Yuletide Transforms Into a Terrifying Experience for Individuals Living with Sound Sensitivity.
Lottie is looking forward to seeing her relatives this Christmas, but says a key strategy she'll cope is by using her earplugs - particularly at the holiday meal.
In her case, this time of year can be a notably tough season as the noises of people eating, slurping and sniffling make her feel intense distress.
"There's this wave of instant dread, my entire being will just tense up and it as though I'm in a threatening situation, and I need to somehow control these sounds."
Lottie has lived with this condition for several years and for her that causes the holiday period "deeply taxing".
Misophonia is a reduced tolerance to certain sounds, notably sounds produced by those around you.
It is prevalent amongst adults. Researchers reported nearly 20% people experience it.
Frequently it's sounds connected to eating or drinking that lead to discomfort, along with examples such as chewing, heavy breathing, and repetitive finger tapping.
Triggering Stress
The sufferer notes: "There are so many assorted problematic noises at the holidays and that can be daunting and make you fear it.
"Those close to me are aware, but I'm very mindful that I don't want to make other people feel uncomfortable. It's like a internal conflict of sacrificing my own sanity to ensure the event goes smoothly."
So it's easy to understand why the traditionally happy time of the year can quickly turn into a stressful ordeal for those with the condition.
Triggers that may seem harmless, like someone sipping a beverage, rustling a roll of wrapping paper, or tucking into a Christmas dinner can provoke a visceral feeling that can even lead to them skipping events entirely.
She, a young adult, who has experienced misophonia since aged 10, explains her strategy is to use headphones to manage the meal. On any other day, she would often retreat in a separate space to minimize problematic noises.
She explains her condition is more pronounced around people she's most familiar with, so Christmas is always "difficult".
"There's an expectation to be around loved ones, and I desire to, but it's draining.
"It's like this sudden rage takes hold, which can feel awkward, or I'll feel anxious and immediately start crying and then the stress response will take over.
"It may seem as if I'm being oversensitive and overreacting, but it's hard to explain without firsthand experience."
Three Ways to Handle It
If you suffer then there are a few methods you can try to cope the situation, based on advice from experts.
- Imagine Something Else: Imagination is crucial. Work on connecting the triggering sound affecting you with a neutral concept. So for example, try to imagine someone's noisy drinking is just a gentle stream. By doing this is to teach your brain that the sound affecting you poses no threat.
- Try a Competition: Introduce playfulness and make the irritating noise into a challenge with the culprit. For example, if someone is eating noisily try copying the noise. Through participation, instead of feeling like the sound is being imposed on you, you become an willing part. And the challenge should help shift your attention and make you somewhat less sensitive.
- Craft a Story: One more method is to try to fabricate an explanation about why the person creating the sound is doing it. Imagine if someone was sniffing, perhaps they're not at their best or are troubled. The idea is re-framing the context of the sound. Although the noise stays the same, your reaction of it shifts from being annoying, to feeling a little more neutral towards it.
