Christmas Can Be a Terrifying Experience for Individuals Living with Sound Sensitivity.
Lottie hopes for being with her relatives this Christmas, but says a primary method she'll cope is by wearing her earplugs - especially during the holiday meal.
For the 23-year-old, the holidays often feels like a particularly difficult time as the noises of family members munching, slurping and breathing heavily make her feel extremely uncomfortable.
"I get this sensation of immediate anxiety, my entire being will just tense up and it seems as if I'm in peril, and I need to somehow control these sounds."
The individual has experienced sound sensitivity since she was 16 and for her that renders the Christmas time "incredibly overwhelming".
Misophonia is an intense sensitivity to certain sounds, particularly those made by other people.
The condition is widespread amongst adults. A study reported almost one in five people experience it.
Often it's sounds linked to bodily functions that trigger a reaction, along with things like chewing, breathing, and foot tapping.
A Source of Dread
The sufferer notes: "I face so many different triggering sounds at the holidays and that can be stressful and make you fear it.
"Those close to me are aware, but I'm very mindful that I don't want to upset others. It's like a internal conflict of enduring my distress to guarantee others enjoy themselves."
So it's obvious why the supposedly joyous time of the year can transform into a stressful ordeal for sufferers.
Sounds that may be considered normal, like someone drinking champagne, opening presents, or eating the holiday meal can provoke a powerful reaction that can even lead to them skipping events entirely.
She, a young adult, who has struggled with sound sensitivity for over a decade, says the approach she intends to use is to use headphones to cope. On any other day, she would frequently go in a quiet area to escape problematic noises.
She notes her misophonia is more intense around people she's most comfortable with, so the holidays is always "difficult".
"People assume you to be around family, and I desire to, but it's exhausting on all levels.
"I feel as if this uncontrollable anger washes over me, which can feel embarrassing, or I'll feel panicked and immediately start crying and then the stress response will activate.
"It may seem as if I'm being difficult and dramatic, but it's hard to explain if you haven't felt it."
Three Ways to Handle It
If you suffer then there are a few methods you can try to cope the situation, according to specialists.
- Imagine an Alternative: Creative thinking is crucial. 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 waterfall. By doing this is to retrain your mind that the sound triggering you poses no threat.
- Make it a Game: Have a bit of fun and make the irritating noise into a game with the person. For example, if someone is crunching loudly have a go at copying the noise. By mimicking, rather than feeling like the sound is being imposed on you, you become an willing part. And the competition element should help shift your attention and make you a little less affected.
- 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. For example if someone was sniffing, perhaps they're not at their best or are troubled. By doing this is altering the perception of the sound. While the noise doesn't change, your reaction of it moves from being aggravating, to feeling a bit more accepting towards it.
