Yuletide Can Be a Living Hell for Individuals Living with Sound Sensitivity.
One young woman hopes for being with her relatives this Christmas, but notes one of the only ways she'll endure is by relying on her hearing protection - notably for Christmas dinner.
In her case, this time of year is a especially challenging season as the noises of people eating, slurping and sniffling trigger extremely uncomfortable.
"I experience this sensation of instant dread, my every muscle will just tighten and it seems as if I'm in peril, and I need to stop these triggers."
She has lived with sound sensitivity for several years and for her that makes the holiday period "incredibly overwhelming".
Misophonia is an intense sensitivity to certain sounds, especially noises produced by other people.
It is prevalent across the population. A study found a significant portion of people experience it.
Typically it's sounds connected to bodily functions that cause distress, as well as examples such as crunching, breathing, and repetitive finger tapping.
'Anxiety Inducing'
The sufferer notes: "I face so many different triggering sounds at the holidays and that can be daunting and make you dread it.
"My family are supportive, but I'm very aware that I don't want to make other people feel uncomfortable. It's like a internal conflict of managing my symptoms to ensure the event goes smoothly."
So it's obvious why the traditionally happy period can transform into a living nightmare for sufferers.
Sounds that may appear innocuous, like someone sipping a beverage, unwrapping gifts, or eating the holiday meal can trigger a powerful reaction that can even lead to them avoiding social settings altogether.
Jenna, a university student, who has experienced sound sensitivity since aged 10, states currently her plan is to use headphones to get through dinner. Typically, she would frequently go in a different room to minimize problematic noises.
She explains her sensitivity is more intense around people she's most comfortable with, so Christmas is always "hard".
"There is pressure to be around family, and I wish to, but it's physically and mentally challenging.
"It's like this sudden rage washes over me, which can feel shameful, or I'll feel panicked and immediately start crying and then the stress response will take over.
"It may seem as if I'm being oversensitive and melodramatic, but it's tough to describe if you haven't felt it."
Several Strategies to Handle It
If it's an issue then there are some different techniques you can use to handle the situation, as suggested by experts.
- Picture Something Else: Mental imagery is crucial. Try to associate the particular sound causing distress with an unrelated image. So for example, try to picture someone's slurping is just a waterfall. The goal is to retrain your mind that the sound triggering you is neutral.
- Use Humor: Use lightheartedness and make the irritating noise into a game with the person. For example, if someone is eating noisily try copying the noise. Through participation, rather than feeling like the sound is being imposed on you, you become an active participant. And the challenge should help redirect your focus and make you a little less affected.
- Create a Scenario: Another technique is to try to fabricate an explanation about the reason someone making the noise is having to make that sound. For example if someone was making a nasal sound, maybe they are not in good health or maybe they're upset. By doing this is changing the meaning of the sound. Even though the noise stays the same, your interpretation of it shifts from being annoying, to feeling a slightly more compassionate towards it.
