The Holiday Season Can Be a Terrifying Experience for Individuals Living with Sound Sensitivity.
One young woman hopes for spending time with her family this Christmas, but notes one of the only ways she'll manage to get through it is by using her hearing protection - notably for the holiday meal.
In her case, this time of year is a particularly difficult time as the auditory triggers of family members munching, drinking noisily and breathing heavily cause her profound anxiety.
"I experience this feeling of instant dread, my entire being will just freeze and it feels like I'm in danger, and I need to stop these triggers."
She has experienced sound sensitivity from a young age and for her that makes the holiday period "exceptionally stressful".
Misophonia is an intense sensitivity to specific noises, especially noises produced by other people.
It is prevalent in the UK. Researchers reported a significant portion of people suffer from it.
Often it's noises connected to mouth, throat or facial movements that trigger a reaction, including examples such as chewing, breathing, and repetitive finger tapping.
'Anxiety Inducing'
She explains: "You encounter so many different triggering sounds at the holidays and that can be daunting and make you want to avoid it.
"My family are aware, but I'm very aware that I don't want to make other people feel uncomfortable. It's like a really big battle of sacrificing my own sanity to make sure others enjoy themselves."
So it's clear why the most wonderful season can quickly turn into a stressful ordeal for sufferers.
Triggers that may appear innocuous, like someone slurping a Buck's fizz, unwrapping gifts, or tucking into a Christmas dinner can cause a strong emotional response that can even lead to them avoiding social settings altogether.
Jenna, a young adult, who has experienced sound sensitivity from childhood, says her strategy is to listen to music to manage the meal. Usually, she would frequently go in a separate space to avoid problematic noises.
She notes her sensitivity is more pronounced around people she's most familiar with, so the holidays is always "challenging".
"There's an expectation to socialize with loved ones, and I desire to, but it's draining.
"The sensation is this uncontrollable anger comes over me, which can feel embarrassing, or I'll feel stressed and begin to weep and then panic will take over.
"It may seem as if I'm being oversensitive and overreacting, but it's difficult to convey unless you've experienced it."
Three Ways to Handle It
If you suffer then there are a few methods you can attempt to manage the situation, according to specialists.
- Picture an Alternative: Creative thinking is crucial. Work on connecting the triggering sound bothering you with a neutral concept. So for example, try to imagine someone's slurping is just a sink draining water. The goal is to retrain your mind that the sound affecting you is neutral.
- Try a Competition: Use lightheartedness and turn the annoying sound into a game with the culprit. As an example, if someone is eating noisily try mimicking the sound. Through participation, instead of feeling like the sound is an attack, you become an engaged person. And the competition element should help distract your brain and make you somewhat less sensitive.
- Craft a Story: One more method is to try to fabricate an explanation about why the person creating the sound is doing it. For example if someone was sniffing, it could be that they're not feeling well or could be emotional. The idea is altering the perception of the sound. While the sound stays the same, your understanding of it changes from being annoying, to feeling a bit more accepting towards it.