sound Sensitivity.
Lottie anticipates spending time with her loved ones this Christmas, but notes a primary method she'll endure is by wearing her noise-cancelling devices - particularly at Christmas dinner.
In her case, the holidays can be a notably tough time as the sounds of people eating, slurping and breathing heavily trigger profound anxiety.
"There's this wave of instant dread, my entire being will just tighten and it seems as if I'm in peril, and I need to somehow control these noises."
Lottie has experienced sound sensitivity from a young age and for her that renders the Christmas time "deeply taxing".
Misophonia is a decreased threshold to specific noises, particularly those coming from other people.
The condition is widespread amongst adults. Researchers discovered nearly 20% people are affected by it.
Typically it's noises linked to mouth, throat or facial movements that trigger a reaction, along with things like crunching, breathing, and repetitive finger tapping.
'Anxiety Inducing'
The sufferer notes: "There are so many different triggering sounds at the holidays and that can be stressful and make you dread it.
"My family are understanding, but I'm very conscious that I don't want to upset others. It's like a really big battle of sacrificing my own sanity to ensure everyone else is happy."
So it's obvious why the supposedly joyous period can transform into a stressful ordeal for those with the condition.
Noises that may seem harmless, like someone drinking champagne, rustling a roll of wrapping paper, or tucking into a Christmas dinner can cause a visceral feeling that can even cause them skipping events entirely.
Jenna, a university student, who has experienced sound sensitivity since aged 10, explains currently her plan is to listen to music to cope. On any other day, she would usually isolate herself in a separate space to minimize distressing triggers.
She notes her misophonia is more intense around people she's most comfortable with, so the holidays is always "difficult".
"There's an expectation to spend time with family, and I want to, but it's exhausting on all levels.
"I feel as if this sudden rage takes hold, which can feel awkward, or I'll feel panicked and immediately start crying and then panic will activate.
"It may seem as if I'm being difficult and overreacting, but it's hard to explain without firsthand experience."
Three Ways to Handle It
If it's an issue then there are some different techniques you can use to handle the situation, based on advice from experts.
- Visualise an Alternative: Mental imagery is essential. Attempt to link the specific noise affecting you with a neutral concept. So for example, try to picture someone's noisy drinking is just a gentle stream. The goal is to retrain your mind that the sound triggering you isn't harmful.
- Try a Competition: Use lightheartedness and turn the annoying sound into a competition with the culprit. For instance, if someone is crunching loudly attempt copying the noise. Through participation, instead of feeling like the sound is an attack, you become an engaged person. And the challenge should help redirect your focus and make you a little less affected.
- Develop a Narrative: One more method is to try to invent a reason about the reason someone making the noise is behaving that way. So if someone was sniffing, maybe they are not feeling well or are troubled. The idea is altering the perception of the sound. Although the noise remains identical, your reaction of it shifts from being irritating, to feeling a slightly more compassionate about it.
