The Holiday Season Often Proves to Be a Terrifying Experience for Individuals Living with Sound Sensitivity.
Lottie hopes for seeing her family this Christmas, but admits one of the only ways she'll manage to get through it is by relying on her hearing protection - particularly at the holiday meal.
For the 23-year-old, the holidays often feels like a particularly difficult period as the auditory triggers of other people chewing, slurping and nose-blowing make her feel extremely uncomfortable.
"I experience this sensation of immediate anxiety, my whole body will just freeze and it feels like I'm in peril, and I need to stop these noises."
The individual has suffered from sound sensitivity for several years and for her that makes the festive season "exceptionally stressful".
Misophonia is a reduced tolerance to specific noises, particularly those made by individuals.
It's surprisingly common amongst adults. A study reported a significant portion of people experience it.
Frequently it's sounds associated with eating or drinking that cause distress, along with examples such as crunching, breathing, and pen clicking.
A Source of Dread
She explains: "I face so many assorted problematic noises at the holidays and that can be daunting and make you want to avoid it.
"My relatives are aware, but I'm very conscious that I don't want to make other people feel uncomfortable. It's like a internal conflict of managing my symptoms to guarantee everyone else is happy."
So it's clear why the supposedly joyous season can quickly turn into a stressful ordeal for those with the condition.
Sounds that may be considered normal, like someone sipping a beverage, unwrapping gifts, or tucking into a Christmas dinner can cause a visceral feeling that can even cause them withdrawing from gatherings.
Jenna, a young adult, who has dealt with misophonia from childhood, states her strategy is to put her earphones in to get through dinner. On any other day, she would frequently go in a quiet area to escape problematic noises.
She says her sensitivity is worse around people she's most comfortable with, so the holidays is always "difficult".
"There's an expectation to spend time with family, and I desire to, but it's draining.
"The sensation is this intense irritation washes over me, which can feel awkward, or I'll feel panicked and burst into tears and then fight-or-flight will take over.
"To others it appears as if I'm being difficult and dramatic, but it's hard to explain unless you've experienced it."
Several Strategies to Manage
For those affected then there are a few methods you can try to cope the situation, based on advice from experts.
- Picture an Alternative: Creative thinking is crucial. Try to associate the particular sound bothering you with an unrelated image. As an illustration, try to picture someone's noisy drinking is just a sink draining water. This technique is to teach your brain that the sound affecting you isn't harmful.
- Use Humor: Have a bit of fun and turn the annoying sound into a game with the culprit. As an example, if someone is eating noisily have a go at copying the noise. Through participation, instead of feeling like the sound is an attack, you become an active participant. And the challenge should help shift your attention and make you a little less affected.
- Craft a Story: Another technique is to try to invent a reason about the reason someone making the noise is doing it. Imagine if someone was sniffing, perhaps they're not at their best or are troubled. The idea is altering the perception of the sound. While the noise stays the same, your understanding of it shifts from being annoying, to feeling a slightly more compassionate towards it.