Christmas Transforms Into a Terrifying Experience for Individuals Living with Sound Sensitivity.
A 23-year-old anticipates seeing her loved ones during the festive period, but notes one of the only ways she'll cope is by relying on her noise-cancelling devices - particularly at Christmas dinner.
For her, this time of year is a notably tough season as the auditory triggers of other people chewing, slurping and nose-blowing trigger intense distress.
"I get this sensation of immediate anxiety, my entire being will just tense up and it feels like I'm in danger, and I need to stop these noises."
The individual has experienced sound sensitivity for several years and for her that renders the Christmas time "deeply taxing".
Misophonia is a reduced tolerance to specific noises, particularly those produced by those around you.
The condition is widespread in the UK. Experts reported nearly 20% people suffer from it.
Typically it's sounds connected to mouth, throat or facial movements that trigger a reaction, along with things like crunching, breathing, and repetitive finger tapping.
Triggering Stress
Lottie says: "You encounter so many assorted problematic noises at Christmas and that can be anxiety inducing and make you fear it.
"My relatives are understanding, but I'm very aware that I don't want to spoil the mood. It's like a internal conflict of enduring my distress to guarantee others enjoy themselves."
So it's easy to understand why the traditionally happy season can transform into a stressful ordeal for those with the condition.
Sounds that may be considered normal, like someone drinking champagne, unwrapping gifts, or eating the holiday meal can provoke a visceral feeling that can even result in them avoiding social settings altogether.
The student, a young adult, who has struggled with sound sensitivity for over a decade, says her strategy is to listen to music to get through dinner. On any other day, she would usually isolate herself in a different room to avoid distressing triggers.
She notes her sensitivity is worse around people she's most familiar with, so Christmas is always "challenging".
"People assume you to spend time with family, and I wish to, but it's exhausting on all levels.
"The sensation is this intense irritation takes hold, which can feel awkward, or I'll feel anxious and immediately start crying and then panic will kick in.
"It can come across as if I'm being unreasonable and overreacting, but it's difficult to convey without firsthand experience."
Three Ways to Handle It
For those affected then there are a few methods you can use to handle the situation, as suggested by clinical psychologists.
- Imagine Something Else: Creative thinking is crucial. Attempt to link the triggering sound affecting you with an unrelated image. As an illustration, try to picture someone's slurping is just a sink draining water. By doing this is to help your brain learn that the sound triggering you isn't harmful.
- Try a Competition: Use lightheartedness and make the irritating noise into a game with the person. For instance, if someone is crunching loudly attempt joining in. By joining in, instead of feeling like the sound is unwanted, you become an willing part. And the game aspect should help redirect your focus and make you slightly more tolerant.
- Create a Scenario: A further strategy is to try to create a little story about the reason someone making the noise is having to make that sound. So if someone was sniffing, perhaps they're not in good health or maybe they're upset. By doing this is re-framing the context of the sound. While the sound remains identical, your understanding of it changes from being irritating, to feeling a slightly more compassionate towards it.
