Christmas Often Proves to Be a Living Hell for Individuals Living with Sound Sensitivity.
One young woman anticipates spending time with her loved ones this Christmas, but admits one of the only ways she'll endure is by using her earplugs - particularly at the holiday meal.
For the 23-year-old, this time of year often feels like a especially challenging period as the auditory triggers of other people chewing, sipping loudly and nose-blowing make her feel intense distress.
"I get this feeling of immediate anxiety, my entire being will just freeze and it feels like I'm in a threatening situation, and I need to stop these triggers."
The individual has lived with misophonia for several years and for her that renders the festive season "incredibly overwhelming".
Misophonia is a reduced tolerance to specific noises, notably sounds coming from individuals.
It is prevalent across the population. A study reported nearly 20% people experience it.
Often it's sounds linked to bodily functions that trigger a reaction, as well as examples such as crunching, heavy breathing, and pen clicking.
'Anxiety Inducing'
The sufferer notes: "I face so many different triggering sounds at Christmas and that can be daunting and make you want to avoid it.
"Those close to me are supportive, but I'm very mindful that I don't want to spoil the mood. It's like a internal conflict of managing my symptoms to ensure everyone else is happy."
So it's easy to understand why the most wonderful time of the year can transform into a source of agony for those with the condition.
Triggers that may seem harmless, like someone slurping a Buck's fizz, unwrapping gifts, or enjoying festive food can provoke a strong emotional response that can even cause them avoiding social settings altogether.
The student, a 21-year-old student, who has dealt with sound sensitivity from childhood, says her strategy is to listen to music to cope. On any other day, she would often retreat in a different room to avoid problematic noises.
She says her misophonia is more pronounced around people she's closest to, so the holidays is always "challenging".
"There is pressure to be around loved ones, and I want to, but it's draining.
"It's like this uncontrollable anger comes over me, which can feel embarrassing, or I'll feel anxious and begin to weep 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 Handle It
If you suffer then there are various strategies you can attempt to manage the situation, based on advice from experts.
- Visualise a Different Scenario: Creative thinking is crucial. Work on connecting the triggering sound affecting you with a neutral concept. So for example, try to imagine someone's slurping is just a gentle stream. The goal is to help your brain learn that the sound affecting you isn't harmful.
- Try a Competition: Have a bit of fun and turn the annoying sound into a challenge with the culprit. For instance, if someone is crunching loudly attempt joining in. By mimicking, rather than feeling like the sound is being imposed on you, you become an willing part. And the challenge should help redirect your focus and make you slightly more tolerant.
- Craft a Story: One more method is to try to create a little story about why the person making the noise is behaving that way. Imagine if someone was sniffing, perhaps they're not in good health or are troubled. By doing this is re-framing the context of the sound. While the sound stays the same, your reaction of it shifts from being irritating, to feeling a little more neutral about it.
