The Holiday Season Can Be a Living Hell for Misophonia Sufferers.
A 23-year-old is looking forward to seeing her family during the festive period, but notes one of the only ways she'll manage to get through it is by using her hearing protection - notably for the main festive feast.
In her case, this time of year can be a especially challenging period as the noises of other people chewing, sipping loudly and sniffling cause her extremely uncomfortable.
"I experience this sensation of immediate anxiety, my entire being will just freeze and it feels like I'm in danger, and I need to stop these triggers."
The individual has suffered from sound sensitivity since she was 16 and for her that makes the Christmas time "incredibly overwhelming".
Misophonia is a reduced tolerance to specific noises, particularly those coming from those around you.
It's surprisingly common in the UK. Experts found nearly 20% people suffer from it.
Often it's noises connected to eating or drinking that lead to discomfort, including things like chewing, heavy breathing, and repetitive finger tapping.
'Anxiety Inducing'
The sufferer notes: "You encounter so many various auditory triggers at the holidays and that can be daunting and make you want to avoid it.
"My relatives are understanding, but I'm very mindful that I don't want to spoil the mood. It's like a constant struggle of enduring my distress to guarantee others enjoy themselves."
So it's easy to understand why the supposedly joyous period can transform into a source of agony for affected individuals.
Sounds that may be considered normal, like someone sipping a beverage, opening presents, or eating the holiday meal can trigger a strong emotional response that can even cause them withdrawing from gatherings.
The student, a young adult, who has struggled with sound sensitivity from childhood, explains her strategy is to listen to music to manage the meal. Typically, she would often retreat in a separate space to minimize problematic noises.
She notes her sensitivity is more pronounced around people she's most comfortable with, so Christmas is always "challenging".
"There's an expectation to spend time with loved ones, and I wish to, but it's physically and mentally challenging.
"The sensation is this intense irritation takes hold, which can feel embarrassing, or I'll feel panicked and begin to weep and then the stress response will kick in.
"To others it appears as if I'm being oversensitive and melodramatic, but it's tough to describe if you haven't felt it."
Several Strategies to Cope
If you suffer then there are various strategies you can use to handle the situation, according to specialists.
- Picture a Different Scenario: Imagination is key. Work on connecting the triggering sound affecting you with something completely different. For instance, try to imagine someone's noisy drinking is just a gentle stream. The goal is to help your brain learn that the sound triggering you poses no threat.
- Make it a Game: Have a bit of fun and turn the annoying sound into a challenge with the culprit. For instance, if someone is eating noisily attempt joining in. By mimicking, rather than feeling like the sound is an attack, you become an engaged person. And the competition element should help distract your brain and make you somewhat less sensitive.
- Create a Scenario: One more method is to try to invent a reason about the reason someone creating the sound is doing it. Imagine if someone was making a nasal sound, perhaps they're not in good health or could be emotional. The idea is re-framing the context of the sound. Although the noise stays the same, your reaction of it shifts from being irritating, to feeling a little more neutral about it.
