Christmas Often Proves to Be a Nightmare for Individuals Living with Sound Sensitivity.
One young woman is looking forward to seeing her loved ones over the holidays, but admits a key strategy she'll endure is by using her earplugs - especially during the main festive feast.
For the 23-year-old, this time of year can be a notably tough period as the noises of people eating, sipping loudly and nose-blowing cause her intense distress.
"I get this feeling of immediate anxiety, my every muscle will just tense up and it as though I'm in peril, and I need to manage these sounds."
The individual has experienced this condition since she was 16 and for her that causes the festive season "deeply taxing".
Misophonia is an intense sensitivity to particular auditory triggers, notably sounds made by other people.
It is prevalent across the population. A study discovered almost one in five people experience it.
Often it's noises associated with mouth, throat or facial movements that trigger a reaction, including examples such as chewing, heavy breathing, and foot tapping.
A Source of Dread
Lottie says: "You encounter so many assorted problematic noises at Christmas and that can be daunting and make you want to avoid it.
"My family are understanding, but I'm very mindful that I don't want to upset others. It's like a internal conflict of sacrificing my own sanity to guarantee others enjoy themselves."
So it's easy to understand why the traditionally happy time of the year can transform into a source of agony for sufferers.
Sounds that may seem harmless, like someone drinking champagne, rustling a roll of wrapping paper, or tucking into a Christmas dinner can provoke a powerful reaction that can even result in them withdrawing from gatherings.
She, a university student, who has dealt with sound sensitivity since aged 10, explains her strategy is to use headphones to cope. Usually, she would usually isolate herself in a different room to minimize problematic noises.
She notes her condition is more intense around people she's closest to, so the holidays is always "challenging".
"People assume you to be around family, and I desire to, but it's physically and mentally challenging.
"I feel as if this intense irritation comes over me, which can feel shameful, or I'll feel panicked and begin to weep and then fight-or-flight will kick in.
"To others it appears as if I'm being oversensitive and overreacting, but it's tough to describe unless you've experienced it."
Several Strategies to Cope
For those affected then there are a few methods you can use to handle the situation, as suggested by experts.
- Imagine a Different Scenario: Creative thinking is key. Attempt to link the particular sound affecting you with something completely different. So for example, try to envision someone's noisy drinking is just a sink draining water. The goal is to teach your brain that the sound triggering you poses no threat.
- Try a Competition: Introduce playfulness and make the irritating noise into a competition with the culprit. For instance, if someone is eating noisily attempt joining in. Through participation, instead of feeling like the sound is being imposed on you, you become an willing part. And the challenge should help redirect your focus and make you a little less affected.
- Develop a Narrative: A further strategy is to try to create a little story about the reason someone creating the sound is behaving that way. For example if someone was sniffing, perhaps they're not at their best or maybe they're upset. This approach is altering the perception of the sound. Although the sound remains identical, your interpretation of it moves from being aggravating, to feeling a bit more accepting about it.
