Christmas Often Proves to Be a Nightmare for Individuals Living with Sound Sensitivity.
Lottie is looking forward to seeing her loved ones this Christmas, but says one of the only ways she'll manage to get through it is by relying on her hearing protection - notably for the main festive feast.
For her, Christmas often feels like a notably tough period as the noises of family members munching, slurping and nose-blowing trigger extremely uncomfortable.
"I get this feeling of immediate anxiety, my whole body will just tighten and it as though I'm in peril, and I need to stop these triggers."
She has suffered from misophonia for several years and for her that renders the Christmas time "incredibly overwhelming".
Misophonia is an intense sensitivity to particular auditory triggers, notably sounds coming from individuals.
It is prevalent amongst adults. Researchers found almost one in five people suffer from it.
Typically it's sounds connected to eating or drinking that cause distress, including examples such as chewing, breathing, and repetitive finger tapping.
Triggering Stress
The sufferer notes: "There are so many assorted problematic noises at Christmas and that can be daunting and make you fear it.
"Those close to me are supportive, but I'm very conscious that I don't want to make other people feel uncomfortable. It's like a internal conflict of enduring my distress to ensure everyone else is happy."
So it's clear why the most wonderful period can transform into a source of agony for those with the condition.
Triggers that may appear innocuous, like someone drinking champagne, opening presents, or enjoying festive food can trigger a visceral feeling that can even result in them withdrawing from gatherings.
She, a young adult, who has experienced sound sensitivity from childhood, says her strategy is to use headphones to get through dinner. On any other day, she would usually isolate herself in a quiet area to avoid distressing triggers.
She explains her sensitivity is more intense around people she's closest to, so the holidays is always "difficult".
"There is pressure to spend time with family, and I want to, but it's physically and mentally challenging.
"I feel as if this sudden rage comes over me, which can feel shameful, or I'll feel anxious and immediately start crying and then the stress response will activate.
"To others it appears as if I'm being oversensitive and melodramatic, but it's tough to describe without firsthand experience."
A Few Techniques to Manage
If you suffer then there are some different techniques you can attempt to manage the situation, as suggested by experts.
- Visualise a Different Scenario: Creative thinking is essential. Try to associate the particular sound affecting you with a neutral concept. For instance, try to envision someone's noisy drinking is just a gentle stream. The goal is to teach your brain that the sound triggering you is neutral.
- Make it a Game: Have a bit of fun and turn the annoying sound into a challenge with the culprit. For instance, if someone is crunching loudly try mimicking the sound. By joining in, rather than feeling like the sound is being imposed on you, you become an active participant. And the competition element should help shift your attention and make you somewhat less sensitive.
- Craft a Story: Another technique is to try to create a little story about why the person making the noise is having to make that sound. So if someone was making a nasal sound, maybe they are not in good health or maybe they're upset. The idea is re-framing the context of the sound. Even though the noise stays the same, your understanding of it moves from being aggravating, to feeling a little more neutral about it.
