The Holiday Season Transforms Into a Terrifying Experience for Individuals Living with Sound Sensitivity.
One young woman is looking forward to being with her family over the holidays, but says a primary method she'll endure is by relying on her earplugs - particularly at the main festive feast.
For the 23-year-old, the holidays is a notably tough time as the auditory triggers of people eating, drinking noisily and nose-blowing make her feel profound anxiety.
"I experience this feeling of immediate anxiety, my every muscle will just tense up and it feels like I'm in danger, and I need to manage these sounds."
She has suffered from sound sensitivity since she was 16 and for her that makes the festive season "exceptionally stressful".
Misophonia is a decreased threshold to particular auditory triggers, notably sounds produced by individuals.
It's surprisingly common across the population. Researchers discovered a significant portion of people suffer from it.
Typically it's sounds associated with eating or drinking that lead to discomfort, along with things like chewing, heavy breathing, and repetitive finger tapping.
'Anxiety Inducing'
The sufferer notes: "You encounter so many assorted problematic noises at Christmas and that can be anxiety inducing and make you fear it.
"My family are supportive, but I'm very conscious that I don't want to make other people feel uncomfortable. It's like a internal conflict of managing my symptoms to guarantee others enjoy themselves."
So it's clear why the supposedly joyous time of the year can quickly turn into a living nightmare for sufferers.
Triggers that may appear innocuous, like someone sipping a beverage, unwrapping gifts, or tucking into a Christmas dinner can trigger a visceral feeling that can even result in them avoiding social settings altogether.
The student, a young adult, who has dealt with sound sensitivity from childhood, says currently her plan is to use headphones to cope. On any other day, she would often retreat in a separate space to avoid distressing triggers.
She says her condition is worse around people she's most comfortable with, so the holidays is always "challenging".
"There's an expectation to spend time with loved ones, and I desire to, but it's exhausting on all levels.
"I feel as if this sudden rage comes over me, which can feel embarrassing, or I'll feel anxious and immediately start crying and then fight-or-flight will kick in.
"It may seem as if I'm being oversensitive and overreacting, but it's difficult to convey unless you've experienced it."
A Few Techniques to Manage
For those affected then there are various strategies you can attempt to manage the situation, as suggested by clinical psychologists.
- Imagine a Different Scenario: Imagination is crucial. Try to associate the particular sound bothering you with something completely different. So for example, try to envision someone's slurping is just a waterfall. The goal is to retrain your mind that the sound triggering you poses no threat.
- Use Humor: Have a bit of fun and turn the annoying sound into a competition involving the source. For instance, if someone is crunching loudly have a go at joining in. By mimicking, instead of feeling like the sound is being imposed on you, you become an willing part. And the challenge should help distract your brain and make you a little less affected.
- Develop a Narrative: One more method is to try to fabricate an explanation about why the person creating the sound is having to make that sound. So if someone was making a nasal sound, perhaps they're not at their best or maybe they're upset. The idea is altering the perception of the sound. While the noise stays the same, your understanding of it changes from being aggravating, to feeling a little more neutral about it.
