Christmas Can Be a Nightmare for Individuals Living with Sound Sensitivity.
Lottie hopes for seeing her loved ones over the holidays, but says a primary method she'll endure is by wearing her earplugs - especially during Christmas dinner.
For the 23-year-old, this time of year is a notably tough period as the noises of family members munching, slurping and breathing heavily make her feel intense distress.
"I get this sensation of instant dread, my whole body will just tighten and it as though I'm in danger, and I need to manage these noises."
She has lived with misophonia from a young age and for her that renders the Christmas time "incredibly overwhelming".
Misophonia is a reduced tolerance to specific noises, notably sounds coming from those around you.
The condition is widespread amongst adults. A study discovered nearly 20% people are affected by it.
Often it's sounds associated with bodily functions that lead to discomfort, along with examples such as chewing, heavy breathing, and pen clicking.
'Anxiety Inducing'
The sufferer notes: "I face so many various auditory triggers at the holidays and that can be anxiety inducing and make you fear it.
"Those close to me are aware, but I'm very conscious that I don't want to upset others. It's like a constant struggle of enduring my distress to make sure the event goes smoothly."
So it's obvious why the supposedly joyous period can quickly turn into a stressful ordeal for sufferers.
Triggers that may be considered normal, like someone slurping a Buck's fizz, unwrapping gifts, or enjoying festive food can provoke a visceral feeling that can even result in them skipping events entirely.
Jenna, a university student, who has struggled with misophonia for over a decade, says the approach she intends to use is to put her earphones in to cope. Usually, she would frequently go in a quiet area to avoid triggering sounds.
She says her condition is more intense around people she's closest to, so Christmas is always "challenging".
"There's an expectation to spend time with loved ones, and I want to, but it's exhausting on all levels.
"It's like this uncontrollable anger takes hold, which can feel shameful, or I'll feel anxious and burst into tears and then panic will kick in.
"It may seem as if I'm being oversensitive and dramatic, but it's difficult to convey without firsthand experience."
Three Ways to Manage
If it's an issue then there are some different techniques you can use to handle the situation, as suggested by clinical psychologists.
- Picture an Alternative: Creative thinking is crucial. Try to associate the triggering sound bothering you with an unrelated image. For instance, try to picture someone's slurping is just a waterfall. By doing this is to help your brain learn that the sound triggering you is neutral.
- Make it a Game: Have a bit of fun and make the irritating noise into a game involving the source. For example, if someone is crunching loudly attempt mimicking the sound. By joining in, rather than feeling like the sound is being imposed on you, you become an engaged person. And the game aspect should help shift your attention and make you slightly more tolerant.
- Create a Scenario: Another technique is to try to create a little story about the reason someone creating the sound is having to make that sound. So if someone was sniffing, perhaps they're not feeling well or could be emotional. By doing this is altering the perception of the sound. Even though the noise remains identical, your understanding of it shifts from being annoying, to feeling a little more neutral towards it.
