Yuletide Can Be a Terrifying Experience for Individuals Living with Sound Sensitivity.
A 23-year-old hopes for seeing her loved ones over the holidays, but notes a primary method she'll endure is by using her earplugs - notably for Christmas dinner.
In her case, the holidays is a particularly difficult season as the auditory triggers of people eating, sipping loudly and nose-blowing trigger extremely uncomfortable.
"There's this wave of sudden panic, my whole body will just freeze and it feels like I'm in danger, and I need to somehow control these noises."
Lottie has experienced this condition for several years and for her that causes the festive season "incredibly overwhelming".
Misophonia is an intense sensitivity to certain sounds, notably sounds produced by those around you.
The condition is widespread across the population. A study discovered almost one in five people experience it.
Frequently it's noises connected to bodily functions that cause distress, as well as things like chewing, breathing, and repetitive finger tapping.
Triggering Stress
The sufferer notes: "There are so many various auditory triggers at the holidays and that can be daunting and make you dread it.
"My family are aware, 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 make sure the event goes smoothly."
So it's obvious why the traditionally happy period can quickly turn into a living nightmare for sufferers.
Sounds that may seem harmless, like someone sipping a beverage, opening presents, or tucking into a Christmas dinner can trigger a powerful reaction that can even lead to them avoiding social settings altogether.
The student, a young adult, who has dealt with sound sensitivity from childhood, explains the approach she intends to use is to listen to music to get through dinner. Usually, she would frequently go in a quiet area to escape triggering sounds.
She notes her sensitivity is more pronounced around people she's closest to, so Christmas is always "hard".
"People assume you to spend time with loved ones, and I want to, but it's draining.
"I feel as if this uncontrollable anger washes over me, which can feel shameful, or I'll feel anxious and burst into tears and then the stress response will activate.
"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
For those affected then there are various strategies you can use to handle the situation, as suggested by experts.
- Imagine Something Else: Mental imagery is key. Work on connecting the triggering sound affecting you with an unrelated image. As an illustration, try to imagine someone's noisy drinking is just a gentle stream. The goal is to retrain your mind that the sound affecting you poses no threat.
- Try a Competition: Have a bit of fun and make the irritating noise into a game with the person. For example, if someone is crunching loudly try copying the noise. By mimicking, instead of feeling like the sound is unwanted, you become an engaged person. And the challenge should help redirect your focus and make you slightly more tolerant.
- Develop a Narrative: One more method is to try to fabricate an explanation about why the person creating the sound is doing it. Imagine if someone was making a nasal sound, perhaps they're not at their best or are troubled. This approach is changing the meaning of the sound. Even though the sound remains identical, your understanding of it shifts from being irritating, to feeling a slightly more compassionate about it.
