The Holiday Season Transforms Into a Terrifying Experience for Individuals Living with Sound Sensitivity.
A 23-year-old anticipates seeing her family over the holidays, but admits one of the only ways she'll cope is by relying on her hearing protection - notably for Christmas dinner.
For the 23-year-old, the holidays can be a particularly difficult period as the sounds of family members munching, drinking noisily and nose-blowing trigger profound anxiety.
"I experience this sensation of instant dread, my whole body will just freeze and it seems as if I'm in peril, and I need to manage these noises."
The individual has lived with this condition from a young age and for her that causes the festive season "incredibly overwhelming".
Misophonia is an intense sensitivity to particular auditory triggers, especially noises made by those around you.
The condition is widespread in the UK. Researchers discovered nearly 20% people are affected by it.
Typically it's noises associated with eating or drinking that cause distress, including things like chewing, breathing, and pen clicking.
Triggering Stress
Lottie says: "I face so many various auditory triggers at Christmas and that can be anxiety inducing and make you fear it.
"Those close to me are supportive, but I'm very conscious that I don't want to make other people feel uncomfortable. It's like a constant struggle of enduring my distress to make sure everyone else is happy."
So it's easy to understand why the traditionally happy season can rapidly become a living nightmare for those with the condition.
Sounds that may seem harmless, like someone sipping a beverage, unwrapping gifts, or tucking into a Christmas dinner can trigger a visceral feeling that can even result in them withdrawing from gatherings.
The student, a 21-year-old student, who has dealt with misophonia for over a decade, states the approach she intends to use is to listen to music to manage the meal. Usually, she would usually isolate herself in a separate space to minimize triggering sounds.
She explains her misophonia is more pronounced around people she's most familiar with, so Christmas is always "difficult".
"There is pressure to spend time with family, and I wish to, but it's physically and mentally challenging.
"I feel as if this intense irritation washes over me, which can feel awkward, or I'll feel panicked and begin to weep and then panic will take over.
"It can come across as if I'm being difficult and melodramatic, but it's tough to describe if you haven't felt it."
Several Strategies to Cope
If you suffer then there are a few methods you can try to cope the situation, as suggested by experts.
- Visualise an Alternative: Imagination is essential. Attempt to link the specific noise causing distress 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.
- Make it a Game: Use lightheartedness and turn the annoying sound into a challenge with the culprit. For example, if someone is eating noisily try copying the noise. By joining in, rather than feeling like the sound is unwanted, you become an willing part. And the game aspect should help shift your attention and make you somewhat less sensitive.
- Develop a Narrative: A further strategy is to try to create a little story about why the person creating the sound is doing it. So if someone was making a nasal sound, maybe they are not at their best or could be emotional. This approach is altering the perception of the sound. While the noise remains identical, your reaction of it changes from being annoying, to feeling a bit more accepting about it.
