The Holiday Season Often Proves to Be a Nightmare for Individuals Living with Sound Sensitivity.
Lottie hopes for being with her family during the festive period, but says a primary method she'll endure is by relying on her noise-cancelling devices - notably for the holiday meal.
For the 23-year-old, this time of year often feels like a particularly difficult season as the noises of family members munching, drinking noisily and nose-blowing make her feel profound anxiety.
"There's this wave of sudden panic, my entire being will just tighten and it feels like I'm in danger, and I need to somehow control these triggers."
Lottie has suffered from sound sensitivity for several years and for her that causes the Christmas time "incredibly overwhelming".
Misophonia is an intense sensitivity to specific noises, notably sounds produced by individuals.
It is prevalent amongst adults. A study found nearly 20% people experience it.
Frequently it's sounds linked to eating or drinking that trigger a reaction, including things like crunching, breathing, and repetitive finger tapping.
A Source of Dread
She explains: "You encounter so many different triggering sounds at Christmas and that can be daunting and make you want to avoid it.
"Those close to me are aware, but I'm very conscious that I don't want to make other people feel uncomfortable. It's like a constant struggle of managing my symptoms to make sure the event goes smoothly."
So it's obvious why the traditionally happy season can quickly turn into a source of agony for sufferers.
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 strong emotional response that can even cause them avoiding social settings altogether.
Jenna, a university student, who has dealt with misophonia from childhood, says the approach she intends to use is to listen to music to get through dinner. Usually, she would often retreat in a separate space to avoid triggering sounds.
She says her condition is more pronounced around people she's most comfortable with, so the holidays is always "challenging".
"There's an expectation to spend time with loved ones, and I desire to, but it's draining.
"I feel as if this sudden rage washes over me, which can feel shameful, or I'll feel anxious and begin to weep and then the stress response will activate.
"It may seem as if I'm being unreasonable and dramatic, but it's difficult to convey if you haven't felt it."
Three Ways to Manage
For those affected then there are some different techniques you can attempt to manage the situation, according to specialists.
- Visualise Something Else: Creative thinking is key. Try to associate the triggering sound bothering you with a neutral concept. For instance, try to picture someone's noisy drinking is just a waterfall. The goal is to retrain your mind that the sound triggering you isn't harmful.
- Try a Competition: Have a bit of fun and make the irritating noise into a challenge with the person. As an example, if someone is eating noisily attempt mimicking the sound. Through participation, instead of feeling like the sound is unwanted, you become an active participant. And the game aspect 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 why the person creating the sound is having to make that sound. So if someone was making a nasal sound, it could be that they're not at their best or maybe they're upset. This approach is changing the meaning of the sound. While the sound remains identical, your reaction of it moves from being annoying, to feeling a slightly more compassionate about it.
