Christmas Often Proves to Be a Living Hell for Individuals Living with Sound Sensitivity.
One young woman hopes for seeing her loved ones this Christmas, but notes a primary method she'll endure is by using her noise-cancelling devices - notably for Christmas dinner.
For her, the holidays often feels like a particularly difficult time as the auditory triggers of other people chewing, sipping loudly and nose-blowing make her feel extremely uncomfortable.
"I experience this feeling of sudden panic, my entire being will just tense up and it as though I'm in a threatening situation, and I need to stop these triggers."
Lottie has suffered from sound sensitivity for several years and for her that renders the Christmas time "deeply taxing".
Misophonia is a decreased threshold to certain sounds, especially noises made by other people.
It's surprisingly common in the UK. Researchers discovered almost one in five people suffer from it.
Typically it's sounds linked to eating or drinking that lead to discomfort, as well as things like chewing, breathing, and pen clicking.
'Anxiety Inducing'
Lottie says: "There are so many assorted problematic noises at Christmas and that can be anxiety inducing and make you dread it.
"Those close to me are understanding, but I'm very mindful that I don't want to upset others. It's like a internal conflict of enduring my distress to guarantee the event goes smoothly."
So it's easy to understand why the traditionally happy period can quickly turn into a source of agony for those with the condition.
Sounds that may seem harmless, like someone drinking champagne, unwrapping gifts, or eating the holiday meal can cause a visceral feeling that can even lead to them skipping events entirely.
She, a young adult, who has dealt with misophonia from childhood, explains currently her plan is to listen to music to manage the meal. Usually, she would often retreat in a separate space to avoid problematic noises.
She notes her condition is worse around people she's most comfortable with, so the holidays is always "challenging".
"There's an expectation to be around loved ones, and I desire to, but it's exhausting on all levels.
"It's like this sudden rage washes over me, which can feel awkward, or I'll feel anxious and burst into tears and then fight-or-flight will take over.
"It can come across as if I'm being difficult and overreacting, but it's hard to explain without firsthand experience."
Three Ways to Manage
If it's an issue then there are a few methods you can use to handle the situation, as suggested by experts.
- Visualise a Different Scenario: Creative thinking is crucial. Work on connecting the triggering sound affecting you with a neutral concept. So for example, try to picture someone's slurping is just a waterfall. By doing this is to retrain your mind that the sound affecting you poses no threat.
- Make it a Game: Use lightheartedness and turn the annoying sound into a competition with the culprit. For example, if someone is eating noisily have a go at joining in. Through participation, instead of feeling like the sound is unwanted, you become an engaged person. And the competition element should help redirect your focus and make you somewhat less sensitive.
- Create a Scenario: Another technique is to try to create a little story about why the person creating the sound is having to make that sound. Imagine if someone was sniffing, perhaps they're not feeling well or could be emotional. The idea is re-framing the context of the sound. Even though the noise remains identical, your interpretation of it moves from being annoying, to feeling a bit more accepting about it.
