The Holiday Season Often Proves to Be a Terrifying Experience for Individuals Living with Sound Sensitivity.
Lottie hopes for spending time with her family this Christmas, but says a key strategy she'll cope is by wearing her earplugs - particularly at the holiday meal.
For the 23-year-old, the holidays can be a especially challenging time as the noises of other people chewing, slurping and breathing heavily make her feel extremely uncomfortable.
"I get this feeling of sudden panic, my whole body will just freeze and it seems as if I'm in danger, and I need to manage these noises."
The individual has lived with misophonia since she was 16 and for her that makes the Christmas time "exceptionally stressful".
Misophonia is a reduced tolerance to specific noises, particularly those made by those around you.
The condition is widespread across the population. Researchers found a significant portion of people suffer from it.
Frequently it's noises associated with bodily functions that cause distress, including examples such as chewing, breathing, and foot tapping.
'Anxiety Inducing'
Lottie says: "I face so many different triggering sounds at the holidays and that can be daunting and make you want to avoid it.
"Those close to me are supportive, but I'm very aware that I don't want to spoil the mood. It's like a really big battle of managing my symptoms to guarantee others enjoy themselves."
So it's easy to understand why the supposedly joyous time of the year can quickly turn into a stressful ordeal for those with the condition.
Sounds that may be considered normal, like someone slurping a Buck's fizz, opening presents, or enjoying festive food can cause a powerful reaction that can even lead to them withdrawing from gatherings.
The student, a university student, who has experienced sound sensitivity from childhood, says currently her plan is to put her earphones in to get through dinner. On any other day, she would often retreat in a quiet area to minimize problematic noises.
She says her misophonia is worse around people she's closest to, so the holidays is always "difficult".
"People assume you to be around loved ones, and I desire to, but it's draining.
"It's like this intense irritation takes hold, which can feel embarrassing, or I'll feel panicked and begin to weep and then panic will take over.
"It can come across as if I'm being difficult and dramatic, but it's difficult to convey unless you've experienced it."
Several Strategies to Handle It
If it's an issue then there are various strategies you can attempt to manage the situation, as suggested by clinical psychologists.
- Picture a Different Scenario: Imagination is essential. Attempt to link the triggering sound bothering you with an unrelated image. For instance, try to picture someone's slurping is just a waterfall. By doing this is to help your brain learn that the sound triggering you isn't harmful.
- Make it a Game: Have a bit of fun and turn the annoying sound into a competition involving the source. For example, if someone is crunching loudly try joining in. Through participation, rather than feeling like the sound is unwanted, you become an active participant. And the challenge should help distract your brain and make you a little less affected.
- Develop a Narrative: Another technique is to try to invent a reason about why the person creating the sound is doing it. Imagine if someone was making a nasal sound, it could be that they're not at their best or could be emotional. This approach is altering the perception of the sound. While the sound doesn't change, your interpretation of it moves from being annoying, to feeling a bit more accepting about it.
