The Holiday Season Often Proves to Be a Terrifying Experience for Individuals Living with Sound Sensitivity.
A 23-year-old hopes for being with her loved ones this Christmas, but says a primary method she'll endure is by relying on her noise-cancelling devices - particularly at the holiday meal.
In her case, this time of year can be a notably tough season as the noises of other people chewing, drinking noisily and sniffling trigger intense distress.
"There's this sensation of immediate anxiety, my every muscle will just freeze and it feels like I'm in danger, and I need to somehow control these triggers."
The individual has suffered from this condition from a young age and for her that renders the holiday period "deeply taxing".
Misophonia is an intense sensitivity to particular auditory triggers, particularly those made by those around you.
The condition is widespread in the UK. A study found nearly 20% people are affected by it.
Typically it's sounds linked to eating or drinking that cause distress, as well as examples such as chewing, heavy breathing, and repetitive finger tapping.
Triggering Stress
Lottie says: "There are so many assorted problematic noises at the holidays and that can be anxiety inducing and make you fear it.
"Those close to me are supportive, but I'm very mindful that I don't want to make other people feel uncomfortable. It's like a constant struggle of sacrificing my own sanity to guarantee the event goes smoothly."
So it's clear why the most wonderful season can rapidly become a source of agony for those with the condition.
Sounds that may appear innocuous, like someone drinking champagne, unwrapping gifts, or tucking into a Christmas dinner can provoke a powerful reaction that can even result in them avoiding social settings altogether.
The student, a young adult, who has struggled with sound sensitivity since aged 10, explains the approach she intends to use is to put her earphones in to cope. Typically, she would frequently go in a separate space to minimize triggering sounds.
She notes her misophonia is worse around people she's closest to, so the holidays is always "hard".
"People assume you to be around loved ones, and I wish to, but it's exhausting on all levels.
"It's like this uncontrollable anger takes hold, which can feel shameful, or I'll feel anxious and begin to weep and then panic will activate.
"It can come across as if I'm being unreasonable and melodramatic, but it's tough to describe without firsthand experience."
Several Strategies to Manage
For those affected then there are a few methods you can try to cope the situation, as suggested by specialists.
- Imagine a Different Scenario: Imagination is essential. Work on connecting the particular sound affecting you with a neutral concept. For instance, try to picture someone's slurping is just a sink draining water. By doing this is to retrain your mind that the sound triggering you poses no threat.
- Try a Competition: Have a bit of fun and turn the annoying sound into a competition with the person. As an example, if someone is eating noisily have a go at joining in. By joining in, rather than feeling like the sound is an attack, you become an active participant. And the challenge should help distract your brain and make you somewhat less sensitive.
- Develop a Narrative: Another technique is to try to invent a reason about why the person creating the sound is having to make that sound. Imagine if someone was sniffing, maybe they are not at their best or maybe they're upset. The idea is re-framing the context of the sound. While the sound stays the same, your reaction of it changes from being aggravating, to feeling a slightly more compassionate about it.
