The Holiday Season Often Proves to Be a Nightmare for Individuals Living with Sound Sensitivity.
One young woman anticipates spending time with her relatives this Christmas, but says one of the only ways she'll endure is by using her hearing protection - notably for the holiday meal.
For the 23-year-old, this time of year is a notably tough time as the sounds of people eating, slurping and nose-blowing cause her profound anxiety.
"I get this wave of immediate anxiety, my entire being will just tense up and it feels like I'm in a threatening situation, and I need to stop these noises."
She has suffered from misophonia since she was 16 and for her that renders the holiday period "incredibly overwhelming".
Misophonia is an intense sensitivity to particular auditory triggers, particularly those made by those around you.
The condition is widespread amongst adults. Researchers reported a significant portion of people experience it.
Frequently it's sounds associated with eating or drinking that cause distress, along with examples such as chewing, breathing, and pen clicking.
A Source of Dread
The sufferer notes: "I face so many assorted problematic noises at the holidays and that can be stressful and make you dread it.
"My family are aware, but I'm very aware that I don't want to spoil the mood. It's like a constant struggle of managing my symptoms to make sure others enjoy themselves."
So it's clear why the supposedly joyous season can quickly turn into a source of agony for those with the condition.
Sounds that may seem harmless, like someone slurping a Buck's fizz, unwrapping gifts, or eating the holiday meal can provoke a powerful reaction that can even cause them avoiding social settings altogether.
She, a young adult, who has struggled with misophonia from childhood, says her strategy is to use headphones to cope. Typically, she would frequently go in a quiet area to minimize distressing triggers.
She notes her condition is more pronounced around people she's most comfortable with, so the holidays is always "difficult".
"There is pressure to spend time with family, and I want to, but it's draining.
"It's like this uncontrollable anger washes over me, which can feel embarrassing, or I'll feel anxious and immediately start crying and then the stress response will activate.
"To others it appears as if I'm being oversensitive and melodramatic, but it's difficult to convey if you haven't felt it."
Three Ways to Handle It
For those affected then there are various strategies you can use to handle the situation, according to specialists.
- Imagine a Different Scenario: Mental imagery is crucial. Try to associate the particular sound bothering you with a neutral concept. As an illustration, try to envision someone's slurping is just a waterfall. The goal is to help your brain learn that the sound affecting you is neutral.
- Make it a Game: Have a bit of fun and turn the annoying sound into a challenge involving the source. For instance, if someone is crunching loudly try mimicking the sound. Through participation, rather than feeling like the sound is being imposed on you, you become an active participant. And the competition element should help distract your brain and make you somewhat less sensitive.
- Craft a Story: A further strategy is to try to invent a reason about the reason someone making the noise is having to make that sound. For example if someone was sniffing, maybe they are not feeling well or could be emotional. The idea is altering the perception of the sound. While the noise doesn't change, your understanding of it changes from being irritating, to feeling a bit more accepting about it.
