Yuletide Transforms Into a Terrifying Experience for Individuals Living with Sound Sensitivity.
One young woman hopes for spending time with her loved ones this Christmas, but says one of the only ways she'll manage to get through it is by using her noise-cancelling devices - particularly at the main festive feast.
For the 23-year-old, the holidays is a especially challenging time as the noises of other people chewing, sipping loudly and nose-blowing trigger extremely uncomfortable.
"I get this wave of instant dread, my entire being will just tighten and it seems as if I'm in a threatening situation, and I need to stop these triggers."
Lottie has experienced sound sensitivity since she was 16 and for her that renders the Christmas time "incredibly overwhelming".
Misophonia is a reduced tolerance to specific noises, particularly those produced by other people.
It's surprisingly common amongst adults. Researchers discovered nearly 20% people experience it.
Typically it's sounds associated with bodily functions that lead to discomfort, as well as examples such as crunching, heavy breathing, and repetitive finger 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 supportive, but I'm very aware that I don't want to make other people feel uncomfortable. It's like a really big battle of enduring my distress to ensure others enjoy themselves."
So it's clear why the supposedly joyous period can transform into a stressful ordeal for sufferers.
Sounds that may appear innocuous, like someone drinking champagne, rustling a roll of wrapping paper, or tucking into a Christmas dinner can cause a powerful reaction that can even lead to them skipping events entirely.
She, a university student, who has dealt with sound sensitivity since aged 10, explains currently her plan is to listen to music to get through dinner. Typically, she would usually isolate herself in a separate space to escape problematic noises.
She says her misophonia is more pronounced around people she's most comfortable with, so Christmas is always "hard".
"People assume you to spend time with loved ones, and I want to, but it's exhausting on all levels.
"I feel as if this sudden rage washes over me, which can feel embarrassing, or I'll feel anxious and immediately start crying and then the stress response will take over.
"It may seem as if I'm being oversensitive and melodramatic, but it's tough to describe if you haven't felt it."
A Few Techniques to Cope
For those affected then there are some different techniques you can attempt to manage the situation, according to experts.
- Visualise Something Else: Creative thinking is key. Attempt to link the specific noise bothering you with a neutral concept. For instance, try to imagine someone's noisy drinking is just a gentle stream. By doing this is to retrain your mind that the sound affecting you isn't harmful.
- Use Humor: Use lightheartedness and turn the annoying sound into a game with the culprit. For instance, if someone is eating noisily have a go at joining in. Through participation, instead of feeling like the sound is being imposed on you, you become an active participant. And the challenge should help redirect your focus and make you somewhat less sensitive.
- Craft a Story: Another technique is to try to invent a reason about the reason someone creating the sound is having to make that sound. For example if someone was sniffing, perhaps they're not at their best or maybe they're upset. By doing this is re-framing the context of the sound. While the noise doesn't change, your interpretation of it changes from being aggravating, to feeling a little more neutral towards it.
