Yuletide Can Be a Living Hell for Individuals Living with Sound Sensitivity.
Lottie hopes for spending time with her family this Christmas, but says one of the only ways she'll cope is by wearing her noise-cancelling devices - notably for the holiday meal.
For her, the holidays is a especially challenging season as the noises of people eating, sipping loudly and nose-blowing trigger extremely uncomfortable.
"I get this feeling of instant dread, my whole body will just tense up and it feels like I'm in peril, and I need to somehow control these noises."
The individual has suffered from this condition for several years and for her that renders the holiday period "incredibly overwhelming".
Misophonia is a reduced tolerance to specific noises, especially noises coming from individuals.
It's surprisingly common in the UK. Researchers found almost one in five people experience it.
Often it's noises connected to eating or drinking that lead to discomfort, as well as things like crunching, breathing, and pen clicking.
A Source of Dread
She explains: "I face so many different triggering sounds at Christmas and that can be stressful and make you want to avoid it.
"My family are aware, but I'm very aware that I don't want to spoil the mood. It's like a really big battle of sacrificing my own sanity to guarantee the event goes smoothly."
So it's easy to understand why the most wonderful time of the year can transform into a living nightmare for those with the condition.
Noises that may seem harmless, like someone sipping a beverage, opening presents, or tucking into a Christmas dinner can cause a visceral feeling that can even lead to them withdrawing from gatherings.
She, a young adult, who has dealt with sound sensitivity for over a decade, explains currently her plan is to listen to music to manage the meal. On any other day, she would frequently go in a separate space to avoid problematic noises.
She notes her condition is more intense around people she's most comfortable with, so Christmas is always "difficult".
"There is pressure to socialize with loved ones, and I wish to, but it's draining.
"I feel as if this sudden rage comes over me, which can feel awkward, or I'll feel panicked and immediately start crying and then fight-or-flight will kick in.
"To others it appears as if I'm being unreasonable and dramatic, but it's difficult to convey if you haven't felt it."
A Few Techniques to Handle It
For those affected then there are a few methods you can use to handle the situation, according to specialists.
- Visualise Something Else: Mental imagery is key. Attempt to link the particular sound affecting you with an unrelated image. For instance, try to imagine someone's slurping is just a sink draining water. By doing this is to teach your brain that the sound affecting you poses no threat.
- Try a Competition: Use lightheartedness and make the irritating noise into a challenge with the culprit. For example, if someone is crunching loudly have a go at mimicking the sound. By mimicking, instead of feeling like the sound is unwanted, you become an engaged person. And the game aspect should help shift your attention and make you a little less affected.
- Craft a Story: A further strategy is to try to fabricate an explanation about the reason someone making the noise is having to make that sound. So if someone was sniffing, perhaps they're not at their best or could be emotional. By doing this is re-framing the context of the sound. Even though the sound stays the same, your interpretation of it shifts from being aggravating, to feeling a little more neutral towards it.
