Yuletide Often Proves to Be a Nightmare for Individuals Living with Sound Sensitivity.
Lottie is looking forward to seeing her loved ones this Christmas, but says one of the only ways she'll endure is by relying on her earplugs - especially during the main festive feast.
For the 23-year-old, Christmas often feels like a notably tough time as the sounds of people eating, drinking noisily and breathing heavily cause her profound anxiety.
"I get this wave of instant dread, my whole body will just tense up and it feels like I'm in a threatening situation, and I need to manage these sounds."
She has experienced misophonia since she was 16 and for her that causes the festive season "exceptionally stressful".
Misophonia is an intense sensitivity to particular auditory triggers, notably sounds made by other people.
The condition is widespread amongst adults. Experts discovered almost one in five people are affected by it.
Typically it's noises associated with mouth, throat or facial movements that lead to discomfort, along with things like chewing, heavy breathing, and foot tapping.
A Source of Dread
The sufferer notes: "I face so many assorted problematic noises at Christmas and that can be anxiety inducing and make you want to avoid it.
"My family are understanding, but I'm very aware that I don't want to make other people feel uncomfortable. It's like a really big battle of sacrificing my own sanity to make sure everyone else is happy."
So it's easy to understand why the supposedly joyous season can quickly turn into a stressful ordeal for those with the condition.
Triggers that may be considered normal, like someone sipping a beverage, unwrapping gifts, or tucking into a Christmas dinner can provoke a strong emotional response that can even result in them skipping events entirely.
The student, a 21-year-old student, who has dealt with misophonia for over a decade, says her strategy is to listen to music to cope. Typically, she would often retreat in a quiet area to escape problematic noises.
She notes her sensitivity is more pronounced around people she's most familiar with, so the holidays is always "challenging".
"People assume you to spend time with loved ones, and I desire to, but it's draining.
"It's like this sudden rage takes hold, which can feel shameful, or I'll feel anxious and begin to weep and then fight-or-flight will activate.
"It can come across as if I'm being unreasonable and dramatic, but it's hard to explain if you haven't felt it."
A Few Techniques to Manage
For those affected then there are a few methods you can attempt to manage the situation, based on advice from specialists.
- Imagine an Alternative: Mental imagery is essential. Attempt to link the specific noise causing distress with something completely different. As an illustration, try to imagine someone's noisy drinking is just a gentle stream. This technique is to help your brain learn that the sound affecting you is neutral.
- Try a Competition: Use lightheartedness and make the irritating noise into a competition with the person. As an example, if someone is eating noisily have a go at copying the noise. Through participation, instead of feeling like the sound is unwanted, you become an active participant. And the game aspect should help distract your brain and make you somewhat less sensitive.
- Craft a Story: Another technique is to try to fabricate an explanation about why the person making the noise is doing it. So if someone was making a nasal sound, it could be that they're not in good health or are troubled. The idea is altering the perception of the sound. Even though the noise remains identical, your interpretation of it shifts from being annoying, to feeling a bit more accepting about it.
