The Holiday Season Often Proves to Be a Living Hell for Individuals Living with Sound Sensitivity.
Lottie is looking forward to spending time with her loved ones during the festive period, but notes one of the only ways she'll endure is by relying on her earplugs - especially during the holiday meal.
In her case, Christmas can be a notably tough period as the noises of other people chewing, slurping and nose-blowing trigger profound anxiety.
"I experience this feeling of sudden panic, my every muscle will just tense up and it feels like I'm in peril, and I need to somehow control these noises."
She has experienced this condition for several years and for her that makes the Christmas time "exceptionally stressful".
Misophonia is an intense sensitivity to particular auditory triggers, notably sounds produced by those around you.
It's surprisingly common amongst adults. Researchers discovered almost one in five people suffer from it.
Typically it's sounds associated with eating or drinking that trigger a reaction, including things like chewing, breathing, and foot tapping.
'Anxiety Inducing'
The sufferer notes: "There are so many different triggering sounds at Christmas and that can be daunting and make you want to avoid it.
"Those close to me are aware, but I'm very aware that I don't want to make other people feel uncomfortable. It's like a internal conflict of managing my symptoms to guarantee the event goes smoothly."
So it's clear why the most wonderful time of the year can transform into a stressful ordeal for those with the condition.
Sounds that may seem harmless, like someone slurping a Buck's fizz, rustling a roll of wrapping paper, or enjoying festive food can trigger a strong emotional response that can even lead to them withdrawing from gatherings.
Jenna, a 21-year-old student, who has experienced misophonia since aged 10, states currently her plan is to use headphones to cope. On any other day, she would usually isolate herself in a quiet area to escape problematic noises.
She notes her condition is worse around people she's most familiar with, so Christmas is always "challenging".
"There is pressure to socialize with loved ones, and I wish to, but it's physically and mentally challenging.
"It's like this intense irritation washes over me, which can feel shameful, or I'll feel panicked and burst into tears and then fight-or-flight will take over.
"It may seem as if I'm being difficult and overreacting, but it's difficult to convey without firsthand experience."
Three Ways to Handle It
For those affected then there are some different techniques you can attempt to manage the situation, according to clinical psychologists.
- Imagine a Different Scenario: Imagination is crucial. Attempt to link the specific noise causing distress with something completely different. For instance, try to picture someone's noisy drinking is just a waterfall. The goal is to retrain your mind that the sound triggering you is neutral.
- Try a Competition: Have a bit of fun and make the irritating noise into a competition with the culprit. For example, if someone is eating noisily have a go at copying the noise. Through participation, instead of feeling like the sound is being imposed on you, you become an engaged person. And the competition element should help distract your brain and make you a little less affected.
- Craft a Story: One more method is to try to invent a reason about why the person creating the sound is behaving that way. So if someone was making a nasal sound, maybe they are not in good health or maybe they're upset. By doing this is altering the perception of the sound. Although the noise stays the same, your reaction of it moves from being aggravating, to feeling a bit more accepting about it.
