Yuletide Can Be a Nightmare for Individuals Living with Sound Sensitivity.
One young woman is looking forward to being with her family this Christmas, but notes one of the only ways she'll manage to get through it is by using her noise-cancelling devices - notably for the main festive feast.
For the 23-year-old, Christmas is a notably tough season as the auditory triggers of people eating, slurping and breathing heavily trigger extremely uncomfortable.
"I get this feeling of immediate anxiety, my entire being will just tense up and it seems as if I'm in a threatening situation, and I need to stop these sounds."
The individual has experienced this condition since she was 16 and for her that renders the Christmas time "incredibly overwhelming".
Misophonia is an intense sensitivity to certain sounds, particularly those coming from those around you.
It is prevalent across the population. A study found almost one in five people are affected by it.
Typically it's sounds linked to eating or drinking that lead to discomfort, along with things like chewing, heavy breathing, and repetitive finger tapping.
A Source of Dread
The sufferer notes: "I face so many assorted problematic noises at the holidays and that can be anxiety inducing and make you fear it.
"My relatives are supportive, but I'm very mindful that I don't want to spoil the mood. It's like a really big battle of enduring my distress to ensure the event goes smoothly."
So it's clear why the most wonderful season can quickly turn into a stressful ordeal for those with the condition.
Noises that may be considered normal, like someone slurping a Buck's fizz, rustling a roll of wrapping paper, or enjoying festive food can provoke a strong emotional response that can even result in them avoiding social settings altogether.
Jenna, a young adult, who has struggled with sound sensitivity from childhood, explains the approach she intends to use is to listen to music to manage the meal. On any other day, she would often retreat in a separate space to escape triggering sounds.
She explains her misophonia is more pronounced around people she's most familiar with, so Christmas is always "difficult".
"People assume you to spend time with family, and I want to, but it's exhausting on all levels.
"I feel as if this uncontrollable anger takes hold, which can feel awkward, or I'll feel panicked and burst into tears and then fight-or-flight will kick in.
"It may seem as if I'm being oversensitive and overreacting, but it's difficult to convey if you haven't felt it."
A Few Techniques to Handle It
If you suffer then there are a few methods you can use to handle the situation, as suggested by clinical psychologists.
- Picture an Alternative: Creative thinking is crucial. Try to associate the specific noise bothering you with a neutral concept. As an illustration, try to envision someone's noisy drinking is just a waterfall. This technique is to teach your brain that the sound affecting you poses no threat.
- Use Humor: Have a bit of fun and turn the annoying sound into a competition with the culprit. For example, if someone is eating noisily attempt joining in. By mimicking, instead of feeling like the sound is unwanted, you become an willing part. And the challenge should help shift your attention and make you slightly more tolerant.
- Craft a Story: A further strategy is to try to create a little story about the reason someone making the noise is doing it. For example if someone was making a nasal sound, perhaps they're not feeling well or could be emotional. By doing this is changing the meaning of the sound. Although the noise stays the same, your reaction of it changes from being annoying, to feeling a little more neutral about it.
