The Holiday Season Transforms Into a Living Hell for Individuals Living with Sound Sensitivity.
A 23-year-old is looking forward to spending time with her family during the festive period, but notes one of the only ways she'll cope is by relying on her noise-cancelling devices - particularly at the main festive feast.
In her case, Christmas often feels like a especially challenging time as the auditory triggers of people eating, sipping loudly and nose-blowing cause her intense distress.
"There's this feeling of sudden panic, my every muscle will just tense up and it as though I'm in danger, and I need to manage these noises."
She has lived with this condition since she was 16 and for her that renders the holiday period "deeply taxing".
Misophonia is an intense sensitivity to certain sounds, particularly those coming from those around you.
It is prevalent across the population. Researchers discovered nearly 20% people suffer from it.
Typically it's noises linked to eating or drinking that lead to discomfort, as well as things like crunching, heavy breathing, and repetitive finger tapping.
A Source of Dread
The sufferer notes: "You encounter so many assorted problematic noises at Christmas and that can be daunting and make you fear 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 really big battle of managing my symptoms to make sure the event goes smoothly."
So it's easy to understand why the supposedly joyous time of the year can quickly turn into a stressful ordeal for those with the condition.
Noises that may seem harmless, like someone drinking champagne, opening presents, or enjoying festive food can trigger a visceral feeling that can even result in them withdrawing from gatherings.
Jenna, a university student, who has dealt with misophonia for over a decade, explains currently her plan is to listen to music to manage the meal. Usually, she would frequently go in a separate space to avoid distressing triggers.
She says her condition is more intense around people she's closest to, so the holidays is always "challenging".
"There is pressure to be around family, and I want to, but it's draining.
"I feel as if this uncontrollable anger comes over me, which can feel shameful, or I'll feel stressed and burst into tears and then panic will activate.
"To others it appears as if I'm being oversensitive and melodramatic, but it's difficult to convey unless you've experienced it."
Several Strategies to Manage
If it's an issue then there are some different techniques you can try to cope the situation, according to clinical psychologists.
- Visualise Something Else: Imagination is essential. Attempt to link the particular sound affecting you with a neutral concept. For instance, try to imagine someone's slurping is just a gentle stream. By doing this is to help your brain learn that the sound triggering you is neutral.
- Make it a Game: Use lightheartedness and turn the annoying sound into a game involving the source. For example, if someone is crunching loudly attempt copying the noise. By mimicking, rather than feeling like the sound is an attack, you become an willing part. And the challenge should help distract your brain and make you a little less affected.
- Craft a Story: Another technique is to try to fabricate an explanation about why the person creating the sound is having to make that sound. Imagine if someone was sniffing, maybe they are not feeling well or could be emotional. This approach is altering the perception of the sound. Although the sound remains identical, your understanding of it moves from being irritating, to feeling a slightly more compassionate towards it.
