The Holiday Season Can Be a Nightmare for Individuals Living with Sound Sensitivity.
A 23-year-old is looking forward to seeing her family over the holidays, but admits a primary method she'll endure is by wearing her earplugs - notably for the holiday meal.
For the 23-year-old, this time of year is a notably tough season as the sounds of family members munching, slurping and sniffling make her feel profound anxiety.
"There's this sensation of instant dread, my entire being will just freeze and it as though I'm in a threatening situation, and I need to manage these noises."
The individual has experienced misophonia since she was 16 and for her that causes the Christmas time "deeply taxing".
Misophonia is a decreased threshold to specific noises, especially noises produced by other people.
It's surprisingly common in the UK. A study found a significant portion of people experience it.
Often it's noises associated with mouth, throat or facial movements that lead to discomfort, including things like chewing, breathing, and foot tapping.
A Source of Dread
The sufferer notes: "You encounter so many different triggering sounds at the holidays and that can be stressful and make you fear it.
"Those close to me are understanding, but I'm very mindful that I don't want to upset others. It's like a really big battle of enduring my distress to ensure the event goes smoothly."
So it's obvious why the most wonderful period can quickly turn into a stressful ordeal for those with the condition.
Noises that may appear innocuous, like someone sipping a beverage, unwrapping gifts, or enjoying festive food can provoke a powerful reaction that can even lead to them skipping events entirely.
The student, a 21-year-old student, who has dealt with sound sensitivity since aged 10, says currently her plan is to put her earphones in to get through dinner. Usually, she would usually isolate herself in a quiet area to minimize triggering sounds.
She notes her sensitivity is more intense around people she's most comfortable with, so Christmas is always "challenging".
"There is pressure to be around loved ones, and I wish to, but it's physically and mentally challenging.
"It's like this intense irritation comes over me, which can feel embarrassing, or I'll feel panicked and burst into tears and then fight-or-flight will take over.
"To others it appears as if I'm being oversensitive and overreacting, but it's tough to describe unless you've experienced it."
Three Ways to Manage
If it's an issue then there are various strategies you can try to cope the situation, according to experts.
- Imagine a Different Scenario: Mental imagery is crucial. Work on connecting the triggering sound bothering you with a neutral concept. For instance, try to imagine someone's slurping is just a gentle stream. The goal is to teach your brain that the sound triggering you is neutral.
- Use Humor: Use lightheartedness and turn the annoying sound into a challenge with the culprit. As an example, if someone is eating noisily have a go at copying the noise. By mimicking, instead of feeling like the sound is an attack, you become an active participant. And the game aspect should help shift your attention and make you a little less affected.
- Craft a Story: One more method is to try to invent a reason about why the person creating the sound is doing it. For example if someone was sniffing, perhaps they're not in good health or maybe they're upset. This approach is altering the perception of the sound. Even though the sound remains identical, your reaction of it changes from being annoying, to feeling a slightly more compassionate about it.
