Yuletide Can Be a Living Hell for Individuals Living with Sound Sensitivity.
A 23-year-old anticipates spending time with her family over the holidays, but admits a primary method she'll manage to get through it is by using her hearing protection - especially during the main festive feast.
For her, Christmas can be a especially challenging time as the auditory triggers of other people chewing, sipping loudly and nose-blowing cause her profound anxiety.
"There's this feeling of instant dread, my entire being will just tighten and it feels like I'm in peril, and I need to stop these sounds."
She has suffered from this condition for several years and for her that makes the Christmas time "deeply taxing".
Misophonia is a decreased threshold to particular auditory triggers, especially noises made by other people.
It is prevalent in the UK. Experts reported almost one in five people experience it.
Frequently it's sounds associated with mouth, throat or facial movements that cause distress, along with things like crunching, heavy breathing, and pen clicking.
'Anxiety Inducing'
She explains: "There are so many various auditory triggers at Christmas and that can be stressful and make you want to avoid it.
"My family are understanding, but I'm very aware that I don't want to make other people feel uncomfortable. It's like a really big battle of enduring my distress to ensure the event goes smoothly."
So it's obvious why the most wonderful period can quickly turn into a living nightmare for sufferers.
Noises that may seem harmless, like someone drinking champagne, rustling a roll of wrapping paper, or tucking into a Christmas dinner can trigger a powerful reaction that can even result in them skipping events entirely.
The student, a 21-year-old student, who has struggled with sound sensitivity since aged 10, says the approach she intends to use is to use headphones to manage the meal. Usually, she would usually isolate herself in a quiet area to minimize problematic noises.
She explains her condition is worse around people she's most comfortable with, so Christmas is always "difficult".
"There's an expectation to socialize with family, and I desire to, but it's exhausting on all levels.
"It's like this intense irritation takes hold, which can feel shameful, or I'll feel anxious and begin to weep and then fight-or-flight will activate.
"It may seem as if I'm being difficult and dramatic, but it's tough to describe without firsthand experience."
Three Ways to Manage
If it's an issue then there are various strategies you can try to cope the situation, according to clinical psychologists.
- Visualise a Different Scenario: Creative thinking is crucial. Try to associate the particular sound affecting you with an unrelated image. For instance, try to envision someone's slurping is just a sink draining water. This technique is to help your brain learn that the sound triggering you isn't harmful.
- Try a Competition: Use lightheartedness and turn the annoying sound into a challenge with the culprit. For example, if someone is eating noisily try joining in. 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 a little less affected.
- Develop a Narrative: One more method is to try to fabricate an explanation about why the person creating the sound is behaving that way. Imagine if someone was sniffing, maybe they are not feeling well or are troubled. The idea is altering the perception of the sound. While the sound stays the same, your understanding of it shifts from being aggravating, to feeling a slightly more compassionate towards it.
