The Holiday Season Transforms Into a Terrifying Experience for Individuals Living with Sound Sensitivity.
Lottie anticipates seeing her family this Christmas, but admits a primary method she'll endure is by using her earplugs - particularly at the main festive feast.
For the 23-year-old, the holidays can be a especially challenging season as the sounds of family members munching, sipping loudly and nose-blowing cause her profound anxiety.
"There's this sensation of instant dread, my whole body will just tighten and it feels like I'm in peril, and I need to stop these triggers."
Lottie has experienced sound sensitivity for several years and for her that causes the festive season "deeply taxing".
Misophonia is an intense sensitivity to certain sounds, notably sounds coming from other people.
It's surprisingly common across the population. Experts found nearly 20% people are affected by it.
Often it's noises linked to mouth, throat or facial movements that cause distress, including things like chewing, heavy breathing, and foot tapping.
'Anxiety Inducing'
She explains: "There are so many assorted problematic noises at the holidays and that can be anxiety inducing and make you fear it.
"My relatives are understanding, but I'm very mindful that I don't want to spoil the mood. It's like a really big battle of managing my symptoms to guarantee others enjoy themselves."
So it's clear why the most wonderful period can quickly turn into a source of agony for sufferers.
Noises that may appear innocuous, like someone drinking champagne, rustling a roll of wrapping paper, or tucking into a Christmas dinner can cause a visceral feeling that can even lead to them withdrawing from gatherings.
Jenna, a young adult, who has struggled with sound sensitivity for over a decade, states the approach she intends to use is to put her earphones in to manage the meal. Typically, she would usually isolate herself in a different room to escape problematic noises.
She says her sensitivity is more intense around people she's most familiar with, so Christmas is always "hard".
"People assume you to spend time with family, and I wish to, but it's physically and mentally challenging.
"I feel as if this uncontrollable anger takes hold, which can feel shameful, or I'll feel panicked and immediately start crying and then the stress response will activate.
"It may seem as if I'm being difficult and dramatic, but it's hard to explain unless you've experienced it."
A Few Techniques to Manage
If you suffer then there are a few methods you can try to cope the situation, according to experts.
- Imagine a Different Scenario: Imagination is essential. Attempt to link the triggering sound causing distress with an unrelated image. So for example, try to picture someone's slurping is just a gentle stream. By doing this is to retrain your mind that the sound affecting you poses no threat.
- Try a Competition: Introduce playfulness and turn the annoying sound into a challenge with the person. For instance, if someone is eating noisily try joining in. Through participation, rather than feeling like the sound is unwanted, you become an engaged person. And the competition element should help redirect your focus and make you slightly more tolerant.
- Craft a Story: Another technique is to try to create a little story about the reason someone creating the sound is doing it. For example if someone was sniffing, perhaps they're not at their best or are troubled. By doing this is altering the perception of the sound. Although the sound doesn't change, your interpretation of it shifts from being annoying, to feeling a bit more accepting about it.
