Christmas Often Proves to Be a Terrifying Experience for Individuals Living with Sound Sensitivity.
Lottie anticipates spending time with her family over the holidays, but admits one of the only ways she'll manage to get through it is by using her noise-cancelling devices - notably for the main festive feast.
For her, the holidays is a especially challenging season as the noises of people eating, sipping loudly and breathing heavily make her feel extremely uncomfortable.
"There's this feeling of instant dread, my whole body will just tighten and it as though I'm in danger, and I need to stop these triggers."
She has suffered from sound sensitivity for several years and for her that renders the holiday period "exceptionally stressful".
Misophonia is a reduced tolerance to particular auditory triggers, notably sounds produced by those around you.
It's surprisingly common across the population. A study discovered almost one in five people suffer from it.
Often it's sounds connected to bodily functions that lead to discomfort, including examples such as chewing, breathing, and repetitive finger tapping.
'Anxiety Inducing'
She explains: "You encounter so many various auditory triggers at the holidays and that can be anxiety inducing and make you fear it.
"My relatives are aware, but I'm very aware 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 clear why the most wonderful time of the year can rapidly become a source of agony for sufferers.
Sounds that may be considered normal, like someone slurping a Buck's fizz, rustling a roll of wrapping paper, or tucking into a Christmas dinner can trigger a visceral feeling that can even cause them withdrawing from gatherings.
The student, a university student, who has struggled with sound sensitivity since aged 10, explains the approach she intends to use is to put her earphones in to manage the meal. Usually, she would often retreat in a separate space to avoid distressing triggers.
She explains her misophonia is more pronounced around people she's closest to, so the holidays is always "difficult".
"There is pressure to spend time with loved ones, and I desire to, but it's draining.
"I feel as if this intense irritation washes over me, which can feel shameful, or I'll feel stressed and begin to weep and then panic will activate.
"To others it appears as if I'm being oversensitive and overreacting, but it's tough to describe without firsthand experience."
Three Ways to Manage
If you suffer then there are some different techniques you can use to handle the situation, according to clinical psychologists.
- Imagine a Different Scenario: Mental imagery is essential. Attempt to link the particular sound bothering you with an unrelated image. As an illustration, try to imagine someone's slurping is just a sink draining water. By doing this is to help your brain learn that the sound triggering you poses no threat.
- Try a Competition: Introduce playfulness and turn the annoying sound into a competition involving the source. As an example, if someone is eating noisily have a go at joining in. Through participation, instead of feeling like the sound is being imposed on you, you become an engaged person. And the game aspect should help redirect your focus and make you slightly more tolerant.
- Craft a Story: A further strategy is to try to fabricate an explanation about why the person making the noise is doing it. Imagine if someone was sniffing, maybe they are not feeling well or maybe they're upset. By doing this is altering the perception of the sound. Even though the sound remains identical, your reaction of it changes from being irritating, to feeling a slightly more compassionate about it.
