The Holiday Season Transforms Into a Living Hell for Individuals Living with Sound Sensitivity.
Lottie hopes for seeing her family over the holidays, but admits a primary method she'll cope is by using her noise-cancelling devices - notably for the main festive feast.
For her, Christmas often feels like a especially challenging period as the auditory triggers of family members munching, drinking noisily and nose-blowing make her feel extremely uncomfortable.
"There's this wave of instant dread, my whole body will just tighten and it seems as if I'm in a threatening situation, and I need to somehow control these noises."
She has experienced this condition since she was 16 and for her that makes the festive season "incredibly overwhelming".
Misophonia is a reduced tolerance to certain sounds, especially noises coming from other people.
It's surprisingly common amongst adults. Researchers discovered nearly 20% people experience it.
Frequently it's noises linked to eating or drinking that trigger a reaction, as well as examples such as crunching, heavy breathing, and repetitive finger tapping.
Triggering Stress
Lottie says: "I face so many different triggering sounds at Christmas and that can be daunting and make you fear it.
"My family are supportive, but I'm very aware that I don't want to upset others. It's like a really big battle of enduring my distress to guarantee others enjoy themselves."
So it's obvious why the traditionally happy period can quickly turn into a living nightmare for affected individuals.
Sounds that may appear innocuous, like someone sipping a beverage, unwrapping gifts, or enjoying festive food can trigger a powerful reaction that can even cause them withdrawing from gatherings.
Jenna, a university student, who has struggled with sound sensitivity since aged 10, states currently her plan is to use headphones to get through dinner. Usually, she would usually isolate herself in a separate space to avoid problematic noises.
She notes her condition is worse around people she's closest to, so Christmas is always "hard".
"There is pressure to socialize with family, and I want to, but it's draining.
"The sensation is this sudden rage washes over me, which can feel awkward, or I'll feel panicked and begin to weep and then the stress response will kick in.
"It can come across as if I'm being unreasonable and overreacting, but it's hard to explain without firsthand experience."
A Few Techniques to Handle It
If it's an issue then there are a few methods you can use to handle the situation, based on advice from specialists.
- Imagine Something Else: Mental imagery is key. Work on connecting the specific noise causing distress with something completely different. So for example, try to envision someone's noisy drinking is just a gentle stream. This technique is to teach your brain that the sound triggering you is neutral.
- Use Humor: Have a bit of fun and turn the annoying sound into a challenge involving the source. For example, if someone is eating noisily try joining in. Through participation, instead of feeling like the sound is an attack, you become an active participant. And the game aspect should help redirect your focus and make you a little less affected.
- Develop a Narrative: One more method is to try to fabricate an explanation about why the person making the noise is doing it. So if someone was sniffing, maybe they are not feeling well or maybe they're upset. By doing this is changing the meaning of the sound. Even though the noise stays the same, your understanding of it shifts from being irritating, to feeling a slightly more compassionate about it.
