Yuletide Transforms Into a Living Hell for Individuals Living with Sound Sensitivity.
A 23-year-old is looking forward to being with her loved ones during the festive period, but admits a key strategy she'll cope is by relying on her hearing protection - notably for the main festive feast.
For the 23-year-old, Christmas can be a notably tough season as the noises of other people chewing, sipping loudly and sniffling make her feel extremely uncomfortable.
"I experience this feeling of sudden panic, my entire being will just tighten and it seems as if I'm in danger, and I need to manage these triggers."
She has experienced sound sensitivity for several years and for her that causes the festive season "deeply taxing".
Misophonia is a decreased threshold to particular auditory triggers, notably sounds made by individuals.
It is prevalent in the UK. A study found almost one in five people are affected by it.
Often it's noises connected to bodily functions that trigger a reaction, as well as things like crunching, breathing, and pen clicking.
'Anxiety Inducing'
The sufferer notes: "There are so many different triggering sounds at the holidays and that can be stressful and make you fear it.
"Those close to me are understanding, but I'm very mindful that I don't want to make other people feel uncomfortable. It's like a really big battle of sacrificing my own sanity to guarantee others enjoy themselves."
So it's easy to understand why the traditionally happy time of the year can transform into a stressful ordeal for sufferers.
Sounds that may be considered normal, like someone slurping a Buck's fizz, rustling a roll of wrapping paper, or tucking into a Christmas dinner can trigger a powerful reaction that can even result in them avoiding social settings altogether.
Jenna, a university student, who has struggled with misophonia from childhood, says currently her plan is to put her earphones in to cope. Typically, she would frequently go in a different room to avoid triggering sounds.
She explains her misophonia is more intense around people she's most familiar with, so the holidays is always "difficult".
"People assume you to be around family, and I wish to, but it's draining.
"The sensation is this intense irritation takes hold, which can feel shameful, or I'll feel panicked and burst into tears and then panic will kick in.
"To others it appears as if I'm being unreasonable and dramatic, but it's difficult to convey if you haven't felt it."
A Few Techniques to Manage
For those affected then there are various strategies you can use to handle the situation, according to specialists.
- Picture a Different Scenario: Mental imagery is essential. Try to associate the triggering sound bothering you with an unrelated image. As an illustration, 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.
- Use Humor: Have a bit of fun and make the irritating noise into a competition involving the source. For example, if someone is eating noisily attempt copying the noise. By joining in, rather than feeling like the sound is an attack, you become an active participant. And the challenge should help shift your attention and make you a little less affected.
- Develop a Narrative: One more method is to try to create a little story about why the person making the noise is doing it. Imagine if someone was making a nasal sound, maybe they are not in good health or maybe they're upset. The idea is altering the perception of the sound. While the noise stays the same, your understanding of it moves from being aggravating, to feeling a bit more accepting about it.
