Christmas Transforms Into a Nightmare for Individuals Living with Sound Sensitivity.
A 23-year-old hopes for spending time with her loved ones this Christmas, but notes a primary method she'll cope is by using her noise-cancelling devices - particularly at the main festive feast.
For her, this time of year is a notably tough time as the sounds of people eating, slurping and sniffling trigger profound anxiety.
"I get this feeling of instant dread, my entire being will just freeze and it seems as if I'm in a threatening situation, and I need to stop these sounds."
She has suffered from sound sensitivity since she was 16 and for her that renders the Christmas time "deeply taxing".
Misophonia is a decreased threshold to particular auditory triggers, particularly those produced by those around you.
The condition is widespread across the population. A study discovered almost one in five people experience it.
Often it's sounds connected to eating or drinking that lead to discomfort, along with things like crunching, breathing, and repetitive finger tapping.
'Anxiety Inducing'
She explains: "There are so many different triggering sounds at Christmas and that can be daunting and make you want to avoid it.
"Those close to me are aware, but I'm very conscious that I don't want to upset others. It's like a internal conflict of sacrificing my own sanity to ensure the event goes smoothly."
So it's obvious why the most wonderful season can quickly turn into a stressful ordeal for those with the condition.
Noises that may be considered normal, like someone sipping a beverage, opening presents, or tucking into a Christmas dinner can cause a visceral feeling that can even lead to them skipping events entirely.
The student, a university student, who has struggled with misophonia since aged 10, says currently her plan is to use headphones to manage the meal. Typically, she would usually isolate herself in a different room to escape problematic noises.
She notes her condition is more intense around people she's most comfortable with, so the holidays is always "challenging".
"There is pressure to be around loved ones, and I desire to, but it's physically and mentally challenging.
"The sensation is this sudden rage takes hold, which can feel awkward, or I'll feel panicked and begin to weep and then fight-or-flight will kick in.
"It can come across as if I'm being difficult and melodramatic, but it's tough to describe unless you've experienced it."
Several Strategies to Cope
For those affected then there are a few methods you can use to handle the situation, based on advice from specialists.
- Picture an Alternative: Imagination is essential. Work on connecting the triggering sound affecting you with something completely different. As an illustration, try to envision someone's slurping is just a waterfall. This technique is to retrain your mind that the sound triggering you is neutral.
- Make it a Game: Introduce playfulness and make the irritating noise into a competition with the culprit. For instance, if someone is crunching loudly have a go at joining in. By mimicking, instead of feeling like the sound is unwanted, you become an active participant. And the challenge should help shift your attention and make you a little less affected.
- Craft a Story: A further strategy is to try to create a little story about why the person creating the sound is doing it. Imagine if someone was making a nasal sound, maybe they are not in good health or are troubled. By doing this is changing the meaning of the sound. Although the noise doesn't change, your understanding of it changes from being aggravating, to feeling a slightly more compassionate towards it.
