Christmas Transforms Into a Terrifying Experience for Individuals Living with Sound Sensitivity.
A 23-year-old hopes for being with her relatives during the festive period, but says one of the only ways she'll manage to get through it is by relying on her hearing protection - especially during the holiday meal.
In her case, this time of year is a particularly difficult season as the noises of other people chewing, sipping loudly and sniffling make her feel profound anxiety.
"There's this feeling of immediate anxiety, my every muscle will just freeze and it as though I'm in a threatening situation, and I need to stop these noises."
The individual has suffered from sound sensitivity since she was 16 and for her that causes the Christmas time "incredibly overwhelming".
Misophonia is a reduced tolerance to certain sounds, especially noises made by other people.
It is prevalent amongst adults. A study found nearly 20% people experience it.
Typically it's sounds connected to bodily functions that cause distress, as well as things like chewing, breathing, and repetitive finger tapping.
'Anxiety Inducing'
She explains: "I face so many different triggering sounds at the holidays and that can be stressful and make you fear it.
"My family are supportive, but I'm very aware that I don't want to make other people feel uncomfortable. It's like a really big battle of managing my symptoms to make sure others enjoy themselves."
So it's obvious why the most wonderful time of the year can quickly turn into a living nightmare for affected individuals.
Noises that may be considered normal, like someone sipping a beverage, 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.
The student, a university student, who has struggled with sound sensitivity from childhood, says the approach she intends to use is to listen to music to cope. Typically, she would often retreat in a different room to minimize distressing triggers.
She notes her misophonia is more intense around people she's closest to, so Christmas is always "difficult".
"People assume you to socialize with loved ones, and I desire to, but it's exhausting on all levels.
"It's like this sudden rage takes hold, which can feel embarrassing, or I'll feel panicked and immediately start crying and then the stress response will activate.
"It may seem as if I'm being difficult and melodramatic, but it's difficult to convey unless you've experienced it."
Several Strategies to Cope
If it's an issue then there are some different techniques you can use to handle the situation, as suggested by specialists.
- Imagine Something Else: Imagination is crucial. Attempt to link the triggering sound causing distress with a neutral concept. So for example, try to envision someone's slurping is just a gentle stream. The goal is to retrain your mind that the sound triggering you is neutral.
- Try a Competition: Introduce playfulness and turn the annoying sound into a game with the person. For instance, if someone is eating noisily try joining in. Through participation, instead of feeling like the sound is an attack, you become an willing part. And the challenge should help redirect your focus and make you a little less affected.
- Develop a Narrative: One more method is to try to invent a reason about why the person making the noise is having to make that sound. Imagine if someone was sniffing, it could be that they're not in good health or could be emotional. The idea is re-framing the context of the sound. Even though the sound remains identical, your understanding of it shifts from being irritating, to feeling a little more neutral towards it.
