Christmas Often Proves to Be a Terrifying Experience for Individuals Living with Sound Sensitivity.
A 23-year-old hopes for spending time with her loved ones this Christmas, but says one of the only ways she'll endure is by wearing her hearing protection - particularly at the main festive feast.
In her case, this time of year is a especially challenging season as the auditory triggers of people eating, slurping and sniffling make her feel profound anxiety.
"I experience this feeling of sudden panic, my every muscle will just tense up and it seems as if I'm in peril, and I need to manage these noises."
She has experienced sound sensitivity since she was 16 and for her that makes the holiday period "deeply taxing".
Misophonia is a decreased threshold to specific noises, particularly those coming from other people.
It is prevalent in the UK. Researchers reported nearly 20% people experience it.
Frequently it's noises associated with eating or drinking that trigger a reaction, along with things like chewing, heavy breathing, and foot tapping.
A Source of Dread
She explains: "There are so many various auditory triggers at the holidays and that can be stressful and make you dread it.
"Those close to me are supportive, but I'm very conscious that I don't want to spoil the mood. It's like a really big battle of enduring my distress to make sure the event goes smoothly."
So it's obvious why the traditionally happy time of the year can transform into a source of agony for those with the condition.
Noises that may be considered normal, like someone drinking champagne, opening presents, or enjoying festive food can cause a powerful reaction that can even lead to them withdrawing from gatherings.
She, a young adult, who has dealt with sound sensitivity from childhood, says her strategy is to put her earphones in to cope. Typically, she would frequently go in a separate space to escape triggering sounds.
She notes her misophonia is worse around people she's closest to, so Christmas is always "hard".
"There is pressure to spend time with family, and I want to, but it's exhausting on all levels.
"The sensation is this sudden rage comes over me, which can feel embarrassing, or I'll feel anxious and immediately start crying and then fight-or-flight will activate.
"It may seem as if I'm being unreasonable and dramatic, but it's difficult to convey without firsthand experience."
A Few Techniques to Manage
If you suffer then there are some different techniques you can attempt to manage the situation, based on advice from specialists.
- Picture an Alternative: Mental imagery is crucial. Work on connecting the specific noise bothering you with a neutral concept. As an illustration, try to picture someone's slurping is just a waterfall. The goal is to teach your brain that the sound affecting you is neutral.
- Try a Competition: Introduce playfulness and turn the annoying sound into a challenge involving the source. As an example, if someone is crunching loudly try joining in. Through participation, rather than feeling like the sound is being imposed on you, you become an active participant. And the game aspect should help redirect your focus and make you slightly more tolerant.
- Craft a Story: Another technique is to try to fabricate an explanation about why the person creating the sound is doing it. Imagine if someone was making a nasal sound, maybe they are not in good health or maybe they're upset. The idea is re-framing the context of the sound. Even though the sound remains identical, your reaction of it changes from being irritating, to feeling a bit more accepting towards it.
