A woman who has a rare condition that causes extreme sensitivity to sound has shared how hearing other people eat leaves her “filling with rage”.
Louise Lansbury previously hit the headlines after revealing how Christmas dinner with her family is a “nightmare”.
The 34-year-old, from Southampton, suffers with a rare condition called misophonia – extreme sensitivity to sound – and often avoids being around others whenever she can.
Each year, as the festive season rolls around, the lettings agent has to gear herself up to sit with others scoffing their faces with turkey, roast potatoes and pigs in blankets.
In a bid to soothe her anxiety, she puts relaxing music on in the background to “drown out” the noise – but this year, she’s turned to ear plugs to block out any sound completely.
“My anxiety about going out this year is quite high, even going to my parents,” Louise told http://NeedToKnow.co.uk .
“I usually eat as quickly as I can, then remove myself, before going back to my room, so I don’t lash out in a rage.
“I now have some rubber ear plugs on a string, which I got off Amazon for quite cheap.
“I use these to sleep with every night, as well as having absolute silence.
“Only downside is that they do hurt quite a bit and if you’re lucky enough like me, you’ll get one stuck.
“I had to pull it out with a pair of tweezers.
“I also still use my ear funnels every day, as I can’t go without them.”
Louise, who struggles with other noises too, recalls the condition causing issues growing up – but now, she’s learned to live with it.
She said: “I’ve always had very sensitive hearing, things always seemed louder to me than others around me.
“When I became angry, I would act up as a child.
“When living with my parents, I would lash out, have a go at anyone eating loudly, run to my room and stay there in silence.
“As I got older, I realised that certain sounds started to make me feel angry and in the last 10 or so years, it has turned into rage.
“So I avoid eating with people at all costs, as if I don’t remove myself from the situation, I’m afraid I’ll lash out.
“I’ve had to learn how to control the anger and rage, where I simply walk away.”
While she does try to eat out with friends occasionally, as noisy restaurants help to mask the sound, she often turns to eating a takeaway in the car with them instead, where she can play her own music.
If she’s not able to do this, Louise will use a bluetooth headband or headphones to play relaxing songs, alongside a grounding technique called butterfly breathing.
She added: “It makes a rumbling noise in my ears – I have no idea how I do it, but it works.
“I use this in extreme situations, as doing it for too long can give me a headache that can hurt the inside of my ears.
“It can be quite difficult some days.
“Sometimes, I can sit in silence and other times, I have to have music on.
“Everything I hear is amplified, from loud slamming doors, to even noises that are meant to be quiet.
“I am constantly on edge and I have drifted away from my parents, as well as other family members – but after helping them understand my situation, we are now growing closer again.
“I feel that people think I am making it up, but I’m not.
“Try having someone eat next to your ear – with their mouth open – and imagine every single sound you hear being amplified.
“I know this is my condition, and I have to deal with it, but a bit of respect is the only thing I ask for.”
