The Holiday Season Often Proves to Be a Living Hell for Individuals Living with Sound Sensitivity.
Lottie hopes for being with her relatives over the holidays, but admits a key strategy she'll cope is by using her hearing protection - especially during the holiday meal.
For her, this time of year often feels like a notably tough time as the auditory triggers of family members munching, drinking noisily and sniffling make her feel intense distress.
"I get this feeling of sudden panic, my whole body will just tense up and it as though I'm in peril, and I need to somehow control these noises."
Lottie has suffered from sound sensitivity for several years and for her that renders the festive season "incredibly overwhelming".
Misophonia is a reduced tolerance to certain sounds, notably sounds produced by other people.
The condition is widespread amongst adults. A study discovered a significant portion of people suffer from it.
Often it's noises linked to bodily functions that trigger a reaction, along with examples such as chewing, heavy breathing, and repetitive finger tapping.
Triggering Stress
Lottie says: "I face so many assorted problematic noises at Christmas and that can be anxiety inducing and make you fear it.
"Those close to me are understanding, but I'm very aware that I don't want to upset others. It's like a internal conflict of sacrificing my own sanity to guarantee others enjoy themselves."
So it's clear why the most wonderful time of the year can transform into a living nightmare for sufferers.
Triggers that may appear innocuous, like someone drinking champagne, opening presents, or enjoying festive food can provoke a strong emotional response that can even result in them withdrawing from gatherings.
Jenna, a university student, who has struggled with misophonia from childhood, states currently her plan is to listen to music to cope. On any other day, she would frequently go in a different room to avoid problematic noises.
She notes her condition is more pronounced around people she's most comfortable with, so the holidays is always "challenging".
"There's an expectation to spend time with family, and I wish to, but it's draining.
"I feel as if this intense irritation takes hold, which can feel shameful, or I'll feel stressed and burst into tears and then fight-or-flight will activate.
"It can come across as if I'm being oversensitive and dramatic, but it's tough to describe without firsthand experience."
Three Ways to Cope
If you suffer then there are various strategies you can try to cope the situation, as suggested by experts.
- Imagine an Alternative: Creative thinking is essential. Try to associate the specific noise bothering you with a neutral concept. As an illustration, try to envision someone's slurping is just a sink draining water. This technique is to teach your brain that the sound affecting you isn't harmful.
- Try a Competition: Have a bit of fun and turn the annoying sound into a challenge involving the source. For instance, if someone is crunching loudly attempt copying the noise. By joining in, instead of feeling like the sound is an attack, you become an willing part. And the challenge should help shift your attention and make you somewhat less sensitive.
- Create a Scenario: A further strategy is to try to create a little story about the reason someone creating the sound is doing it. So if someone was sniffing, maybe they are not at their best or could be emotional. By doing this is altering the perception of the sound. While the noise stays the same, your understanding of it changes from being annoying, to feeling a little more neutral about it.
