Yuletide Often Proves to Be a Living Hell for Individuals Living with Sound Sensitivity.
A 23-year-old is looking forward to spending time with her family this Christmas, but admits a primary method she'll cope is by relying on her noise-cancelling devices - especially during the main festive feast.
For the 23-year-old, Christmas is a notably tough season as the noises of people eating, sipping loudly and sniffling cause her profound anxiety.
"I get this wave of immediate anxiety, my entire being will just tighten and it feels like I'm in danger, and I need to manage these triggers."
Lottie has experienced misophonia from a young age and for her that causes the holiday period "exceptionally stressful".
Misophonia is a reduced tolerance to particular auditory triggers, particularly those coming from those around you.
It's surprisingly common across the population. A study discovered nearly 20% people are affected by it.
Frequently it's noises associated with mouth, throat or facial movements that cause distress, including examples such as crunching, heavy breathing, and repetitive finger tapping.
A Source of Dread
The sufferer notes: "I face so many assorted problematic noises at Christmas and that can be daunting and make you want to avoid it.
"My relatives are aware, but I'm very mindful that I don't want to make other people feel uncomfortable. It's like a internal conflict of sacrificing my own sanity to make sure everyone else is happy."
So it's easy to understand why the most wonderful season can quickly turn into a living nightmare for those with the condition.
Sounds that may be considered normal, like someone drinking champagne, unwrapping gifts, or tucking into a Christmas dinner can cause a visceral feeling that can even cause them avoiding social settings altogether.
Jenna, a young adult, who has struggled with misophonia from childhood, states currently her plan is to listen to music to manage the meal. Typically, she would frequently go in a separate space to escape distressing triggers.
She says her misophonia is more intense around people she's most familiar with, so the holidays is always "challenging".
"There is pressure to spend time with family, and I want to, but it's draining.
"The sensation is this intense irritation washes over me, which can feel awkward, or I'll feel stressed and burst into tears and then the stress response will take over.
"It may seem as if I'm being oversensitive and overreacting, but it's hard to explain if you haven't felt it."
Several Strategies to Manage
For those affected then there are some different techniques you can use to handle the situation, as suggested by clinical psychologists.
- Visualise a Different Scenario: Imagination is essential. Try to associate the particular sound bothering you with something completely different. For instance, try to imagine someone's noisy drinking is just a waterfall. This technique is to help your brain learn that the sound triggering you isn't harmful.
- Use Humor: Use lightheartedness and make the irritating noise into a challenge with the culprit. For instance, if someone is crunching loudly attempt joining in. Through participation, instead of feeling like the sound is being imposed on you, you become an willing part. 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 the reason someone creating the sound is behaving that way. So if someone was making a nasal sound, perhaps they're not at their best or could be emotional. This approach is altering the perception of the sound. While the noise remains identical, your interpretation of it shifts from being aggravating, to feeling a little more neutral about it.
