Yuletide Transforms Into a Living Hell for Individuals Living with Sound Sensitivity.
One young woman is looking forward to spending time with her loved ones this Christmas, but notes one of the only ways she'll cope is by relying on her noise-cancelling devices - especially during the holiday meal.
In her case, this time of year often feels like a notably tough period as the auditory triggers of family members munching, slurping and nose-blowing make her feel profound anxiety.
"I get this sensation of immediate anxiety, my every muscle will just freeze and it as though I'm in danger, and I need to somehow control these noises."
She has suffered from this condition since she was 16 and for her that renders the festive season "exceptionally stressful".
Misophonia is a decreased threshold to specific noises, especially noises produced by individuals.
It is prevalent in the UK. A study found a significant portion of people experience it.
Typically it's noises associated with eating or drinking that trigger a reaction, along with examples such as chewing, breathing, and foot tapping.
Triggering Stress
She explains: "You encounter so many assorted problematic noises at Christmas and that can be anxiety inducing and make you dread it.
"My family are understanding, but I'm very conscious that I don't want to make other people feel uncomfortable. It's like a constant struggle of sacrificing my own sanity to make sure everyone else is happy."
So it's obvious why the traditionally happy season can quickly turn into a source of agony for those with the condition.
Noises that may appear innocuous, like someone sipping a beverage, rustling a roll of wrapping paper, or tucking into a Christmas dinner can provoke a visceral feeling that can even cause them withdrawing from gatherings.
The student, a young adult, who has dealt with misophonia from childhood, states currently her plan is to use headphones to manage the meal. Usually, she would usually isolate herself in a different room to minimize distressing triggers.
She notes her condition is more pronounced around people she's most comfortable with, so the holidays is always "challenging".
"There's an expectation to socialize with family, and I want to, but it's draining.
"The sensation is this uncontrollable anger comes over me, which can feel shameful, or I'll feel panicked and burst into tears and then panic will activate.
"It can come across as if I'm being oversensitive and overreacting, but it's difficult to convey without firsthand experience."
Several Strategies to Cope
For those affected then there are a few methods you can attempt to manage the situation, according to clinical psychologists.
- Imagine an Alternative: Creative thinking is essential. Try to associate the particular sound causing distress with something completely different. As an illustration, try to envision someone's noisy drinking is just a waterfall. By doing this is to help your brain learn that the sound triggering you is neutral.
- Use Humor: Have a bit of fun and turn the annoying sound into a competition with the person. For example, if someone is eating noisily have a go at mimicking the sound. By mimicking, rather than feeling like the sound is being imposed on you, you become an active participant. And the competition element should help shift your attention and make you a little less affected.
- Develop a Narrative: One more method is to try to fabricate an explanation about why the person making the noise is having to make that sound. So if someone was making a nasal sound, maybe they are not at their best or are troubled. By doing this is altering the perception of the sound. Even though the noise stays the same, your understanding of it shifts from being aggravating, to feeling a bit more accepting towards it.
