Christmas Transforms Into a Living Hell for Individuals Living with Sound Sensitivity.
A 23-year-old is looking forward to seeing her loved ones over the holidays, but admits a primary method she'll endure is by relying on her earplugs - particularly at the main festive feast.
In her case, this time of year is a especially challenging time as the noises of people eating, slurping and sniffling make her feel profound anxiety.
"There's this sensation of immediate anxiety, my every muscle will just tighten and it feels like I'm in peril, and I need to somehow control these noises."
She has experienced sound sensitivity since she was 16 and for her that makes the holiday period "exceptionally stressful".
Misophonia is a reduced tolerance to particular auditory triggers, notably sounds coming from other people.
It is prevalent in the UK. A study reported almost one in five people experience it.
Often it's sounds linked to mouth, throat or facial movements that lead to discomfort, including things like chewing, heavy breathing, and pen clicking.
'Anxiety Inducing'
The sufferer notes: "There are so many various auditory triggers at Christmas and that can be anxiety inducing and make you dread it.
"My family are supportive, but I'm very conscious that I don't want to spoil the mood. It's like a internal conflict of sacrificing my own sanity to guarantee others enjoy themselves."
So it's obvious why the traditionally happy time of the year can quickly turn into a source of agony for affected individuals.
Triggers that may appear innocuous, like someone slurping a Buck's fizz, unwrapping gifts, or enjoying festive food can cause a visceral feeling that can even lead to them withdrawing from gatherings.
The student, a 21-year-old student, who has struggled with sound sensitivity since aged 10, states currently her plan is to listen to music to get through dinner. Typically, she would frequently go in a separate space to escape distressing triggers.
She says her misophonia is more pronounced around people she's most comfortable with, so Christmas is always "difficult".
"There is pressure to be around loved ones, and I want to, but it's draining.
"The sensation is this sudden rage comes over me, which can feel shameful, or I'll feel anxious and immediately start crying and then panic will kick in.
"To others it appears as if I'm being oversensitive and dramatic, but it's hard to explain unless you've experienced it."
Three Ways to Handle It
If it's an issue then there are various strategies you can use to handle the situation, according to specialists.
- Visualise Something Else: Imagination is crucial. Try to associate the particular sound causing distress with a neutral concept. For instance, try to picture someone's noisy drinking is just a waterfall. The goal is to help your brain learn that the sound affecting you isn't harmful.
- Make it a Game: Have a bit of fun and make the irritating noise into a challenge with the culprit. For example, if someone is crunching loudly have a go at joining in. By mimicking, rather than feeling like the sound is unwanted, you become an willing part. And the competition element should help redirect your focus and make you a little less affected.
- Craft a Story: Another technique is to try to invent a reason about why the person creating the sound is behaving that way. So if someone was making a nasal sound, perhaps they're not at their best or are troubled. By doing this is altering the perception of the sound. While the sound remains identical, your interpretation of it changes from being irritating, to feeling a bit more accepting about it.
