Yuletide Transforms Into a Terrifying Experience for Individuals Living with Sound Sensitivity.
Lottie is looking forward to spending time with her family this Christmas, but admits one of the only ways she'll cope is by wearing her earplugs - notably for the main festive feast.
For the 23-year-old, Christmas can be a especially challenging time as the sounds of other people chewing, sipping loudly and sniffling trigger intense distress.
"I get this feeling of instant dread, my every muscle will just tense up and it feels like I'm in a threatening situation, and I need to somehow control these sounds."
The individual has experienced this condition from a young age and for her that renders the holiday period "incredibly overwhelming".
Misophonia is an intense sensitivity to specific noises, particularly those made by other people.
The condition is widespread in the UK. Experts discovered nearly 20% people are affected by it.
Often it's noises associated with mouth, throat or facial movements that trigger a reaction, including examples such as chewing, heavy breathing, and repetitive finger tapping.
'Anxiety Inducing'
The sufferer notes: "There are so many various auditory triggers at the holidays and that can be stressful and make you dread it.
"Those close to me are understanding, but I'm very aware that I don't want to make other people feel uncomfortable. It's like a internal conflict of managing my symptoms to make sure others enjoy themselves."
So it's clear why the most wonderful season can transform into a living nightmare for those with the condition.
Sounds that may be considered normal, like someone sipping a beverage, rustling a roll of wrapping paper, or tucking into a Christmas dinner can provoke a powerful reaction that can even cause them withdrawing from gatherings.
The student, a university student, who has experienced sound sensitivity for over a decade, says currently her plan is to use headphones to cope. On any other day, she would often retreat in a quiet area to avoid distressing triggers.
She explains her condition is more intense around people she's most comfortable with, so the holidays is always "difficult".
"There is pressure to socialize with family, and I want to, but it's physically and mentally challenging.
"I feel as if this sudden rage takes hold, which can feel shameful, or I'll feel panicked and burst into tears and then panic will kick in.
"It can come across as if I'm being unreasonable and overreacting, but it's tough to describe without firsthand experience."
A Few Techniques to Manage
For those affected then there are various strategies you can try to cope the situation, according to clinical psychologists.
- Visualise Something Else: Imagination is essential. Attempt to link the specific noise bothering you with something completely different. For instance, try to imagine someone's noisy drinking is just a waterfall. This technique is to retrain your mind that the sound affecting you poses no threat.
- Make it a Game: Introduce playfulness and make the irritating noise into a challenge involving the source. For example, if someone is eating noisily try joining in. Through participation, instead of feeling like the sound is being imposed on you, you become an engaged person. And the competition element should help shift your attention and make you slightly more tolerant.
- Develop a Narrative: A further strategy is to try to create a little story about the reason someone making the noise is doing it. For example if someone was sniffing, maybe they are not at their best or maybe they're upset. By doing this is re-framing the context of the sound. While the noise stays the same, your understanding of it shifts from being annoying, to feeling a bit more accepting about it.
