Why having Hyperacusis is similar to the first Christmas in Bethlehem over 2000 years ago

“Hello blog readers 🙂

My name is Helen, I’m British, and I’ve had Hyperacusis for over 2 decades now as a result of a “minor” head injury, which meant I had to drop out of school before getting my A levels. No, that doesn’t seem very minor to me either!

A month or so ago Jemma-Tiffany put out the word that she would be grateful if other people would write a guest blog and I though, maybe I could… but I’ve no idea what to write about- my life’s far too boringly repetitive.

But this festive season brought with it a touch of inspiration, so here are my thoughts on:

Why having Hyperacusis is similar to the first Christmas in Bethlehem over 2000 years ago. Sounds daft, right? But bear with me, it kind of works!

Also I hope everyone will see my point whether you are person of any faith, or none.

First and most importantly- nobody chooses Hyperacusis. Mary didn’t volunteer to bear Jesus but when the Angel Gabriel announced to Mary that she was pregnant, she went along with it, she changed her life to deal with this revelation, and she just got on with it. It’s takes many different time scales for people with Hyperacusis to accept their diagnosis is a part of their life but as there is no proven cure for all people with Hyperacusis, we just have to make the best of the situation that we can.

Having someone who believes you and you can rely on makes all the difference in the world. Despite Mary being pregnant with a son that wasn’t his Joseph believed it was God’s son, stood by her and looked after her. when one has Hyperacusis being believed is a massive weight lifted of your shoulders. A medical professional taking your word about the pain we are each in and, even better, can give us a name for our symptoms, allows us to tell other people about it in a confident manner, which then allows them to know how to support us- but it always helps to tell them exactly what we need, people do get things wrong!

Sometimes we need a friendly person to say “Do not be afraid”- this is said by the Angels to Mary, Joseph and to the shepherds; we too sometimes need someone to say “do not be afraid of your Hyperacusis, it’s not out to hurt you, it is simply reacting to the volume of the world”.

Mary and Joseph had to travel to Bethlehem to be taxed.. now I can’t think of a direct link but Hyperacusis is certainly taxing, physically and emotionally.

Their 90 mile journey must have been exhausting, especially whilst Mary was almost ready to give birth; so too our journey with Hyperacusis is never smooth, there will be sounds we cannot control that hurt massively, but normally, given enough time, we can return from these experiences back to whatever passes for our own “normal” with Hyperacusis.

There was no room to stay at the inn so they ended up in an uncomfortable place- this is all too familiar to people with Hyperacusis, visiting places we don’t know has many pitfalls which can make life more painful. Perhaps the bathroom has a noisy extractor fan, the hotel didn’t mention they were building an apartment block next door, and the fire alarm test they didn’t think to tell us about goes off when you don’t have hearing protection on. Another common experience the only area which is quiet might be the bathroom, or the bedroom with the children’s bed in, I’m sure many people with Hyperacusis have been forced to consider these even if they didn’t actually sleep there!

Visitors bring their own problems! The wise men had told the King, Herod, of Jesus’s birth, which created ire in the King and caused dangers for Jesus, Mary and Joseph. Visitors often do so in our lives too, you’d think that being at home would mean it was quiet and safe for our ears, but no, visitors bring sound with them, voices that aren’t always as quiet as they could be, the kids that love to run around squealing, the cutlery and crockery at dinner- Ouch! It’s not always easy to negotiate behaviour that doesn’t hurt us but there’s always one last option…

If it gets dangerous- RUN AWAY! Mary, Joseph and Jesus fled to evade the bloodlust of King Herod, we, as people with Hyperacusis, have to give ourselves permission to leave a situation if that is the most suitable option. it’s not admitting defeat, it is protecting ourselves.

So, what do you think, do we have anything in common with a stable in the little town of Bethlehem all those years ago?

I’m wishing you a merry and peaceful Christmas (and Hanukkah, and anything else being celebrated at the moment) and New Year.”

Helen