The Holiday Season Transforms Into a Nightmare for Individuals Living with Sound Sensitivity.
One young woman anticipates being with her relatives during the festive period, but says a primary method she'll endure is by relying on her hearing protection - especially during the holiday meal.
In her case, Christmas can be a particularly difficult period as the noises of other people chewing, slurping and breathing heavily make her feel intense distress.
"I get this sensation of immediate anxiety, my entire being will just tighten and it feels like I'm in danger, and I need to manage these sounds."
The individual has experienced sound sensitivity for several years and for her that renders the holiday period "exceptionally stressful".
Misophonia is a decreased threshold to particular auditory triggers, notably sounds made by individuals.
It's surprisingly common amongst adults. Researchers reported almost one in five people suffer from it.
Frequently it's sounds linked to mouth, throat or facial movements that cause distress, along with things like chewing, heavy breathing, and pen clicking.
'Anxiety Inducing'
Lottie says: "I face so many various auditory triggers at Christmas and that can be anxiety inducing and make you dread it.
"Those close to me are aware, but I'm very conscious that I don't want to upset others. It's like a internal conflict of enduring my distress to make sure the event goes smoothly."
So it's obvious why the traditionally happy period can quickly turn into a stressful ordeal for those with the condition.
Triggers that may seem harmless, like someone drinking champagne, opening presents, or eating the holiday meal can cause a powerful reaction that can even lead to them withdrawing from gatherings.
The student, a young adult, who has experienced misophonia from childhood, explains the approach she intends to use is to put her earphones in to get through dinner. Usually, she would often retreat in a different room to minimize problematic noises.
She notes her sensitivity is worse around people she's closest to, so Christmas is always "challenging".
"There's an expectation to spend time with family, and I wish to, but it's draining.
"It's like this intense irritation takes hold, which can feel shameful, or I'll feel panicked and begin to weep and then the stress response will activate.
"It may seem as if I'm being unreasonable and dramatic, but it's tough to describe unless you've experienced it."
Three Ways to Manage
For those affected then there are a few methods you can attempt to manage the situation, according to specialists.
- Picture an Alternative: Mental imagery is key. Try to associate the specific noise bothering you with a neutral concept. For instance, try to picture someone's noisy drinking is just a sink draining water. The goal is to help your brain learn that the sound affecting you poses no threat.
- Use Humor: Have a bit of fun and make the irritating noise into a game involving the source. For example, if someone is crunching loudly try copying the noise. By joining in, instead of feeling like the sound is being imposed on you, you become an active participant. And the challenge should help distract your brain and make you somewhat less sensitive.
- Create a Scenario: A further strategy is to try to create a little story about why the person creating the sound is doing it. For example if someone was sniffing, it could be that they're not at their best or maybe they're upset. This approach is changing the meaning of the sound. While the noise stays the same, your understanding of it changes from being irritating, to feeling a bit more accepting about it.
