Christmas Transforms Into a Nightmare for Individuals Living with Sound Sensitivity.
Lottie hopes for spending time with her family this Christmas, but says a primary method she'll manage to get through it is by relying on her noise-cancelling devices - particularly at the holiday meal.
In her case, this time of year can be a particularly difficult time as the noises of other people chewing, slurping and sniffling cause her intense distress.
"I experience this wave of immediate anxiety, my whole body will just freeze and it feels like I'm in a threatening situation, and I need to stop these triggers."
She has lived with sound sensitivity since she was 16 and for her that makes the festive season "incredibly overwhelming".
Misophonia is a decreased threshold to specific noises, particularly those coming from other people.
The condition is widespread amongst adults. A study reported almost one in five people are affected by it.
Often it's noises linked to bodily functions that lead to discomfort, along with things like crunching, heavy breathing, and pen clicking.
A Source of Dread
Lottie says: "You encounter so many assorted problematic noises at Christmas 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 upset others. It's like a internal conflict of sacrificing my own sanity to ensure everyone else is happy."
So it's obvious why the traditionally happy season can transform into a living nightmare for sufferers.
Sounds that may seem harmless, like someone drinking champagne, opening presents, or enjoying festive food can cause a visceral feeling that can even lead to them withdrawing from gatherings.
She, a 21-year-old student, who has struggled with misophonia since aged 10, explains currently her plan is to put her earphones in to get through dinner. Usually, she would often retreat in a different room to avoid distressing triggers.
She says her sensitivity is more intense around people she's most comfortable with, so the holidays is always "difficult".
"People assume you to spend time with family, and I desire to, but it's exhausting on all levels.
"It's like this sudden rage comes over me, which can feel awkward, or I'll feel anxious and immediately start crying and then panic will kick in.
"It can come across as if I'm being unreasonable and overreacting, but it's hard to explain unless you've experienced it."
Three Ways to Cope
If it's an issue then there are various strategies you can use to handle the situation, according to experts.
- Imagine an Alternative: Imagination is key. Work on connecting the particular sound causing distress with something completely different. As an illustration, try to picture someone's slurping is just a sink draining water. By doing this is to help your brain learn that the sound triggering you isn't harmful.
- Use Humor: Have a bit of fun and turn the annoying sound into a game with the culprit. For example, if someone is crunching loudly have a go at joining in. Through participation, rather than feeling like the sound is an attack, you become an willing part. And the game aspect 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 why the person making the noise is doing it. For example if someone was sniffing, maybe they are not feeling well or maybe they're upset. This approach is re-framing the context of the sound. While the noise remains identical, your interpretation of it moves from being aggravating, to feeling a bit more accepting about it.