Yuletide Often Proves to Be a Terrifying Experience for Individuals Living with Sound Sensitivity.
Lottie hopes for being with her relatives this Christmas, but says a key strategy she'll cope is by relying on her earplugs - notably for the main festive feast.
In her case, the holidays often feels like a notably tough season as the sounds of other people chewing, drinking noisily and nose-blowing cause her extremely uncomfortable.
"I experience this feeling of sudden panic, my every muscle will just freeze and it as though I'm in danger, and I need to somehow control these sounds."
Lottie has lived with sound sensitivity from a young age and for her that renders the festive season "incredibly overwhelming".
Misophonia is a decreased threshold to certain sounds, especially noises produced by those around you.
The condition is widespread across the population. A study found nearly 20% people are affected by it.
Typically it's sounds linked to eating or drinking that lead to discomfort, as well as things like crunching, breathing, and foot tapping.
'Anxiety Inducing'
Lottie says: "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 upset others. It's like a constant struggle of enduring my distress to guarantee everyone else is happy."
So it's easy to understand why the traditionally happy season can quickly turn into a source of agony for those with the condition.
Sounds that may appear innocuous, like someone drinking champagne, unwrapping gifts, or tucking into a Christmas dinner can provoke a powerful reaction that can even result in them avoiding social settings altogether.
She, a university student, who has dealt with sound sensitivity from childhood, explains currently her plan is to put her earphones in to cope. On any other day, she would often retreat in a different room to avoid problematic noises.
She explains her sensitivity is worse around people she's most familiar with, so Christmas is always "challenging".
"There's an expectation to socialize with loved ones, and I want to, but it's exhausting on all levels.
"The sensation is this sudden rage washes over me, which can feel shameful, or I'll feel stressed and begin to weep and then the stress response will take over.
"To others it appears as if I'm being unreasonable and dramatic, but it's hard to explain without firsthand experience."
Several Strategies to Cope
For those affected then there are a few methods you can use to handle the situation, based on advice from specialists.
- Picture Something Else: Imagination is key. Attempt to link the specific noise bothering you 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 poses no threat.
- Make it a Game: Introduce playfulness and make the irritating noise into a competition with the person. For example, if someone is crunching loudly try joining in. By joining in, instead of feeling like the sound is an attack, you become an engaged person. And the game aspect should help redirect your focus and make you slightly more tolerant.
- Develop a Narrative: A further strategy is to try to fabricate an explanation about the reason someone creating the sound is having to make that sound. So if someone was sniffing, perhaps they're not feeling well or could be emotional. This approach is altering the perception of the sound. Although the noise stays the same, your understanding of it shifts from being aggravating, to feeling a bit more accepting about it.
