Christmas Transforms Into a Living Hell for Individuals Living with Sound Sensitivity.
One young woman anticipates seeing her loved ones this Christmas, but admits a primary method she'll manage to get through it is by relying on her hearing protection - notably for the holiday meal.
In her case, this time of year is a especially challenging period as the noises of people eating, slurping and breathing heavily trigger intense distress.
"I experience this wave of sudden panic, my every muscle will just tense up and it as though I'm in peril, and I need to stop these triggers."
The individual has experienced misophonia for several years and for her that causes the holiday period "exceptionally stressful".
Misophonia is a decreased threshold to specific noises, notably sounds produced by those around you.
It is prevalent across the population. Researchers reported almost one in five people are affected by it.
Frequently it's sounds connected to bodily functions that lead to discomfort, as well as things like chewing, breathing, and repetitive finger tapping.
A Source of Dread
Lottie says: "There are so many various auditory triggers at the holidays and that can be daunting and make you want to avoid it.
"My relatives are aware, but I'm very aware that I don't want to upset others. It's like a really big battle of managing my symptoms to make sure everyone else is happy."
So it's clear why the supposedly joyous period can transform into a source of agony for those with the condition.
Sounds that may seem harmless, like someone drinking champagne, opening presents, or tucking into a Christmas dinner can trigger a strong emotional response that can even result in them avoiding social settings altogether.
The student, a university student, who has experienced misophonia from childhood, states currently her plan is to put her earphones in to cope. Typically, she would frequently go in a quiet area to avoid distressing triggers.
She notes her misophonia is more intense around people she's most comfortable with, so Christmas is always "difficult".
"There's an expectation to socialize with loved ones, and I desire 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 anxious and immediately start crying and then the stress response will activate.
"It may seem as if I'm being unreasonable and dramatic, but it's difficult to convey if you haven't felt it."
Three Ways to Handle It
If it's an issue then there are various strategies you can try to cope the situation, according to experts.
- Visualise a Different Scenario: Imagination is essential. Work on connecting the particular sound bothering you with a neutral concept. For instance, try to picture someone's slurping is just a gentle stream. The goal is to help your brain learn that the sound triggering you is neutral.
- Use Humor: Use lightheartedness and turn the annoying sound into a game with the culprit. For instance, if someone is eating noisily try copying the noise. By mimicking, instead of feeling like the sound is being imposed on you, you become an active participant. And the game aspect should help shift your attention and make you somewhat less sensitive.
- Craft a Story: A further strategy is to try to invent a reason about why the person creating the sound is behaving that way. For example if someone was making a nasal sound, maybe they are not in good health or are troubled. This approach is changing the meaning of the sound. Even though the noise doesn't change, your understanding of it changes from being irritating, to feeling a slightly more compassionate towards it.
