The Holiday Season Transforms Into a Nightmare for Individuals Living with Sound Sensitivity.
One young woman is looking forward to spending time with her family this Christmas, but admits a primary method she'll endure is by relying on her earplugs - especially during the holiday meal.
In her case, Christmas often feels like a notably tough season as the sounds of other people chewing, drinking noisily and breathing heavily trigger intense distress.
"There's this sensation of instant dread, my every muscle will just tense up and it as though I'm in a threatening situation, and I need to manage these noises."
Lottie has experienced this condition for several years and for her that makes the festive season "deeply taxing".
Misophonia is a reduced tolerance to particular auditory triggers, especially noises made by other people.
It is prevalent amongst adults. Researchers reported almost one in five people are affected by it.
Frequently it's sounds associated with mouth, throat or facial movements that lead to discomfort, along with examples such as crunching, breathing, and foot tapping.
Triggering Stress
She explains: "There are so many assorted problematic noises at Christmas and that can be stressful and make you want to avoid it.
"Those close to me are understanding, but I'm very mindful that I don't want to upset others. It's like a really big battle of sacrificing my own sanity to ensure the event goes smoothly."
So it's obvious why the supposedly joyous time of the year can transform into a living nightmare for those with the condition.
Triggers that may be considered normal, like someone sipping a beverage, rustling a roll of wrapping paper, or enjoying festive food can cause a powerful reaction that can even lead to them withdrawing from gatherings.
She, a university student, who has dealt with sound sensitivity from childhood, explains her strategy is to listen to music to manage the meal. Usually, she would often retreat in a quiet area to avoid problematic noises.
She says her sensitivity is more intense around people she's most comfortable with, so Christmas is always "challenging".
"People assume you to spend time with family, and I desire to, but it's physically and mentally challenging.
"The sensation is this uncontrollable anger comes over me, which can feel awkward, or I'll feel panicked and immediately start crying and then the stress response will take over.
"It may seem as if I'm being unreasonable and dramatic, but it's hard to explain if you haven't felt it."
A Few Techniques to Handle It
For those affected then there are a few methods you can use to handle the situation, according to clinical psychologists.
- Imagine a Different Scenario: Creative thinking is essential. Work on connecting the particular sound bothering you with a neutral concept. As an illustration, try to picture someone's noisy drinking is just a sink draining water. The goal is to teach your brain that the sound affecting you isn't harmful.
- Try a Competition: Use lightheartedness and make the irritating noise into a challenge with the culprit. For example, if someone is eating noisily attempt joining in. By joining in, rather than feeling like the sound is an attack, you become an willing part. And the game aspect should help distract your brain and make you a little less affected.
- Craft a Story: One more method is to try to fabricate an explanation about why the person creating the sound is having to make that sound. So if someone was sniffing, it could be that they're not at their best or could be emotional. This approach is re-framing the context of the sound. Even though the sound doesn't change, your interpretation of it changes from being annoying, to feeling a slightly more compassionate towards it.
