The Holiday Season Can Be a Living Hell for Individuals Living with Sound Sensitivity.
A 23-year-old hopes for spending time with her family over the holidays, but notes one of the only ways she'll endure is by wearing her hearing protection - especially during Christmas dinner.
For the 23-year-old, the holidays often feels like a notably tough period as the noises of people eating, sipping loudly and breathing heavily make her feel extremely uncomfortable.
"I get this wave of immediate anxiety, my every muscle will just tense up and it seems as if I'm in danger, and I need to somehow control these noises."
The individual has experienced misophonia since she was 16 and for her that renders the holiday period "deeply taxing".
Misophonia is a decreased threshold to certain sounds, notably sounds made by other people.
It is prevalent across the population. Researchers reported almost one in five people suffer from it.
Typically it's sounds linked to mouth, throat or facial movements that trigger a reaction, as well as examples such as chewing, breathing, and pen clicking.
A Source of Dread
Lottie says: "You encounter so many various auditory triggers at the holidays and that can be anxiety inducing and make you fear it.
"My family are supportive, but I'm very mindful that I don't want to upset others. It's like a internal conflict of sacrificing my own sanity to ensure everyone else is happy."
So it's clear why the traditionally happy period can rapidly become a living nightmare for sufferers.
Triggers that may be considered normal, like someone sipping a beverage, opening presents, or eating the holiday meal can cause a powerful reaction that can even result in them avoiding social settings altogether.
Jenna, a university student, who has dealt with sound sensitivity from childhood, explains currently her plan is to use headphones to get through dinner. On any other day, she would often retreat in a quiet area to minimize problematic noises.
She explains her misophonia is worse around people she's most comfortable with, so the holidays is always "difficult".
"People assume you to spend time with family, and I want to, but it's exhausting on all levels.
"I feel as if this sudden rage takes hold, which can feel embarrassing, or I'll feel panicked and immediately start crying and then panic will take over.
"It may seem as if I'm being difficult and overreacting, but it's difficult to convey unless you've experienced it."
Several Strategies to Manage
If you suffer then there are various strategies you can try to cope the situation, according to experts.
- Picture an Alternative: Creative thinking is key. Try to associate the particular sound affecting you with an unrelated image. As an illustration, try to picture someone's noisy drinking is just a gentle stream. This technique 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 competition involving the source. For instance, if someone is eating noisily try joining in. By mimicking, rather than feeling like the sound is unwanted, you become an active participant. And the game aspect should help redirect your focus and make you a little less affected.
- Develop a Narrative: One more method is to try to invent a reason about the reason someone creating the sound is having to make that sound. Imagine if someone was sniffing, it could be that they're not in good health or are troubled. This approach is changing the meaning of the sound. Even though the noise doesn't change, your reaction of it moves from being aggravating, to feeling a slightly more compassionate towards it.
