Yuletide Can Be a Terrifying Experience for Individuals Living with Sound Sensitivity.
One young woman is looking forward to seeing her family during the festive period, but notes one of the only ways she'll endure is by wearing her noise-cancelling devices - notably for the main festive feast.
For her, Christmas is a notably tough period as the sounds of family members munching, slurping and breathing heavily trigger profound anxiety.
"I get this feeling of immediate anxiety, my every muscle will just tense up and it feels like I'm in danger, and I need to stop these triggers."
The individual has experienced misophonia since she was 16 and for her that causes the festive season "deeply taxing".
Misophonia is a decreased threshold to certain sounds, particularly those produced by other people.
It is prevalent in the UK. Experts found nearly 20% people experience it.
Typically it's sounds linked to eating or drinking that lead to discomfort, as well as examples such as chewing, breathing, and repetitive finger tapping.
Triggering Stress
Lottie says: "I face so many different triggering sounds at the holidays and that can be daunting and make you want to avoid it.
"My family are supportive, but I'm very aware that I don't want to make other people feel uncomfortable. It's like a internal conflict of enduring my distress to guarantee others enjoy themselves."
So it's clear why the supposedly joyous period can rapidly become a stressful ordeal for those with the condition.
Triggers that may appear innocuous, like someone drinking champagne, rustling a roll of wrapping paper, or eating the holiday meal can cause a strong emotional response that can even result in them skipping events entirely.
Jenna, a young adult, who has experienced sound sensitivity from childhood, states the approach she intends to use is to listen to music to manage the meal. Typically, she would often retreat in a different room to minimize problematic noises.
She notes her condition is more intense around people she's most familiar with, so the holidays is always "difficult".
"There's an expectation to spend time with family, and I wish to, but it's draining.
"It's like this sudden rage takes hold, which can feel shameful, or I'll feel panicked and immediately start crying and then panic will activate.
"To others it appears as if I'm being unreasonable and dramatic, but it's tough to describe without firsthand experience."
Three Ways to Manage
If you suffer then there are a few methods you can use to handle the situation, according to clinical psychologists.
- Picture Something Else: Imagination is crucial. Attempt to link the triggering sound bothering you with something completely different. As an illustration, try to imagine someone's noisy drinking is just a waterfall. This technique is to help your brain learn that the sound affecting you poses no threat.
- Make it a Game: Have a bit of fun and make the irritating noise into a game with the culprit. For example, if someone is eating noisily have a go at copying the noise. By mimicking, instead of feeling like the sound is unwanted, you become an engaged person. And the competition element should help shift your attention and make you somewhat less sensitive.
- Craft a Story: A further strategy is to try to create a little story about the reason someone making the noise is doing it. For example if someone was making a nasal sound, perhaps they're not at their best or are troubled. By doing this is altering the perception of the sound. While the noise stays the same, your interpretation of it shifts from being irritating, to feeling a bit more accepting about it.
