Christmas Transforms Into a Terrifying Experience for Individuals Living with Sound Sensitivity.
A 23-year-old anticipates seeing her family this Christmas, but notes one of the only ways she'll endure is by wearing her hearing protection - notably for the main festive feast.
In her case, the holidays often feels like a notably tough time as the sounds of people eating, slurping and sniffling trigger intense distress.
"I get this wave of sudden panic, my every muscle will just tense up and it as though I'm in a threatening situation, and I need to stop these triggers."
The individual has experienced this condition since she was 16 and for her that causes the holiday period "exceptionally stressful".
Misophonia is a reduced tolerance to particular auditory triggers, notably sounds made by other people.
It's surprisingly common amongst adults. Experts reported a significant portion of people experience it.
Typically it's noises associated with eating or drinking that lead to discomfort, including examples such as chewing, heavy breathing, and foot tapping.
Triggering Stress
Lottie says: "There are so many different triggering sounds at Christmas and that can be daunting and make you want to avoid it.
"My relatives are understanding, but I'm very mindful that I don't want to make other people feel uncomfortable. It's like a really big battle of managing my symptoms to make sure everyone else is happy."
So it's easy to understand why the most wonderful season can quickly turn into a source of agony for those with the condition.
Sounds that may appear innocuous, like someone slurping a Buck's fizz, unwrapping gifts, or tucking into a Christmas dinner can provoke a visceral feeling that can even lead to them avoiding social settings altogether.
She, a 21-year-old student, who has dealt with sound sensitivity from childhood, explains currently her plan is to put her earphones in to get through dinner. Usually, she would frequently go in a separate space to minimize triggering sounds.
She notes her condition is worse around people she's closest to, so Christmas is always "hard".
"There's an expectation to socialize with loved ones, and I wish to, but it's physically and mentally challenging.
"The sensation is this intense irritation washes over me, which can feel shameful, or I'll feel stressed and begin to weep and then the stress response will take over.
"It can come across as if I'm being difficult and melodramatic, but it's tough to describe unless you've experienced it."
Several Strategies to Handle It
If it's an issue then there are a few methods you can try to cope the situation, as suggested by clinical psychologists.
- Visualise an Alternative: Mental imagery is crucial. Attempt to link the specific noise affecting you with a neutral concept. For instance, try to imagine someone's slurping is just a gentle stream. The goal is to retrain your mind that the sound triggering you isn't harmful.
- Make it a Game: Introduce playfulness and make the irritating noise into a competition involving the source. For instance, if someone is eating noisily have a go at mimicking the sound. By mimicking, instead of feeling like the sound is being imposed on you, you become an active participant. And the challenge should help redirect your focus and make you slightly more tolerant.
- Craft a Story: Another technique is to try to invent a reason about why the person making the noise is having to make that sound. For example if someone was sniffing, maybe they are not feeling well or are troubled. By doing this is altering the perception of the sound. While the sound remains identical, your understanding of it shifts from being annoying, to feeling a bit more accepting towards it.
