The Holiday Season Transforms Into a Living Hell for Individuals Living with Sound Sensitivity.
A 23-year-old anticipates seeing her family this Christmas, but admits one of the only ways she'll cope is by using her earplugs - particularly at the holiday meal.
For her, Christmas often feels like a notably tough season as the noises of other people chewing, sipping loudly and sniffling make her feel extremely uncomfortable.
"I experience this feeling of instant dread, my entire being will just tense up and it seems as if I'm in danger, and I need to somehow control these triggers."
The individual has suffered from this condition for several years and for her that causes the Christmas time "exceptionally stressful".
Misophonia is a reduced tolerance to specific noises, particularly those produced by those around you.
It is prevalent in the UK. Researchers discovered nearly 20% people are affected by it.
Frequently it's sounds associated with mouth, throat or facial movements that lead to discomfort, along with examples such as crunching, heavy breathing, and repetitive finger tapping.
'Anxiety Inducing'
She explains: "I face so many assorted problematic noises at Christmas and that can be anxiety inducing and make you fear it.
"Those close to me are aware, but I'm very conscious that I don't want to spoil the mood. It's like a internal conflict of sacrificing my own sanity to guarantee the event goes smoothly."
So it's obvious why the most wonderful time of the year can transform into a stressful ordeal for affected individuals.
Sounds that may seem harmless, like someone sipping a beverage, unwrapping gifts, or tucking into a Christmas dinner can trigger a strong emotional response that can even lead to them skipping events entirely.
The student, a 21-year-old student, who has experienced misophonia for over a decade, states currently her plan is to put her earphones in to cope. On any other day, she would frequently go in a separate space to avoid triggering sounds.
She notes her misophonia is worse around people she's most familiar with, so the holidays is always "hard".
"There's an expectation to be around family, and I wish to, but it's physically and mentally challenging.
"The sensation is this intense irritation takes hold, which can feel awkward, or I'll feel stressed and begin to weep and then the stress response will activate.
"It may seem as if I'm being difficult and overreacting, but it's tough to describe unless you've experienced it."
A Few Techniques to Handle It
If it's an issue then there are some different techniques you can attempt to manage the situation, according to specialists.
- Picture an Alternative: Creative thinking is essential. Attempt to link the particular sound bothering you with something completely different. As an illustration, try to envision someone's slurping is just a sink draining water. The goal is to teach your brain that the sound triggering you is neutral.
- Use Humor: Use lightheartedness and turn the annoying sound into a game involving the source. As an example, if someone is eating noisily have a go at copying the noise. By mimicking, rather than feeling like the sound is being imposed on you, you become an willing part. And the game aspect should help redirect your focus and make you somewhat less sensitive.
- Create a Scenario: One more method is to try to fabricate an explanation about why the person making the noise is behaving that way. So if someone was making a nasal sound, perhaps they're not at their best or could be emotional. By doing this is altering the perception of the sound. Even though the noise doesn't change, your understanding of it shifts from being aggravating, to feeling a bit more accepting towards it.
