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Yuletide Can Be a Terrifying Experience for Individuals Living with Sound Sensitivity.
Lottie anticipates being with her relatives over the holidays, but says one of the only ways she'll endure is by relying on her hearing protection - especially during the holiday meal.
In her case, this time of year is a particularly difficult time as the auditory triggers of other people chewing, sipping loudly and nose-blowing make her feel profound anxiety.
"I get this sensation of immediate anxiety, my every muscle will just tighten and it seems as if I'm in a threatening situation, and I need to manage these sounds."
She has lived with misophonia for several years and for her that renders the Christmas time "deeply taxing".
Misophonia is a reduced tolerance to certain sounds, especially noises coming from other people.
It's surprisingly common in the UK. Researchers found nearly 20% people experience it.
Often it's noises associated with bodily functions that cause distress, as well as examples such as chewing, breathing, and pen clicking.
Triggering Stress
She explains: "I face so many assorted problematic noises at the holidays and that can be daunting and make you want to avoid it.
"My relatives are supportive, but I'm very aware that I don't want to spoil the mood. It's like a internal conflict of managing my symptoms to ensure the event goes smoothly."
So it's obvious why the supposedly joyous period can transform into a living nightmare for affected individuals.
Sounds that may appear innocuous, like someone sipping a beverage, unwrapping gifts, or eating the holiday meal can trigger a powerful reaction that can even cause them skipping events entirely.
Jenna, a young adult, who has dealt with sound sensitivity since aged 10, states her strategy is to listen to music to cope. Typically, she would often retreat in a quiet area to escape problematic noises.
She says her condition is worse around people she's most familiar with, so the holidays is always "hard".
"There is pressure to spend time with family, and I wish to, but it's draining.
"The sensation is this intense irritation takes hold, which can feel awkward, or I'll feel anxious and immediately start crying and then the stress response will take over.
"It can come across as if I'm being unreasonable and dramatic, but it's hard to explain without firsthand experience."
Several Strategies to Handle It
If it's an issue then there are various strategies you can attempt to manage the situation, as suggested by experts.
- Imagine an Alternative: Creative thinking is essential. Try to associate the specific noise bothering you with an unrelated image. As an illustration, try to envision someone's noisy drinking is just a waterfall. This technique is to help your brain learn that the sound triggering you isn't harmful.
- Make it a Game: Use lightheartedness and make the irritating noise into a challenge with the culprit. As an example, if someone is crunching loudly have a go at copying the noise. Through participation, instead of feeling like the sound is being imposed on you, you become an willing part. And the competition element should help redirect your focus and make you somewhat less sensitive.
- Create a Scenario: A further strategy is to try to fabricate an explanation about the reason someone creating the sound is doing it. For example if someone was making a nasal sound, maybe they are not feeling well or could be emotional. The idea is re-framing the context of the sound. Although the sound doesn't change, your understanding of it moves from being aggravating, to feeling a little more neutral towards it.
James Shepherd
A seasoned business strategist with over a decade of experience in digital marketing and corporate growth initiatives.
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