The Holiday Season Often Proves to Be a Nightmare for Individuals Living with Sound Sensitivity.
Lottie anticipates being with her relatives during the festive period, but notes a primary method she'll endure is by using her hearing protection - especially during Christmas dinner.
For her, the holidays often feels like a especially challenging season as the sounds of people eating, slurping and breathing heavily make her feel extremely uncomfortable.
"I experience this wave of instant dread, my entire being will just tense up and it feels like I'm in danger, and I need to stop these sounds."
The individual has suffered from this condition from a young age and for her that renders the holiday period "exceptionally stressful".
Misophonia is a reduced tolerance to particular auditory triggers, especially noises produced by individuals.
It's surprisingly common across the population. Experts found a significant portion of people are affected by it.
Often it's sounds connected to bodily functions that trigger a reaction, including things like chewing, breathing, and repetitive finger tapping.
Triggering Stress
She explains: "You encounter so many various auditory triggers at Christmas and that can be daunting and make you want to avoid it.
"My relatives are aware, but I'm very aware that I don't want to spoil the mood. It's like a constant struggle of enduring my distress to guarantee others enjoy themselves."
So it's obvious why the traditionally happy season can rapidly become a source of agony for sufferers.
Triggers that may appear innocuous, like someone slurping a Buck's fizz, opening presents, or tucking into a Christmas dinner can trigger a visceral feeling that can even cause them avoiding social settings altogether.
She, a university student, who has experienced sound sensitivity from childhood, states currently her plan is to listen to music to manage the meal. Typically, she would frequently go in a different room to escape problematic noises.
She says her sensitivity is more intense around people she's closest to, so the holidays is always "difficult".
"People assume you to spend time with loved ones, and I desire to, but it's draining.
"The sensation is this intense irritation comes over me, which can feel embarrassing, or I'll feel panicked and burst into tears and then fight-or-flight will kick in.
"It may seem as if I'm being oversensitive and overreacting, but it's difficult to convey if you haven't felt it."
A Few Techniques to Manage
For those affected then there are various strategies you can use to handle the situation, as suggested by specialists.
- Picture an Alternative: Imagination is key. Try to associate the triggering sound affecting you with an unrelated image. As an illustration, try to imagine someone's slurping is just a waterfall. By doing this is to help your brain learn that the sound triggering you is neutral.
- Make it a Game: Introduce playfulness and turn the annoying sound 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 unwanted, you become an willing part. And the game aspect should help shift your attention and make you a little less affected.
- Develop a Narrative: Another technique is to try to invent a reason about the reason someone creating the sound is behaving that way. Imagine if someone was making a nasal sound, maybe they are not feeling well or maybe they're upset. The idea is altering the perception of the sound. While the sound remains identical, your interpretation of it changes from being aggravating, to feeling a slightly more compassionate towards it.
