The Holiday Season Often Proves to Be a Living Hell for Individuals Living with Sound Sensitivity.
One young woman anticipates seeing her family over the holidays, but says one of the only ways she'll cope is by wearing her hearing protection - particularly at the holiday meal.
In her case, Christmas is a especially challenging season as the sounds of family members munching, sipping loudly and breathing heavily make her feel extremely uncomfortable.
"I experience this feeling of sudden panic, my whole body will just tighten and it feels like I'm in peril, and I need to manage these noises."
The individual has experienced this condition for several years and for her that causes the holiday period "exceptionally stressful".
Misophonia is a reduced tolerance to certain sounds, notably sounds produced by those around you.
It is prevalent across the population. Researchers reported nearly 20% people experience it.
Frequently it's noises linked to mouth, throat or facial movements that lead to discomfort, including things like crunching, heavy breathing, and pen clicking.
Triggering Stress
The sufferer notes: "You encounter so many various auditory triggers at the holidays and that can be stressful and make you want to avoid it.
"My relatives are understanding, but I'm very mindful that I don't want to make other people feel uncomfortable. It's like a constant struggle of enduring my distress to ensure others enjoy themselves."
So it's clear why the most wonderful season can rapidly become a living nightmare for those with the condition.
Noises that may appear innocuous, like someone slurping a Buck's fizz, unwrapping gifts, or tucking into a Christmas dinner can provoke a strong emotional response that can even result in them withdrawing from gatherings.
She, a university student, who has experienced misophonia from childhood, states the approach she intends to use is to use headphones to cope. On any other day, she would usually isolate herself in a separate space to avoid problematic noises.
She notes her condition is more pronounced around people she's most comfortable with, so the holidays is always "difficult".
"There is pressure to socialize with family, and I desire to, but it's physically and mentally challenging.
"It's like this intense irritation takes hold, which can feel embarrassing, or I'll feel stressed and immediately start crying and then panic will kick in.
"It may seem as if I'm being difficult and overreacting, but it's hard to explain if you haven't felt it."
Three Ways to Handle It
If you suffer then there are a few methods you can attempt to manage the situation, according to experts.
- Visualise a Different Scenario: Imagination is crucial. Try to associate the particular sound bothering you with an unrelated image. For instance, try to envision someone's slurping is just a waterfall. This technique is to retrain your mind that the sound affecting you is neutral.
- Try a Competition: Use lightheartedness and make the irritating noise into a game with the person. For example, if someone is eating noisily attempt copying the noise. By joining in, rather than feeling like the sound is unwanted, you become an willing part. And the game aspect should help redirect your focus and make you a little less affected.
- Develop a Narrative: One more method is to try to create a little story about why the person making the noise is having to make that sound. So if someone was sniffing, maybe they are not feeling well or maybe they're upset. By doing this is altering the perception of the sound. While the noise remains identical, your understanding of it changes from being annoying, to feeling a slightly more compassionate about it.
