Christmas Transforms Into a Living Hell for Individuals Living with Sound Sensitivity.
One young woman hopes for being with her relatives this Christmas, but admits a primary method she'll endure is by using her earplugs - particularly at the main festive feast.
For her, this time of year can be a particularly difficult season as the sounds of people eating, sipping loudly and sniffling make her feel extremely uncomfortable.
"I get this sensation of sudden panic, my every muscle will just freeze and it feels like I'm in a threatening situation, and I need to somehow control these noises."
The individual has experienced this condition for several years and for her that makes the festive season "exceptionally stressful".
Misophonia is a reduced tolerance to particular auditory triggers, particularly those made by other people.
The condition is widespread across the population. A study discovered a significant portion of people suffer from it.
Typically it's noises associated with mouth, throat or facial movements that cause distress, along with things like crunching, heavy breathing, and pen clicking.
'Anxiety Inducing'
Lottie says: "You encounter so many assorted problematic noises at the holidays and that can be stressful and make you fear it.
"My family are aware, but I'm very mindful that I don't want to spoil the mood. It's like a internal conflict of sacrificing my own sanity to make sure the event goes smoothly."
So it's obvious why the supposedly joyous season can quickly turn into a source of agony for those with the condition.
Sounds that may seem harmless, like someone slurping a Buck's fizz, rustling a roll of wrapping paper, or eating the holiday meal can provoke a visceral feeling that can even result in them skipping events entirely.
The student, a 21-year-old student, who has dealt with misophonia from childhood, states currently her plan is to listen to music to manage the meal. Usually, she would frequently go in a different room to minimize triggering sounds.
She notes her condition is worse around people she's most familiar with, so the holidays is always "difficult".
"There is pressure to spend time with family, and I wish to, but it's draining.
"It's like this intense irritation comes over me, which can feel shameful, or I'll feel panicked and begin to weep and then panic will kick in.
"To others it appears as if I'm being difficult and dramatic, but it's difficult to convey unless you've experienced it."
A Few Techniques to Handle It
If you suffer then there are some different techniques you can try to cope the situation, according to specialists.
- Imagine Something Else: Mental imagery is essential. Attempt to link the particular sound affecting you with a neutral concept. For instance, try to picture someone's slurping is just a gentle stream. By doing this is to retrain your mind that the sound triggering you poses no threat.
- Try a Competition: Have a bit of fun and turn the annoying sound into a game involving the source. For example, if someone is eating noisily try copying the noise. By mimicking, instead of feeling like the sound is being imposed on you, you become an active participant. And the competition element should help distract your brain and make you slightly more tolerant.
- Craft a Story: One more method is to try to create a little story about why the person making the noise is having to make that sound. So if someone was sniffing, maybe they are not in good health or could be emotional. The idea is changing the meaning of the sound. Even though the noise doesn't change, your understanding of it changes from being aggravating, to feeling a little more neutral about it.
