The Holiday Season Transforms Into a Living Hell for Individuals Living with Sound Sensitivity.
A 23-year-old is looking forward to seeing her loved ones this Christmas, but notes one of the only ways she'll cope is by using her noise-cancelling devices - notably for Christmas dinner.
For the 23-year-old, this time of year often feels like a notably tough period as the sounds of people eating, sipping loudly and breathing heavily make her feel intense distress.
"There's this wave of sudden panic, my whole body will just tighten and it seems as if I'm in danger, and I need to manage these noises."
The individual has lived with this condition for several years and for her that causes the festive season "exceptionally stressful".
Misophonia is a reduced tolerance to specific noises, especially noises made by individuals.
It's surprisingly common amongst adults. A study discovered a significant portion of people suffer from it.
Frequently it's sounds associated with mouth, throat or facial movements that trigger a reaction, along with things like chewing, breathing, and foot tapping.
'Anxiety Inducing'
She explains: "You encounter so many different triggering sounds at the holidays and that can be stressful and make you fear it.
"My relatives are aware, but I'm very mindful that I don't want to upset others. It's like a internal conflict of enduring my distress to make sure the event goes smoothly."
So it's obvious why the most wonderful period can rapidly become a living nightmare for sufferers.
Noises that may appear innocuous, like someone sipping a beverage, unwrapping gifts, or enjoying festive food can trigger a powerful reaction that can even lead to them avoiding social settings altogether.
Jenna, a 21-year-old student, who has struggled with misophonia from childhood, states currently her plan is to use headphones to cope. On any other day, she would usually isolate herself in a quiet area to minimize triggering sounds.
She notes her misophonia is more intense around people she's most familiar with, so the holidays is always "hard".
"There is pressure to be around family, and I desire to, but it's draining.
"It's like this uncontrollable anger washes over me, which can feel shameful, or I'll feel panicked and begin to weep and then the stress response will activate.
"It can come across as if I'm being unreasonable and melodramatic, but it's tough to describe if you haven't felt it."
Several Strategies to Handle It
If you suffer then there are various strategies you can try to cope the situation, as suggested by specialists.
- Picture a Different Scenario: Creative thinking is essential. Attempt to link the specific noise affecting you with something completely different. As an illustration, try to envision someone's noisy drinking is just a waterfall. This technique is to retrain your mind that the sound triggering you is neutral.
- Make it a Game: Use lightheartedness and turn the annoying sound into a challenge with the culprit. As an example, if someone is crunching loudly have a go at copying the noise. By joining in, instead of feeling like the sound is unwanted, you become an willing part. And the game aspect should help shift your attention and make you somewhat less sensitive.
- Create a Scenario: A further strategy is to try to invent a reason about the reason someone making the noise is doing it. Imagine if someone was making a nasal sound, it could be that they're not feeling well or could be emotional. The idea is altering the perception of the sound. Even though the noise stays the same, your interpretation of it moves from being aggravating, to feeling a little more neutral about it.
