Christmas Transforms Into a Terrifying Experience for Individuals Living with Sound Sensitivity.
A 23-year-old hopes for being with her family this Christmas, but says a primary method she'll cope is by wearing her hearing protection - notably for Christmas dinner.
In her case, the holidays can be a particularly difficult period as the sounds of other people chewing, drinking noisily and breathing heavily cause her intense distress.
"I experience this sensation of sudden panic, my entire being will just tighten and it feels like I'm in peril, and I need to manage these sounds."
She has suffered from this condition from a young age and for her that makes the festive season "exceptionally stressful".
Misophonia is a reduced tolerance to particular auditory triggers, particularly those coming from other people.
The condition is widespread across the population. A study discovered nearly 20% people experience it.
Frequently it's sounds linked to bodily functions that lead to discomfort, including things like crunching, heavy breathing, and repetitive finger tapping.
'Anxiety Inducing'
Lottie says: "There are so many various auditory triggers at the holidays and that can be stressful and make you dread it.
"My relatives are supportive, but I'm very aware that I don't want to make other people feel uncomfortable. It's like a constant struggle of sacrificing my own sanity to ensure the event goes smoothly."
So it's easy to understand why the traditionally happy season can quickly turn into a living nightmare for sufferers.
Noises that may appear innocuous, like someone drinking champagne, rustling a roll of wrapping paper, or tucking into a Christmas dinner can cause a visceral feeling that can even lead to them skipping events entirely.
Jenna, a young adult, who has dealt with sound sensitivity from childhood, states currently her plan is to listen to music to get through dinner. Typically, she would usually isolate herself in a separate space to minimize distressing triggers.
She notes her condition is more pronounced around people she's closest to, so the holidays is always "hard".
"There is pressure to socialize with loved ones, and I wish to, but it's physically and mentally challenging.
"The sensation is this uncontrollable anger comes over me, which can feel awkward, or I'll feel stressed and begin to weep and then fight-or-flight will activate.
"To others it appears as if I'm being oversensitive and melodramatic, but it's tough to describe without firsthand experience."
Several Strategies to Cope
If you suffer then there are some different techniques you can try to cope the situation, as suggested by experts.
- Imagine an Alternative: Imagination is key. Attempt to link the particular sound causing distress with something completely different. So for example, try to imagine someone's noisy drinking is just a sink draining water. This technique is to teach your brain that the sound triggering you is neutral.
- Make it a Game: Introduce playfulness and make the irritating noise into a challenge with the person. For example, if someone is eating noisily have a go at copying the noise. By joining in, instead of feeling like the sound is unwanted, you become an willing part. And the competition element should help shift your attention and make you a little less affected.
- Develop a Narrative: Another technique is to try to invent a reason about the reason someone creating the sound is having to make that sound. Imagine 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 remains identical, your understanding of it moves from being irritating, to feeling a little more neutral about it.
