Christmas Can Be a Living Hell for Individuals Living with Sound Sensitivity.
One young woman hopes for seeing her loved ones this Christmas, but says one of the only ways she'll cope is by wearing her noise-cancelling devices - notably for the holiday meal.
For the 23-year-old, the holidays often feels like a especially challenging time as the noises of people eating, drinking noisily and nose-blowing trigger intense distress.
"I get this feeling of instant dread, my whole body will just tighten and it seems as if I'm in danger, and I need to stop these triggers."
The individual has lived with sound sensitivity for several years and for her that makes the holiday period "incredibly overwhelming".
Misophonia is an intense sensitivity to certain sounds, particularly those made by individuals.
It's surprisingly common amongst adults. Experts reported almost one in five people are affected by it.
Often it's noises connected to bodily functions that trigger a reaction, as well as examples such as crunching, breathing, and pen clicking.
'Anxiety Inducing'
The sufferer notes: "You encounter so many assorted problematic noises at Christmas and that can be daunting and make you want to avoid it.
"My relatives are supportive, but I'm very aware that I don't want to upset others. It's like a constant struggle of enduring my distress to ensure everyone else is happy."
So it's easy to understand why the traditionally happy period can quickly turn into a living nightmare for those with the condition.
Noises that may appear innocuous, like someone drinking champagne, rustling a roll of wrapping paper, or enjoying festive food can trigger a strong emotional response that can even lead to them withdrawing from gatherings.
She, a 21-year-old student, who has experienced misophonia since aged 10, says the approach she intends to use is to use headphones to cope. Usually, she would often retreat in a different room to avoid triggering sounds.
She notes her condition is more pronounced around people she's most comfortable with, so Christmas is always "hard".
"People assume you to socialize with loved ones, and I desire to, but it's draining.
"I feel as if this intense irritation comes over me, which can feel awkward, or I'll feel panicked and begin to weep and then fight-or-flight will take over.
"It may seem as if I'm being oversensitive and melodramatic, but it's tough to describe without firsthand experience."
Several Strategies to Handle It
If you suffer then there are various strategies you can try to cope the situation, as suggested by specialists.
- Visualise an Alternative: Imagination is crucial. Try to associate the triggering sound affecting you with an unrelated image. So for example, try to picture 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.
- Make it a Game: Introduce playfulness and turn the annoying sound into a challenge with the person. For instance, if someone is crunching loudly try copying the noise. By mimicking, instead of feeling like the sound is unwanted, you become an willing part. And the challenge should help redirect your focus and make you slightly more tolerant.
- Develop a Narrative: A further strategy is to try to invent a reason about why the person creating the sound is behaving that way. Imagine if someone was sniffing, maybe they are not feeling well or could be emotional. By doing this is altering the perception of the sound. Even though the noise stays the same, your reaction of it shifts from being irritating, to feeling a little more neutral towards it.
