Christmas Often Proves to Be a Terrifying Experience for Individuals Living with Sound Sensitivity.
A 23-year-old anticipates spending time with her loved ones during the festive period, but says a primary method she'll manage to get through it is by using her noise-cancelling devices - especially during the holiday meal.
In her case, Christmas often feels like a notably tough season as the auditory triggers of family members munching, drinking noisily and nose-blowing make her feel profound anxiety.
"I get this wave of sudden panic, my entire being will just tense up and it as though I'm in danger, and I need to somehow control these triggers."
She has lived with sound sensitivity from a young age and for her that causes the festive season "deeply taxing".
Misophonia is a reduced tolerance to certain sounds, particularly those made by other people.
It's surprisingly common amongst adults. A study found nearly 20% people suffer from it.
Often it's noises associated with eating or drinking that lead to discomfort, along with things like crunching, breathing, and repetitive finger tapping.
'Anxiety Inducing'
The sufferer notes: "You encounter so many different triggering sounds at Christmas and that can be stressful and make you dread 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 enduring my distress to make sure the event goes smoothly."
So it's clear why the traditionally happy period can quickly turn into a living nightmare for affected individuals.
Noises that may seem harmless, like someone drinking champagne, unwrapping gifts, or eating the holiday meal can provoke a visceral feeling that can even result in them avoiding social settings altogether.
Jenna, a young adult, who has struggled with misophonia from childhood, states her strategy is to use headphones to get through dinner. On any other day, she would frequently go in a quiet area to avoid distressing triggers.
She notes her sensitivity is more pronounced around people she's most familiar with, so the holidays is always "difficult".
"There is pressure to spend time with loved ones, and I want to, but it's physically and mentally challenging.
"It's like this intense irritation comes over me, which can feel embarrassing, or I'll feel stressed and begin to weep and then fight-or-flight will take over.
"To others it appears as if I'm being difficult and dramatic, but it's hard to explain unless you've experienced it."
A Few Techniques to Cope
If it's an issue then there are a few methods you can try to cope the situation, according to specialists.
- Visualise an Alternative: Creative thinking is crucial. Work on connecting the specific noise affecting you with a neutral concept. For instance, try to imagine someone's slurping is just a waterfall. By doing this is to help your brain learn that the sound affecting you isn't harmful.
- Make it a Game: Have a bit of fun and make the irritating noise into a competition with the culprit. As an example, if someone is crunching loudly try mimicking the sound. By mimicking, instead of feeling like the sound is unwanted, you become an engaged person. And the game aspect should help shift your attention and make you slightly more tolerant.
- Craft a Story: A further strategy is to try to fabricate an explanation about the reason someone making the noise is having to make that sound. Imagine if someone was sniffing, perhaps they're not feeling well or are troubled. This approach is changing the meaning of the sound. Although the noise doesn't change, your reaction of it shifts from being annoying, to feeling a little more neutral towards it.
