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Yuletide Can Be a Living Hell for Individuals Living with Sound Sensitivity.
One young woman anticipates spending time with her family this Christmas, but says a primary method she'll manage to get through it is by wearing her noise-cancelling devices - especially during the holiday meal.
In her case, Christmas often feels like a especially challenging period as the auditory triggers of family members munching, drinking noisily and breathing heavily trigger extremely uncomfortable.
"I get this feeling of instant dread, my whole body will just freeze and it feels like I'm in a threatening situation, and I need to stop these sounds."
The individual has suffered from sound sensitivity for several years and for her that causes the Christmas time "exceptionally stressful".
Misophonia is a reduced tolerance to specific noises, especially noises produced by other people.
It's surprisingly common in the UK. Researchers discovered a significant portion of people are affected by it.
Typically it's noises connected to bodily functions that lead to discomfort, as well as examples such as crunching, heavy breathing, and pen clicking.
'Anxiety Inducing'
She explains: "I face so many various auditory triggers at Christmas and that can be anxiety inducing and make you dread it.
"Those close to me are understanding, but I'm very conscious that I don't want to spoil the mood. It's like a constant struggle of enduring my distress to make sure everyone else is happy."
So it's easy to understand why the supposedly joyous period can rapidly become a stressful ordeal for sufferers.
Noises that may seem harmless, like someone sipping a beverage, rustling a roll of wrapping paper, or enjoying festive food can cause a visceral feeling that can even lead to them avoiding social settings altogether.
Jenna, a university student, who has dealt with misophonia for over a decade, explains her strategy is to listen to music to get through dinner. Typically, she would often retreat in a quiet area to minimize distressing triggers.
She notes her sensitivity is more pronounced around people she's closest to, so the holidays is always "difficult".
"There is pressure to be around loved ones, and I desire to, but it's exhausting on all levels.
"It's like this intense irritation washes over me, which can feel awkward, or I'll feel panicked and immediately start crying and then the stress response will activate.
"It can come across as if I'm being unreasonable and dramatic, but it's hard to explain unless you've experienced it."
Three Ways to Cope
If it's an issue then there are various strategies you can use to handle the situation, according to experts.
- Visualise an Alternative: Mental imagery is key. Attempt to link the specific noise bothering you with something completely different. For instance, try to imagine someone's slurping is just a gentle stream. The goal is to retrain your mind that the sound triggering you poses no threat.
- Use Humor: Use lightheartedness and turn the annoying sound into a game with the person. As an example, if someone is eating noisily try mimicking the sound. By mimicking, rather than feeling like the sound is unwanted, you become an willing part. And the competition element should help redirect your focus and make you somewhat less sensitive.
- Create a Scenario: Another technique is to try to create a little story about why the person making the noise is having to make that sound. For example if someone was sniffing, it could be that they're not feeling well or could be emotional. The idea is changing the meaning of the sound. Even though the noise stays the same, your interpretation of it shifts from being irritating, to feeling a bit more accepting about it.
Brian Hernandez
A passionate writer and shopping enthusiast with a keen eye for quality products and lifestyle trends.
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