Yuletide Can Be a Terrifying Experience for Individuals Living with Sound Sensitivity.
One young woman anticipates being with her relatives this Christmas, but says one of the only ways she'll endure is by relying on her hearing protection - particularly at the main festive feast.
In her case, the holidays can be a notably tough period as the sounds of people eating, sipping loudly and sniffling cause her profound anxiety.
"There's this sensation of immediate anxiety, my entire being will just tense up and it feels like I'm in peril, and I need to stop these noises."
Lottie has experienced misophonia for several years and for her that renders the Christmas time "exceptionally stressful".
Misophonia is an intense sensitivity to specific noises, especially noises coming from individuals.
It's surprisingly common amongst adults. Researchers discovered nearly 20% people are affected by it.
Frequently it's sounds connected to mouth, throat or facial movements that lead to discomfort, including things like chewing, breathing, and pen clicking.
Triggering Stress
The sufferer notes: "You encounter so many different triggering sounds at the holidays and that can be anxiety inducing and make you dread it.
"My relatives are understanding, but I'm very mindful that I don't want to upset others. It's like a really big battle of sacrificing my own sanity to make sure others enjoy themselves."
So it's obvious why the most wonderful time of the year can quickly turn into a stressful ordeal for those with the condition.
Noises that may seem harmless, like someone sipping a beverage, unwrapping gifts, or enjoying festive food can trigger a visceral feeling that can even result in them avoiding social settings altogether.
The student, a 21-year-old student, who has experienced sound sensitivity from childhood, says her strategy is to listen to music to cope. Usually, she would frequently go in a different room to escape triggering sounds.
She says her misophonia is more intense around people she's closest to, so Christmas is always "challenging".
"There is pressure to be around loved ones, and I desire to, but it's draining.
"The sensation is this uncontrollable anger washes over me, which can feel shameful, or I'll feel anxious and immediately start crying and then panic will kick in.
"It can come across as if I'm being difficult and dramatic, but it's hard to explain unless you've experienced it."
A Few Techniques to Manage
For those affected then there are some different techniques you can attempt to manage the situation, as suggested by experts.
- Visualise a Different Scenario: Imagination is crucial. Work on connecting the particular sound bothering you with a neutral concept. As an illustration, try to envision someone's noisy drinking is just a sink draining water. By doing this is to help your brain learn that the sound affecting you is neutral.
- Use Humor: Use lightheartedness and turn the annoying sound into a competition with the culprit. For example, if someone is crunching loudly have a go at mimicking the sound. By mimicking, rather than feeling like the sound is being imposed on you, you become an willing part. And the game aspect should help distract your brain and make you somewhat less sensitive.
- Develop a Narrative: A further strategy is to try to fabricate an explanation about the reason someone making the noise is doing it. Imagine if someone was sniffing, it could be that they're not at their best or could be emotional. By doing this is re-framing the context of the sound. Even though the noise remains identical, your interpretation of it moves from being annoying, to feeling a bit more accepting about it.
