Yuletide Can Be a Nightmare for Individuals Living with Sound Sensitivity.
One young woman is looking forward to being with her family during the festive period, but says a key strategy she'll manage to get through it is by relying on her earplugs - notably for the main festive feast.
For the 23-year-old, Christmas often feels like a particularly difficult time as the auditory triggers of family members munching, sipping loudly and breathing heavily make her feel intense distress.
"There's this feeling of sudden panic, my whole body will just freeze and it seems as if I'm in danger, and I need to manage these noises."
She has lived with misophonia for several years and for her that makes the Christmas time "exceptionally stressful".
Misophonia is an intense sensitivity to certain sounds, particularly those produced by other people.
It's surprisingly common amongst adults. Researchers discovered almost one in five people are affected by it.
Often it's sounds associated with eating or drinking that cause distress, as well as things like chewing, heavy breathing, and foot tapping.
Triggering Stress
Lottie says: "There are so many assorted problematic noises at Christmas and that can be daunting and make you fear it.
"My relatives are supportive, but I'm very aware that I don't want to upset others. It's like a constant struggle of sacrificing my own sanity to guarantee the event goes smoothly."
So it's obvious why the supposedly joyous time of the year can transform into a source of agony for those with the condition.
Sounds that may be considered normal, like someone sipping a beverage, opening presents, or eating the holiday meal can trigger a powerful reaction that can even result in them withdrawing from gatherings.
The student, a 21-year-old student, who has dealt with sound sensitivity for over a decade, 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 distressing triggers.
She notes her sensitivity is more intense around people she's closest to, so Christmas is always "challenging".
"People assume you to spend time with family, and I desire to, but it's exhausting on all levels.
"It's like this sudden rage takes hold, which can feel awkward, or I'll feel panicked and immediately start crying and then panic will take over.
"To others it appears as if I'm being unreasonable and melodramatic, but it's hard to explain unless you've experienced it."
Three Ways to Cope
If it's an issue then there are a few methods you can use to handle the situation, as suggested by specialists.
- Picture Something Else: Imagination is key. Work on connecting the triggering sound bothering you with something completely different. As an illustration, try to picture someone's noisy drinking is just a sink draining water. This technique is to help your brain learn that the sound affecting you isn't harmful.
- Make it a Game: Introduce playfulness and make the irritating noise into a competition involving the source. For example, if someone is eating noisily have a go at mimicking the sound. By joining in, instead of feeling like the sound is an attack, you become an active participant. And the competition element should help shift your attention and make you a little less affected.
- Craft a Story: Another technique is to try to fabricate an explanation about the reason someone making the noise is having to make that sound. Imagine if someone was sniffing, perhaps they're not feeling well or are troubled. The idea is altering the perception of the sound. While the sound stays the same, your interpretation of it shifts from being irritating, to feeling a bit more accepting towards it.
