The Holiday Season Can Be a Living Hell for Individuals Living with Sound Sensitivity.
A 23-year-old hopes for being with her family over the holidays, but notes one of the only ways she'll endure is by wearing her hearing protection - especially during the holiday meal.
In her case, the holidays is a notably tough season as the noises of people eating, slurping and nose-blowing cause her profound anxiety.
"There's this sensation of sudden panic, my entire being will just freeze and it as though I'm in danger, and I need to somehow control these noises."
Lottie has experienced sound sensitivity from a young age and for her that makes the festive season "deeply taxing".
Misophonia is a decreased threshold to particular auditory triggers, particularly those produced by individuals.
It's surprisingly common in the UK. A study reported nearly 20% people suffer from it.
Often it's noises connected to bodily functions that cause distress, including things like chewing, heavy breathing, and repetitive finger tapping.
A Source of Dread
The sufferer notes: "You encounter so many different triggering sounds at Christmas and that can be daunting and make you dread it.
"Those close to me are understanding, but I'm very aware that I don't want to spoil the mood. It's like a constant struggle of sacrificing my own sanity to guarantee everyone else is happy."
So it's easy to understand why the supposedly joyous period can quickly turn into a living nightmare for affected individuals.
Sounds that may appear innocuous, like someone slurping a Buck's fizz, rustling a roll of wrapping paper, or eating the holiday meal can trigger a visceral feeling that can even result in them withdrawing from gatherings.
The student, a 21-year-old student, who has experienced misophonia since aged 10, says the approach she intends to use is to listen to music to manage the meal. Typically, she would often retreat in a quiet area to avoid problematic noises.
She notes her sensitivity is more pronounced around people she's most comfortable with, so the holidays is always "hard".
"There is pressure to spend time with loved ones, and I wish to, but it's draining.
"I feel as if this sudden rage comes over me, which can feel embarrassing, or I'll feel panicked and begin to weep and then panic will take over.
"It can come across as if I'm being difficult and melodramatic, but it's tough to describe without firsthand experience."
A Few Techniques to Manage
If it's an issue then there are a few methods you can attempt to manage the situation, according to experts.
- Picture an Alternative: Mental imagery is key. Work on connecting the particular sound affecting you with something completely different. For instance, try to imagine someone's slurping is just a gentle stream. By doing this is to help your brain learn that the sound triggering you is neutral.
- Try a Competition: Use lightheartedness and make the irritating noise into a challenge involving the source. For example, if someone is eating noisily attempt copying the noise. By mimicking, instead of feeling like the sound is unwanted, you become an willing part. And the competition element should help shift your attention and make you somewhat less sensitive.
- Craft a Story: One more method is to try to invent a reason about why the person making the noise is doing it. So if someone was sniffing, it could be that they're not at their best or maybe they're upset. The idea is changing the meaning of the sound. While the noise doesn't change, your interpretation of it shifts from being aggravating, to feeling a slightly more compassionate about it.