Yuletide Often Proves to Be a Nightmare for Individuals Living with Sound Sensitivity.
One young woman is looking forward to being with her loved ones this Christmas, but notes one of the only ways she'll manage to get through it is by wearing her noise-cancelling devices - especially during Christmas dinner.
For her, this time of year is a particularly difficult period as the auditory triggers of other people chewing, slurping and nose-blowing cause her intense distress.
"I get this wave of instant dread, my whole body will just tighten and it feels like I'm in a threatening situation, and I need to somehow control these triggers."
Lottie has experienced this condition for several years and for her that makes the holiday period "incredibly overwhelming".
Misophonia is an intense sensitivity to specific noises, notably sounds produced by those around you.
The condition is widespread across the population. Experts reported almost one in five people experience it.
Often it's sounds linked to eating or drinking that lead to discomfort, as well as things like crunching, breathing, and repetitive finger tapping.
Triggering Stress
Lottie says: "I face so many various auditory triggers at Christmas and that can be stressful and make you fear it.
"Those close to me are understanding, but I'm very aware that I don't want to make other people feel uncomfortable. It's like a really big battle of sacrificing my own sanity to ensure the event goes smoothly."
So it's clear why the most wonderful season can transform into a source of agony for sufferers.
Triggers that may appear innocuous, like someone drinking champagne, rustling a roll of wrapping paper, or tucking into a Christmas dinner can trigger a strong emotional response that can even result in them withdrawing from gatherings.
Jenna, a university student, who has dealt with sound sensitivity from childhood, states currently her plan is to put her earphones in to get through dinner. On any other day, she would frequently go in a separate space to escape problematic noises.
She notes her sensitivity is more pronounced around people she's most familiar with, so Christmas is always "challenging".
"There's an expectation to spend time with loved ones, and I want to, but it's draining.
"The sensation is this uncontrollable anger takes hold, which can feel awkward, or I'll feel anxious and begin to weep and then the stress response will kick in.
"To others it appears as if I'm being oversensitive and melodramatic, but it's difficult to convey if you haven't felt it."
Three Ways to Manage
If it's an issue then there are a few methods you can use to handle the situation, based on advice from experts.
- Visualise an Alternative: Mental imagery is key. Try to associate the particular sound causing distress with a neutral concept. For instance, try to imagine someone's noisy drinking is just a sink draining water. This technique is to teach your brain that the sound triggering you is neutral.
- Make it a Game: Introduce playfulness and turn the annoying sound into a challenge involving the source. For instance, if someone is eating noisily try mimicking the sound. By joining in, rather than feeling like the sound is unwanted, you become an engaged person. And the game aspect should help redirect your focus and make you somewhat less sensitive.
- Craft a Story: One more method is to try to invent a reason about why the person creating the sound is behaving that way. So if someone was making a nasal sound, perhaps they're not at their best or are troubled. This approach is re-framing the context of the sound. Although the noise stays the same, your understanding of it moves from being irritating, to feeling a slightly more compassionate about it.
