Yuletide Transforms Into a Living Hell for Individuals Living with Sound Sensitivity.
Lottie hopes for seeing her loved ones during the festive period, but notes one of the only ways she'll cope is by using her earplugs - especially during the main festive feast.
For the 23-year-old, this time of year often feels like a particularly difficult time as the sounds of other people chewing, sipping loudly and breathing heavily make her feel extremely uncomfortable.
"I get this wave of instant dread, my entire being will just tense up and it feels like I'm in a threatening situation, and I need to stop these sounds."
She has suffered from misophonia for several years and for her that makes the Christmas time "deeply taxing".
Misophonia is a reduced tolerance to certain sounds, particularly those produced by individuals.
The condition is widespread amongst adults. Researchers discovered nearly 20% people are affected by it.
Typically it's sounds associated with bodily functions that lead to discomfort, including things like crunching, breathing, and pen clicking.
'Anxiety Inducing'
She explains: "I face so many assorted problematic noises at the holidays and that can be anxiety inducing and make you fear it.
"My relatives are aware, but I'm very aware that I don't want to upset others. It's like a really big battle of managing my symptoms to make sure others enjoy themselves."
So it's easy to understand why the traditionally happy season can quickly turn into a source of agony for sufferers.
Triggers that may be considered normal, like someone drinking champagne, opening presents, or tucking into a Christmas dinner can trigger a powerful reaction that can even cause them skipping events entirely.
The student, a 21-year-old student, who has struggled with sound sensitivity for over a decade, states her strategy is to listen to music to manage the meal. Usually, she would frequently go in a separate space to escape triggering sounds.
She explains her condition is worse around people she's closest to, so the holidays is always "difficult".
"There is pressure to spend time with loved ones, and I wish to, but it's exhausting on all levels.
"It's like this intense irritation comes over me, which can feel embarrassing, or I'll feel anxious and begin to weep and then panic will activate.
"To others it appears as if I'm being difficult and overreacting, but it's hard to explain if you haven't felt it."
Several Strategies to Handle It
If it's an issue then there are some different techniques you can try to cope the situation, as suggested by specialists.
- Imagine a Different Scenario: Creative thinking is key. Work on connecting the triggering sound bothering you with something completely different. As an illustration, try to picture someone's noisy drinking is just a sink draining water. By doing this is to teach your brain that the sound triggering you is neutral.
- Use Humor: Use lightheartedness and make the irritating noise into a game with the culprit. As an example, if someone is crunching loudly attempt joining in. Through participation, instead of feeling like the sound is being imposed on you, you become an active participant. And the game aspect should help shift your attention and make you slightly more tolerant.
- Craft a Story: Another technique is to try to invent a reason about the reason someone making the noise is behaving that way. So if someone was sniffing, it could be that they're not in good health or could be emotional. The idea is altering the perception of the sound. Even though the sound remains identical, your interpretation of it shifts from being annoying, to feeling a slightly more compassionate towards it.
