Yuletide Can Be a Terrifying Experience for Individuals Living with Sound Sensitivity.
A 23-year-old hopes for spending time with her relatives this Christmas, but notes a key strategy she'll endure is by wearing her hearing protection - especially during the holiday meal.
For the 23-year-old, the holidays can be a notably tough period as the auditory triggers of other people chewing, sipping loudly and nose-blowing make her feel intense distress.
"I experience this wave of sudden panic, my every muscle will just tighten and it feels like I'm in danger, and I need to manage these triggers."
She has suffered from this condition for several years and for her that renders the festive season "exceptionally stressful".
Misophonia is a decreased threshold to specific noises, notably sounds made by those around you.
The condition is widespread amongst adults. A study discovered almost one in five people experience it.
Typically it's sounds connected to mouth, throat or facial movements that trigger a reaction, along with examples such as crunching, heavy breathing, and foot tapping.
'Anxiety Inducing'
She explains: "There are so many different triggering sounds at the holidays and that can be daunting and make you dread it.
"Those close to me are aware, but I'm very mindful that I don't want to make other people feel uncomfortable. It's like a really big battle of sacrificing my own sanity to make sure the event goes smoothly."
So it's easy to understand why the supposedly joyous time of the year can transform into a source of agony for sufferers.
Noises that may appear innocuous, like someone drinking champagne, rustling a roll of wrapping paper, or enjoying festive food can provoke a strong emotional response that can even result in them skipping events entirely.
The student, a young adult, who has dealt with misophonia since aged 10, says the approach she intends to use is to put her earphones in to cope. Typically, she would often retreat in a separate space to avoid distressing triggers.
She says her misophonia is more pronounced around people she's most comfortable with, so Christmas is always "hard".
"People assume you to spend time with loved ones, and I want to, but it's exhausting on all levels.
"The sensation is this intense irritation takes hold, which can feel embarrassing, or I'll feel anxious and begin to weep and then the stress response will kick in.
"It may seem as if I'm being unreasonable and melodramatic, but it's tough to describe unless you've experienced it."
Three Ways to Cope
If it's an issue then there are various strategies you can use to handle the situation, as suggested by specialists.
- Picture Something Else: Creative thinking is essential. Try to associate the specific noise affecting you with a neutral concept. So for example, try to envision someone's slurping is just a waterfall. This technique is to help your brain learn that the sound affecting you isn't harmful.
- Use Humor: Use lightheartedness and make the irritating noise into a game with the person. For example, if someone is eating noisily attempt joining in. By mimicking, rather than feeling like the sound is unwanted, you become an willing part. And the challenge should help redirect your focus and make you a little less affected.
- Craft a Story: One more method is to try to fabricate an explanation about why the person making the noise is behaving that way. For example if someone was making a nasal sound, maybe they are not in good health or could be emotional. This approach is changing the meaning of the sound. While the sound stays the same, your interpretation of it shifts from being irritating, to feeling a little more neutral about it.
