Yuletide Often Proves to Be a Terrifying Experience for Individuals Living with Sound Sensitivity.
One young woman is looking forward to seeing her family over the holidays, but says a key strategy she'll manage to get through it is by relying on her hearing protection - notably for the main festive feast.
For her, the holidays often feels like a notably tough period as the auditory triggers of other people chewing, slurping and breathing heavily make her feel extremely uncomfortable.
"There's this wave of immediate anxiety, my every muscle will just tighten and it feels like I'm in peril, and I need to manage these noises."
The individual has experienced sound sensitivity from a young age and for her that makes the Christmas time "exceptionally stressful".
Misophonia is a reduced tolerance to specific noises, especially noises made by those around you.
It is prevalent amongst adults. Researchers found nearly 20% people suffer from it.
Typically it's sounds associated with mouth, throat or facial movements that cause distress, as well as things like chewing, breathing, and pen clicking.
Triggering Stress
She explains: "There are so many assorted problematic noises at Christmas and that can be anxiety inducing and make you want to avoid it.
"My family are aware, but I'm very mindful that I don't want to upset others. It's like a constant struggle of enduring my distress to ensure everyone else is happy."
So it's obvious why the traditionally happy season can transform into a source of agony for sufferers.
Noises that may seem harmless, like someone slurping a Buck's fizz, opening presents, or tucking into a Christmas dinner can provoke a powerful reaction that can even lead to them withdrawing from gatherings.
The student, a 21-year-old student, who has experienced sound sensitivity for over a decade, states currently her plan is to use headphones to cope. Usually, she would usually isolate herself in a separate space to avoid distressing triggers.
She explains her sensitivity is more intense around people she's closest to, so Christmas is always "challenging".
"There is pressure to spend time with loved ones, and I desire to, but it's draining.
"It's like this uncontrollable anger washes over me, which can feel shameful, or I'll feel anxious and immediately start crying and then panic will activate.
"It may seem as if I'm being oversensitive and overreacting, but it's difficult to convey without firsthand experience."
Several Strategies to Cope
If it's an issue then there are a few methods you can attempt to manage the situation, based on advice from specialists.
- Picture a Different Scenario: Mental imagery is essential. Try to associate the specific noise causing distress with an unrelated image. So for example, try to picture someone's slurping is just a sink draining water. The goal is to help your brain learn that the sound affecting you isn't harmful.
- Try a Competition: Use lightheartedness and make the irritating noise into a challenge with the person. As an example, if someone is crunching loudly try joining in. Through participation, rather than feeling like the sound is an attack, you become an engaged person. And the game aspect should help redirect your focus and make you a little less affected.
- Develop a Narrative: Another technique is to try to create a little story about why the person making the noise is having to make that sound. Imagine if someone was sniffing, it could be that they're not feeling well or could be emotional. This approach is re-framing the context of the sound. Although the sound stays the same, your reaction of it moves from being aggravating, to feeling a bit more accepting about it.
