Christmas Can Be a Nightmare for Individuals Living with Sound Sensitivity.
A 23-year-old anticipates being with her relatives over the holidays, but admits one of the only ways she'll endure is by using her hearing protection - particularly at the main festive feast.
For her, this time of year often feels like a especially challenging period as the auditory triggers of other people chewing, slurping and nose-blowing trigger intense distress.
"I get this wave of sudden panic, my every muscle will just tighten and it feels like I'm in a threatening situation, and I need to manage these sounds."
The individual has experienced sound sensitivity for several years and for her that causes the Christmas time "deeply taxing".
Misophonia is a decreased threshold to certain sounds, notably sounds coming from individuals.
The condition is widespread across the population. Researchers discovered almost one in five people experience it.
Frequently it's sounds linked to mouth, throat or facial movements that cause distress, along with examples such as crunching, heavy breathing, and pen clicking.
'Anxiety Inducing'
She explains: "There are so many different triggering sounds at Christmas and that can be stressful and make you want to avoid it.
"My family are aware, but I'm very mindful that I don't want to make other people feel uncomfortable. It's like a really big battle of sacrificing my own sanity to guarantee everyone else is happy."
So it's clear why the traditionally happy period can transform into a living nightmare for sufferers.
Noises that may seem harmless, like someone slurping a Buck's fizz, rustling a roll of wrapping paper, or eating the holiday meal can trigger a strong emotional response that can even lead to them withdrawing from gatherings.
The student, a university student, who has struggled with sound sensitivity from childhood, states the approach she intends to use is to put her earphones in to get through dinner. Usually, she would often retreat in a separate space to escape problematic noises.
She says her sensitivity is worse around people she's most familiar with, so the holidays is always "difficult".
"There is pressure to socialize with loved ones, and I desire to, but it's draining.
"It's like this sudden rage takes hold, which can feel awkward, or I'll feel anxious and begin to weep and then fight-or-flight will take over.
"It can come across as if I'm being difficult and dramatic, but it's tough to describe unless you've experienced it."
Several Strategies to Manage
If you suffer then there are a few methods you can use to handle the situation, as suggested by experts.
- Visualise a Different Scenario: Imagination is essential. Work on connecting the specific noise bothering you with an unrelated image. For instance, try to picture someone's noisy drinking is just a waterfall. The goal is to teach your brain that the sound triggering you poses no threat.
- Try a Competition: Use lightheartedness and turn the annoying sound into a game with the culprit. For example, if someone is crunching loudly try copying the noise. Through participation, rather than feeling like the sound is an attack, you become an willing part. And the game aspect should help redirect your focus and make you slightly more tolerant.
- Develop a Narrative: Another technique is to try to fabricate an explanation about why the person creating the sound is behaving that way. So if someone was sniffing, maybe they are not in good health or could be emotional. By doing this is altering the perception of the sound. Although the noise doesn't change, your reaction of it moves from being irritating, to feeling a bit more accepting towards it.
