Christmas Transforms Into a Terrifying Experience for Individuals Living with Sound Sensitivity.
A 23-year-old hopes for spending time with her family during the festive period, but says a primary method she'll manage to get through it is by relying on her noise-cancelling devices - especially during the main festive feast.
For her, this time of year often feels like a notably tough period as the sounds of other people chewing, slurping and nose-blowing trigger profound anxiety.
"I experience this wave of instant dread, my whole body will just tense up and it as though I'm in a threatening situation, and I need to manage these sounds."
She has lived with this condition since she was 16 and for her that causes the festive season "incredibly overwhelming".
Misophonia is a reduced tolerance to specific noises, notably sounds made by other people.
It is prevalent across the population. Experts discovered almost one in five people are affected by it.
Often it's noises linked to mouth, throat or facial movements that trigger a reaction, including things like chewing, breathing, and foot tapping.
'Anxiety Inducing'
The sufferer notes: "There are so many various auditory triggers at Christmas and that can be anxiety inducing and make you want to avoid it.
"My relatives are aware, but I'm very mindful that I don't want to make other people feel uncomfortable. It's like a constant struggle of managing my symptoms to ensure everyone else is happy."
So it's obvious why the most wonderful period can quickly turn into a stressful ordeal for sufferers.
Sounds that may seem harmless, like someone drinking champagne, unwrapping gifts, or eating the holiday meal can provoke a strong emotional response that can even cause them withdrawing from gatherings.
She, a university student, who has experienced misophonia from childhood, says her strategy is to use headphones to get through dinner. Typically, she would usually isolate herself in a different room to avoid problematic noises.
She says her misophonia is more intense around people she's most comfortable with, so Christmas is always "difficult".
"There is pressure to be around loved ones, and I wish to, but it's physically and mentally challenging.
"It's like this intense irritation washes over me, which can feel awkward, or I'll feel anxious and burst into tears and then panic will take over.
"It can come across as if I'm being oversensitive and dramatic, but it's tough to describe if you haven't felt it."
A Few Techniques to Cope
If it's an issue then there are various strategies you can use to handle the situation, as suggested by clinical psychologists.
- Imagine Something Else: Mental imagery is key. Work on connecting the particular sound bothering you with an unrelated image. As an illustration, try to imagine someone's slurping is just a waterfall. This technique is to teach your brain that the sound affecting you isn't harmful.
- Try a Competition: Have a bit of fun and turn the annoying sound into a challenge with the person. For instance, if someone is eating noisily have a go at joining in. By mimicking, rather than feeling like the sound is an attack, you become an active participant. And the game aspect should help shift your attention and make you slightly more tolerant.
- 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, it could be that they're not at their best or are troubled. This approach is altering the perception of the sound. Even though the sound stays the same, your interpretation of it moves from being annoying, to feeling a slightly more compassionate about it.
