The Holiday Season Transforms Into a Living Hell for Individuals Living with Sound Sensitivity.
A 23-year-old is looking forward to seeing her family during the festive period, but says one of the only ways she'll cope is by using her noise-cancelling devices - notably for the main festive feast.
In her case, the holidays often feels like a notably tough time as the auditory triggers of people eating, slurping and breathing heavily cause her extremely uncomfortable.
"There's this feeling of immediate anxiety, my every muscle will just tighten and it as though I'm in a threatening situation, and I need to somehow control these triggers."
She has suffered from misophonia for several years and for her that renders the holiday period "exceptionally stressful".
Misophonia is an intense sensitivity to particular auditory triggers, especially noises made by individuals.
It is prevalent amongst adults. A study discovered a significant portion of people experience it.
Often it's sounds associated with eating or drinking that trigger a reaction, as well as examples such as chewing, breathing, and pen clicking.
Triggering Stress
The sufferer notes: "There are so many assorted problematic noises at the holidays and that can be daunting and make you fear it.
"Those close to me are understanding, but I'm very mindful that I don't want to spoil the mood. It's like a constant struggle of managing my symptoms to make sure the event goes smoothly."
So it's clear why the most wonderful time of the year can quickly turn into a source of agony for those with the condition.
Noises that may seem harmless, like someone slurping a Buck's fizz, unwrapping gifts, or enjoying festive food can cause a powerful reaction that can even lead to them avoiding social settings altogether.
The student, a university student, who has dealt with misophonia since aged 10, explains currently her plan is to use headphones to get through dinner. On any other day, she would frequently go in a different room to avoid problematic noises.
She says her sensitivity is more intense around people she's most comfortable with, so the holidays is always "hard".
"There's an expectation to be around loved ones, and I wish to, but it's exhausting on all levels.
"I feel as if this sudden rage comes over me, which can feel embarrassing, or I'll feel panicked and begin to weep and then fight-or-flight will kick in.
"To others it appears as if I'm being unreasonable and melodramatic, but it's difficult to convey unless you've experienced it."
A Few Techniques to Cope
For those affected then there are some different techniques you can use to handle the situation, based on advice from clinical psychologists.
- Visualise an Alternative: Mental imagery is crucial. Attempt to link the specific noise bothering you with an unrelated image. For instance, try to imagine someone's slurping is just a sink draining water. By doing this is to help your brain learn that the sound triggering you is neutral.
- Make it a Game: Have a bit of fun and turn the annoying sound into a challenge with the culprit. For instance, if someone is crunching loudly try mimicking the sound. By joining in, rather than feeling like the sound is an attack, you become an willing part. And the challenge should help shift your attention and make you a little less affected.
- Create a Scenario: One more method is to try to invent a reason about the reason someone making the noise is doing it. For example if someone was making a nasal sound, perhaps they're not in good health or maybe they're upset. The idea is re-framing the context of the sound. While the noise remains identical, your reaction of it changes from being annoying, to feeling a slightly more compassionate about it.
