Christmas Can Be a Terrifying Experience for Individuals Living with Sound Sensitivity.
Lottie anticipates being with her relatives this Christmas, but says one of the only ways she'll cope is by relying on her hearing protection - particularly at Christmas dinner.
In her case, the holidays is a particularly difficult time as the auditory triggers of family members munching, sipping loudly and breathing heavily trigger profound anxiety.
"There's this feeling of immediate anxiety, my whole body will just tense up and it seems as if I'm in danger, and I need to somehow control these sounds."
The individual has suffered from this condition for several years and for her that causes the Christmas time "incredibly overwhelming".
Misophonia is a decreased threshold to certain sounds, especially noises coming from those around you.
It's surprisingly common amongst adults. Researchers discovered almost one in five people suffer from it.
Frequently it's sounds connected to bodily functions that trigger a reaction, including things like chewing, heavy breathing, and foot tapping.
Triggering Stress
Lottie says: "There are so many assorted problematic noises at Christmas and that can be daunting and make you dread it.
"Those close to me are supportive, but I'm very aware that I don't want to spoil the mood. It's like a constant struggle of enduring my distress to ensure the event goes smoothly."
So it's clear why the traditionally happy season can transform into a stressful ordeal for those with the condition.
Sounds that may seem harmless, like someone drinking champagne, unwrapping gifts, or tucking into a Christmas dinner can provoke a powerful reaction that can even cause them withdrawing from gatherings.
Jenna, a 21-year-old student, who has dealt with sound sensitivity since aged 10, explains her strategy is to use headphones to manage the meal. Usually, she would frequently go in a quiet area to avoid triggering sounds.
She says her condition is more intense around people she's most familiar with, so the holidays is always "difficult".
"People assume you to spend time with loved ones, and I want to, but it's exhausting on all levels.
"The sensation is this intense irritation comes over me, which can feel shameful, or I'll feel anxious and begin to weep and then fight-or-flight will kick in.
"It may seem as if I'm being oversensitive and melodramatic, but it's tough to describe unless you've experienced it."
Several Strategies to Cope
For those affected then there are some different techniques you can try to cope the situation, according to clinical psychologists.
- Picture an Alternative: Mental imagery is key. Try to associate the triggering sound affecting you with a neutral concept. So for example, try to envision someone's noisy drinking is just a sink draining water. The goal is to help your brain learn that the sound affecting you isn't harmful.
- Make it a Game: Use lightheartedness and make the irritating noise into a challenge with the culprit. As an example, if someone is crunching loudly have a go at joining in. By mimicking, instead of feeling like the sound is being imposed on you, you become an engaged person. And the challenge should help shift your attention and make you somewhat less sensitive.
- Create a Scenario: One more method is to try to invent a reason about why the person creating the sound is doing it. For example if someone was making a nasal sound, perhaps they're not feeling well or are troubled. The idea is re-framing the context of the sound. While the noise stays the same, your reaction of it moves from being irritating, to feeling a slightly more compassionate towards it.
