The Holiday Season Can Be a Nightmare for Individuals Living with Sound Sensitivity.
A 23-year-old is looking forward to spending time with her loved ones during the festive period, but says a primary method she'll cope is by using her earplugs - particularly at the main festive feast.
For her, Christmas is a particularly difficult season as the sounds of family members munching, drinking noisily and breathing heavily make her feel profound anxiety.
"There's this wave of instant dread, my entire being will just tense up and it seems as if I'm in danger, and I need to stop these noises."
The individual has lived with misophonia for several years and for her that makes the Christmas time "incredibly overwhelming".
Misophonia is an intense sensitivity to specific noises, notably sounds coming from other people.
The condition is widespread in the UK. A study discovered nearly 20% people suffer from it.
Frequently it's noises connected to mouth, throat or facial movements that lead to discomfort, along with things like chewing, heavy breathing, and foot tapping.
A Source of Dread
Lottie says: "I face so many assorted problematic noises at the holidays and that can be anxiety inducing and make you fear it.
"My family are supportive, but I'm very mindful that I don't want to make other people feel uncomfortable. It's like a really big battle of managing my symptoms to guarantee others enjoy themselves."
So it's obvious why the most wonderful season can quickly turn into a source of agony for sufferers.
Noises that may appear innocuous, like someone slurping a Buck's fizz, opening presents, or enjoying festive food can trigger a visceral feeling that can even result in them withdrawing from gatherings.
She, a university student, who has dealt with misophonia from childhood, states currently her plan is to use headphones to get through dinner. On any other day, she would usually isolate herself in a quiet area to escape problematic noises.
She explains her condition is more pronounced around people she's most comfortable with, so the holidays is always "difficult".
"There is pressure to be around loved ones, and I desire to, but it's physically and mentally challenging.
"The sensation is this sudden rage takes hold, which can feel awkward, or I'll feel anxious and begin to weep and then panic will take over.
"It can come across as if I'm being unreasonable and overreacting, but it's tough to describe without firsthand experience."
A Few Techniques to Cope
If you suffer then there are a few methods you can use to handle the situation, as suggested by experts.
- Imagine Something Else: Mental imagery is essential. Try to associate the specific noise causing distress with a neutral concept. So for example, try to envision someone's noisy drinking is just a sink draining water. This technique is to help your brain learn that the sound affecting you isn't harmful.
- Use Humor: Have a bit of fun and make the irritating noise into a competition involving the source. For instance, if someone is crunching loudly try mimicking the sound. By mimicking, rather than feeling like the sound is unwanted, you become an engaged person. And the competition element should help distract your brain and make you slightly more tolerant.
- Develop a Narrative: A further strategy is to try to create a little story about the reason someone making the noise is behaving that way. For example if someone was making a nasal sound, perhaps they're not in good health or could be emotional. The idea is re-framing the context of the sound. While the sound doesn't change, your reaction of it moves from being irritating, to feeling a little more neutral towards it.
