Christmas Often Proves to Be a Terrifying Experience for Individuals Living with Sound Sensitivity.
Lottie is looking forward to spending time with her loved ones over the holidays, but says a key strategy she'll manage to get through it is by using her earplugs - especially during the holiday meal.
For her, Christmas is a particularly difficult time as the sounds of family members munching, sipping loudly and nose-blowing make her feel profound anxiety.
"There's this sensation of instant dread, my whole body will just tighten and it feels like I'm in a threatening situation, and I need to stop these sounds."
Lottie has experienced this condition from a young age and for her that causes the Christmas time "incredibly overwhelming".
Misophonia is a reduced tolerance to particular auditory triggers, particularly those coming from individuals.
It's surprisingly common in the UK. Experts discovered almost one in five people experience it.
Frequently it's sounds linked to eating or drinking that cause distress, along with things like crunching, heavy breathing, and foot tapping.
A Source of Dread
The sufferer notes: "You encounter so many various auditory triggers at Christmas and that can be stressful and make you dread it.
"My family are aware, but I'm very mindful that I don't want to make other people feel uncomfortable. It's like a constant struggle of managing my symptoms to ensure everyone else is happy."
So it's obvious why the traditionally happy season can transform into a source of agony for affected individuals.
Sounds that may seem harmless, like someone slurping a Buck's fizz, opening presents, or tucking into a Christmas dinner can provoke a powerful reaction that can even result in them skipping events entirely.
Jenna, a 21-year-old student, who has dealt with misophonia since aged 10, states the approach she intends to use is to listen to music to manage the meal. On any other day, she would usually isolate herself in a quiet area to escape problematic noises.
She notes her condition is more pronounced around people she's closest to, so Christmas is always "challenging".
"There is pressure to be around family, and I desire to, but it's physically and mentally challenging.
"It's like this sudden rage washes over me, which can feel shameful, or I'll feel anxious and immediately start crying and then fight-or-flight will kick in.
"It can come across as if I'm being unreasonable and dramatic, but it's difficult to convey unless you've experienced it."
Three Ways to Handle It
If you suffer then there are a few methods you can attempt to manage the situation, based on advice from experts.
- Visualise a Different Scenario: Creative thinking is key. Try to associate the specific noise causing distress with an unrelated image. So for example, try to picture someone's slurping is just a gentle stream. This technique is to help your brain learn that the sound triggering you isn't harmful.
- Make it a Game: Have a bit of fun and turn the annoying sound into a challenge with the person. For example, if someone is eating noisily try copying the noise. Through participation, rather than feeling like the sound is an attack, you become an willing part. And the competition element should help distract your brain and make you a little less affected.
- Develop a Narrative: One more method is to try to invent a reason about the reason someone creating the sound is behaving that way. For example if someone was sniffing, it could be that they're not at their best or could be emotional. This approach is changing the meaning of the sound. While the sound remains identical, your interpretation of it shifts from being annoying, to feeling a slightly more compassionate towards it.
