Christmas Often Proves to Be a Terrifying Experience for Individuals Living with Sound Sensitivity.
A 23-year-old is looking forward to spending time with her family this Christmas, but says one of the only ways she'll endure is by using her noise-cancelling devices - particularly at Christmas dinner.
For her, Christmas can be a particularly difficult time as the noises of people eating, drinking noisily and breathing heavily trigger profound anxiety.
"I experience this feeling of instant dread, my every muscle will just tighten and it seems as if I'm in a threatening situation, and I need to somehow control these sounds."
The individual has lived with misophonia for several years and for her that makes the holiday period "incredibly overwhelming".
Misophonia is a reduced tolerance to specific noises, particularly those produced by individuals.
The condition is widespread in the UK. Researchers discovered almost one in five people experience it.
Frequently it's sounds associated with mouth, throat or facial movements that cause distress, along with examples such as chewing, breathing, and repetitive finger tapping.
'Anxiety Inducing'
The sufferer notes: "I face so many assorted problematic noises at the holidays and that can be daunting and make you fear it.
"My relatives are supportive, but I'm very aware that I don't want to upset others. It's like a internal conflict of managing my symptoms to ensure everyone else is happy."
So it's obvious why the most wonderful time of the year can quickly turn into a stressful ordeal for those with the condition.
Noises that may be considered normal, like someone sipping a beverage, rustling a roll of wrapping paper, or tucking into a Christmas dinner can trigger a visceral feeling that can even cause them withdrawing from gatherings.
The student, a young adult, who has dealt with misophonia for over a decade, says currently her plan is to put her earphones in to manage the meal. Usually, she would often retreat in a quiet area to escape triggering sounds.
She explains her condition is more intense around people she's most familiar with, so Christmas is always "difficult".
"There is pressure to spend time with loved ones, and I want to, but it's physically and mentally challenging.
"The sensation is this sudden rage takes hold, which can feel shameful, or I'll feel anxious and immediately start crying and then panic will take over.
"It can come across as if I'm being difficult and overreacting, but it's hard to explain without firsthand experience."
A Few Techniques to Cope
If you suffer then there are various strategies you can use to handle the situation, as suggested by experts.
- Imagine Something Else: Mental imagery is crucial. Attempt to link the triggering sound affecting you with something completely different. As an illustration, try to picture someone's noisy drinking is just a waterfall. The goal is to teach your brain that the sound affecting you is neutral.
- Try a Competition: Use lightheartedness and turn the annoying sound into a game with the culprit. For example, if someone is eating noisily have a go at copying the noise. Through participation, instead of feeling like the sound is being imposed on you, you become an engaged person. And the game aspect should help shift your attention and make you a little less affected.
- Craft a Story: One more method is to try to create a little story about why the person creating the sound is doing it. For example if someone was sniffing, perhaps they're not at their best or are troubled. This approach is re-framing the context of the sound. While the sound stays the same, your interpretation of it changes from being irritating, to feeling a slightly more compassionate towards it.
