The Holiday Season Often Proves to Be a Terrifying Experience for Individuals Living with Sound Sensitivity.
Lottie hopes for spending time with her loved ones this Christmas, but says a primary method she'll manage to get through it is by using her earplugs - notably for Christmas dinner.
For the 23-year-old, this time of year is a notably tough season as the auditory triggers of other people chewing, drinking noisily and nose-blowing trigger profound anxiety.
"I experience this wave of sudden panic, my entire being will just freeze and it feels like I'm in danger, and I need to stop these noises."
The individual has experienced sound sensitivity since she was 16 and for her that causes the festive season "incredibly overwhelming".
Misophonia is a decreased threshold to specific noises, especially noises coming from those around you.
It is prevalent in the UK. Experts discovered a significant portion of people experience it.
Frequently it's sounds associated with mouth, throat or facial movements that lead to discomfort, along with examples such as chewing, heavy breathing, and pen clicking.
'Anxiety Inducing'
Lottie says: "I face so many assorted problematic noises at Christmas and that can be anxiety inducing and make you dread 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 managing my symptoms to make sure others enjoy themselves."
So it's obvious why the most wonderful period can transform into a stressful ordeal for those with the condition.
Triggers that may be considered normal, like someone sipping a beverage, unwrapping gifts, or enjoying festive food can trigger a visceral feeling that can even lead to them avoiding social settings altogether.
Jenna, a young adult, who has dealt with sound sensitivity since aged 10, says currently her plan is to listen to music to cope. Usually, she would frequently go in a different room to avoid problematic noises.
She notes her condition is worse around people she's closest to, so the holidays is always "hard".
"There's an expectation to socialize with loved ones, and I wish to, but it's draining.
"The sensation is this sudden rage comes over me, which can feel awkward, or I'll feel panicked and begin to weep and then panic will activate.
"It may seem as if I'm being unreasonable and melodramatic, but it's hard to explain unless you've experienced it."
Several Strategies to Cope
If you suffer then there are some different techniques you can try to cope the situation, as suggested by experts.
- Visualise Something Else: Mental imagery is key. Try to associate the triggering sound causing distress with a neutral concept. So for example, try to envision someone's slurping is just a sink draining water. This technique is to teach your brain that the sound affecting you poses no threat.
- Make it a Game: Introduce playfulness and turn the annoying sound into a challenge involving the source. As an example, if someone is eating noisily have a go at joining in. By joining in, rather than feeling like the sound is unwanted, you become an engaged person. And the challenge should help shift your attention and make you somewhat less sensitive.
- Develop a Narrative: Another technique is to try to invent a reason about why the person making the noise is doing it. For example if someone was sniffing, it could be that they're not feeling well or are troubled. The idea is re-framing the context of the sound. Although the sound remains identical, your understanding of it shifts from being annoying, to feeling a bit more accepting towards it.
