🔗 Share this article Yuletide Often Proves to Be a Terrifying Experience for Individuals Living with Sound Sensitivity. Over the years, sufferers have found ways to cope with their sound sensitivity. One young woman anticipates spending time with her loved ones this Christmas, but says a primary method she'll manage to get through it is by using her hearing protection - particularly at the holiday meal. For the 23-year-old, the holidays is a especially challenging season as the auditory triggers of other people chewing, drinking noisily and nose-blowing make her feel extremely uncomfortable. "There's this sensation of immediate anxiety, my whole body will just freeze and it as though I'm in danger, and I need to stop these sounds." Lottie has experienced this condition for several years and for her that makes the holiday period "incredibly overwhelming". Misophonia is an intense sensitivity to certain sounds, notably sounds made by individuals. It is prevalent in the UK. Experts reported nearly 20% people experience it. Frequently it's noises linked to eating or drinking that trigger a reaction, as well as things like chewing, heavy breathing, and foot tapping. A Source of Dread Lottie says: "There are so many assorted problematic noises at Christmas and that can be stressful and make you fear it. "My relatives are aware, but I'm very conscious that I don't want to make other people feel uncomfortable. It's like a really big battle of managing my symptoms to make sure others enjoy themselves." So it's obvious why the traditionally happy period can quickly turn into a source of agony for those with the condition. Noises that may appear innocuous, like someone drinking champagne, opening presents, or eating the holiday meal can trigger a strong emotional response that can even cause them skipping events entirely. A 21-year-old student is considering ways to help her during the family meal. Jenna, a university student, who has dealt with misophonia for over a decade, states the approach she intends to use is to listen to music to cope. Typically, she would frequently go in a different room to avoid triggering sounds. She notes her misophonia is worse around people she's most comfortable with, so Christmas is always "challenging". "People assume you to be around family, and I desire to, but it's physically and mentally challenging. "I feel as if this sudden rage comes over me, which can feel embarrassing, or I'll feel panicked and burst into tears and then the stress response will activate. "It can come across as if I'm being difficult and overreacting, but it's hard to explain unless you've experienced it." A Few Techniques to Manage If it's an issue then there are various strategies you can use to handle the situation, according to experts. Imagine an Alternative: Imagination is essential. Attempt to link the specific noise causing distress with a neutral concept. For instance, try to imagine someone's slurping is just a sink draining water. This technique is to retrain your mind that the sound affecting you poses no threat. Make it a Game: Use lightheartedness and turn the annoying sound into a game with the culprit. As an example, if someone is crunching loudly have a go at copying the noise. By joining in, rather than feeling like the sound is an attack, you become an engaged person. And the game aspect should help redirect your focus and make you a little less affected. Develop a Narrative: A further strategy is to try to create a little story about why the person making the noise is behaving that way. Imagine if someone was making a nasal sound, perhaps they're not feeling well or maybe they're upset. This approach is altering the perception of the sound. Even though the sound doesn't change, your interpretation of it changes from being annoying, to feeling a bit more accepting about it.
Over the years, sufferers have found ways to cope with their sound sensitivity. One young woman anticipates spending time with her loved ones this Christmas, but says a primary method she'll manage to get through it is by using her hearing protection - particularly at the holiday meal. For the 23-year-old, the holidays is a especially challenging season as the auditory triggers of other people chewing, drinking noisily and nose-blowing make her feel extremely uncomfortable. "There's this sensation of immediate anxiety, my whole body will just freeze and it as though I'm in danger, and I need to stop these sounds." Lottie has experienced this condition for several years and for her that makes the holiday period "incredibly overwhelming". Misophonia is an intense sensitivity to certain sounds, notably sounds made by individuals. It is prevalent in the UK. Experts reported nearly 20% people experience it. Frequently it's noises linked to eating or drinking that trigger a reaction, as well as things like chewing, heavy breathing, and foot tapping. A Source of Dread Lottie says: "There are so many assorted problematic noises at Christmas and that can be stressful and make you fear it. "My relatives are aware, but I'm very conscious that I don't want to make other people feel uncomfortable. It's like a really big battle of managing my symptoms to make sure others enjoy themselves." So it's obvious why the traditionally happy period can quickly turn into a source of agony for those with the condition. Noises that may appear innocuous, like someone drinking champagne, opening presents, or eating the holiday meal can trigger a strong emotional response that can even cause them skipping events entirely. A 21-year-old student is considering ways to help her during the family meal. Jenna, a university student, who has dealt with misophonia for over a decade, states the approach she intends to use is to listen to music to cope. Typically, she would frequently go in a different room to avoid triggering sounds. She notes her misophonia is worse around people she's most comfortable with, so Christmas is always "challenging". "People assume you to be around family, and I desire to, but it's physically and mentally challenging. "I feel as if this sudden rage comes over me, which can feel embarrassing, or I'll feel panicked and burst into tears and then the stress response will activate. "It can come across as if I'm being difficult and overreacting, but it's hard to explain unless you've experienced it." A Few Techniques to Manage If it's an issue then there are various strategies you can use to handle the situation, according to experts. Imagine an Alternative: Imagination is essential. Attempt to link the specific noise causing distress with a neutral concept. For instance, try to imagine someone's slurping is just a sink draining water. This technique is to retrain your mind that the sound affecting you poses no threat. Make it a Game: Use lightheartedness and turn the annoying sound into a game with the culprit. As an example, if someone is crunching loudly have a go at copying the noise. By joining in, rather than feeling like the sound is an attack, you become an engaged person. And the game aspect should help redirect your focus and make you a little less affected. Develop a Narrative: A further strategy is to try to create a little story about why the person making the noise is behaving that way. Imagine if someone was making a nasal sound, perhaps they're not feeling well or maybe they're upset. This approach is altering the perception of the sound. Even though the sound doesn't change, your interpretation of it changes from being annoying, to feeling a bit more accepting about it.