🔗 Share this article Christmas Can Be a Nightmare for Individuals Living with Sound Sensitivity. Through experience, sufferers develop ways to handle their misophonia. One young woman is looking forward to seeing her family this Christmas, but notes a primary method she'll cope is by wearing her hearing protection - particularly at the main festive feast. In her case, this time of year often feels like a particularly difficult season as the noises of other people chewing, sipping loudly and sniffling cause her profound anxiety. "There's this sensation of immediate anxiety, my every muscle will just freeze and it as though I'm in peril, and I need to somehow control these noises." She has lived with this condition for several years and for her that renders the festive season "deeply taxing". Misophonia is a decreased threshold to specific noises, particularly those coming from individuals. It is prevalent amongst adults. Researchers discovered a significant portion of people suffer from it. Frequently it's sounds associated with mouth, throat or facial movements that lead to discomfort, along with things like chewing, heavy breathing, and pen clicking. A Source of Dread She explains: "There are so many assorted problematic noises at the holidays and that can be stressful and make you dread it. "Those close to me are supportive, but I'm very conscious that I don't want to upset others. It's like a internal conflict of managing my symptoms to make sure others enjoy themselves." So it's clear why the most wonderful season can transform into a living nightmare for those with the condition. Triggers that may seem harmless, like someone sipping a beverage, opening presents, or tucking into a Christmas dinner can trigger a strong emotional response that can even cause them withdrawing from gatherings. A 21-year-old student is planning strategies to get her through the family meal. Jenna, a young adult, who has dealt with sound sensitivity since aged 10, states currently her plan is to use headphones to get through dinner. On any other day, she would usually isolate herself in a separate space to minimize problematic noises. She says her condition is more pronounced around people she's most comfortable with, so Christmas is always "difficult". "There is pressure to socialize with loved ones, and I wish to, but it's exhausting on all levels. "The sensation is this sudden rage washes over me, which can feel shameful, or I'll feel stressed and begin to weep and then panic will kick in. "It can come across as if I'm being oversensitive and dramatic, but it's hard to explain unless you've experienced it." Several Strategies to Cope If it's an issue then there are a few methods you can try to cope the situation, according to clinical psychologists. Visualise Something Else: Creative thinking is key. Attempt to link the specific noise affecting you with something completely different. For instance, try to imagine someone's slurping is just a sink draining water. This technique is to retrain your mind that the sound triggering you isn't harmful. Make it a Game: Have a bit of fun and turn the annoying sound into a competition with the culprit. For instance, if someone is eating noisily attempt copying the noise. By mimicking, instead of feeling like the sound is unwanted, you become an engaged person. And the competition element should help shift your attention and make you somewhat less sensitive. Create a Scenario: Another technique is to try to create a little story about why the person creating the sound is having to make that sound. For example if someone was sniffing, maybe they are not at their best or could be emotional. By doing this is changing the meaning of the sound. Although the noise remains identical, your understanding of it shifts from being aggravating, to feeling a little more neutral about it.
Through experience, sufferers develop ways to handle their misophonia. One young woman is looking forward to seeing her family this Christmas, but notes a primary method she'll cope is by wearing her hearing protection - particularly at the main festive feast. In her case, this time of year often feels like a particularly difficult season as the noises of other people chewing, sipping loudly and sniffling cause her profound anxiety. "There's this sensation of immediate anxiety, my every muscle will just freeze and it as though I'm in peril, and I need to somehow control these noises." She has lived with this condition for several years and for her that renders the festive season "deeply taxing". Misophonia is a decreased threshold to specific noises, particularly those coming from individuals. It is prevalent amongst adults. Researchers discovered a significant portion of people suffer from it. Frequently it's sounds associated with mouth, throat or facial movements that lead to discomfort, along with things like chewing, heavy breathing, and pen clicking. A Source of Dread She explains: "There are so many assorted problematic noises at the holidays and that can be stressful and make you dread it. "Those close to me are supportive, but I'm very conscious that I don't want to upset others. It's like a internal conflict of managing my symptoms to make sure others enjoy themselves." So it's clear why the most wonderful season can transform into a living nightmare for those with the condition. Triggers that may seem harmless, like someone sipping a beverage, opening presents, or tucking into a Christmas dinner can trigger a strong emotional response that can even cause them withdrawing from gatherings. A 21-year-old student is planning strategies to get her through the family meal. Jenna, a young adult, who has dealt with sound sensitivity since aged 10, states currently her plan is to use headphones to get through dinner. On any other day, she would usually isolate herself in a separate space to minimize problematic noises. She says her condition is more pronounced around people she's most comfortable with, so Christmas is always "difficult". "There is pressure to socialize with loved ones, and I wish to, but it's exhausting on all levels. "The sensation is this sudden rage washes over me, which can feel shameful, or I'll feel stressed and begin to weep and then panic will kick in. "It can come across as if I'm being oversensitive and dramatic, but it's hard to explain unless you've experienced it." Several Strategies to Cope If it's an issue then there are a few methods you can try to cope the situation, according to clinical psychologists. Visualise Something Else: Creative thinking is key. Attempt to link the specific noise affecting you with something completely different. For instance, try to imagine someone's slurping is just a sink draining water. This technique is to retrain your mind that the sound triggering you isn't harmful. Make it a Game: Have a bit of fun and turn the annoying sound into a competition with the culprit. For instance, if someone is eating noisily attempt copying the noise. By mimicking, instead of feeling like the sound is unwanted, you become an engaged person. And the competition element should help shift your attention and make you somewhat less sensitive. Create a Scenario: Another technique is to try to create a little story about why the person creating the sound is having to make that sound. For example if someone was sniffing, maybe they are not at their best or could be emotional. By doing this is changing the meaning of the sound. Although the noise remains identical, your understanding of it shifts from being aggravating, to feeling a little more neutral about it.