đź”— Share this article Christmas Often Proves to Be a Living Hell for Individuals Living with Sound Sensitivity. With time, sufferers discover ways to try to better manage their misophonia. A 23-year-old anticipates spending time with her loved ones this Christmas, but notes a primary method she'll cope is by using her noise-cancelling devices - particularly at the holiday meal. For the 23-year-old, Christmas can be a particularly difficult season as the noises of people eating, slurping and nose-blowing make her feel extremely uncomfortable. "I get this wave of instant dread, my every muscle will just tense up and it seems as if I'm in peril, and I need to somehow control these noises." She has experienced sound sensitivity for several years and for her that causes the festive season "deeply taxing". Misophonia is a decreased threshold to particular auditory triggers, particularly those produced by individuals. It's surprisingly common across the population. A study found a significant portion of people are affected by it. Frequently it's sounds connected to bodily functions that trigger a reaction, including examples such as crunching, heavy breathing, and repetitive finger tapping. A Source of Dread She explains: "I face so many assorted problematic noises at Christmas and that can be daunting and make you want to avoid it. "My relatives are understanding, but I'm very aware that I don't want to spoil the mood. It's like a really big battle of enduring my distress to ensure everyone else is happy." So it's obvious why the most wonderful season can transform into a source of agony for sufferers. Sounds that may be considered normal, like someone slurping a Buck's fizz, rustling a roll of wrapping paper, or enjoying festive food can provoke a visceral feeling that can even lead to them skipping events entirely. Another individual is considering ways to get her through the holiday dinner. The student, a young adult, who has struggled with sound sensitivity since aged 10, says her strategy is to listen to music to cope. On any other day, she would frequently go in a quiet area to avoid problematic noises. She notes her misophonia is more intense around people she's closest to, so Christmas is always "difficult". "There's an expectation to be around family, and I want to, but it's draining. "I feel as if this intense irritation comes over me, which can feel embarrassing, or I'll feel anxious and burst into tears and then panic will activate. "To others it appears as if I'm being unreasonable and melodramatic, but it's difficult to convey if you haven't felt it." A Few Techniques to Cope If you suffer then there are some different techniques you can try to cope the situation, according to experts. Imagine an Alternative: Mental imagery is crucial. Try to associate the triggering sound bothering you with a neutral concept. For instance, try to imagine someone's noisy drinking is just a sink draining water. By doing this is to teach your brain that the sound triggering you poses no threat. Make it a Game: Have a bit of fun and make the irritating noise into a competition involving the source. For instance, if someone is crunching loudly have a go at mimicking the sound. Through participation, instead of feeling like the sound is being imposed on you, you become an willing part. And the competition element should help shift your attention and make you a little less affected. Craft a Story: Another technique is to try to create a little story about the reason someone creating the sound is doing it. For example if someone was sniffing, maybe they are not in good health or could be emotional. The idea is changing the meaning of the sound. Even though the noise remains identical, your understanding of it shifts from being aggravating, to feeling a bit more accepting about it.
With time, sufferers discover ways to try to better manage their misophonia. A 23-year-old anticipates spending time with her loved ones this Christmas, but notes a primary method she'll cope is by using her noise-cancelling devices - particularly at the holiday meal. For the 23-year-old, Christmas can be a particularly difficult season as the noises of people eating, slurping and nose-blowing make her feel extremely uncomfortable. "I get this wave of instant dread, my every muscle will just tense up and it seems as if I'm in peril, and I need to somehow control these noises." She has experienced sound sensitivity for several years and for her that causes the festive season "deeply taxing". Misophonia is a decreased threshold to particular auditory triggers, particularly those produced by individuals. It's surprisingly common across the population. A study found a significant portion of people are affected by it. Frequently it's sounds connected to bodily functions that trigger a reaction, including examples such as crunching, heavy breathing, and repetitive finger tapping. A Source of Dread She explains: "I face so many assorted problematic noises at Christmas and that can be daunting and make you want to avoid it. "My relatives are understanding, but I'm very aware that I don't want to spoil the mood. It's like a really big battle of enduring my distress to ensure everyone else is happy." So it's obvious why the most wonderful season can transform into a source of agony for sufferers. Sounds that may be considered normal, like someone slurping a Buck's fizz, rustling a roll of wrapping paper, or enjoying festive food can provoke a visceral feeling that can even lead to them skipping events entirely. Another individual is considering ways to get her through the holiday dinner. The student, a young adult, who has struggled with sound sensitivity since aged 10, says her strategy is to listen to music to cope. On any other day, she would frequently go in a quiet area to avoid problematic noises. She notes her misophonia is more intense around people she's closest to, so Christmas is always "difficult". "There's an expectation to be around family, and I want to, but it's draining. "I feel as if this intense irritation comes over me, which can feel embarrassing, or I'll feel anxious and burst into tears and then panic will activate. "To others it appears as if I'm being unreasonable and melodramatic, but it's difficult to convey if you haven't felt it." A Few Techniques to Cope If you suffer then there are some different techniques you can try to cope the situation, according to experts. Imagine an Alternative: Mental imagery is crucial. Try to associate the triggering sound bothering you with a neutral concept. For instance, try to imagine someone's noisy drinking is just a sink draining water. By doing this is to teach your brain that the sound triggering you poses no threat. Make it a Game: Have a bit of fun and make the irritating noise into a competition involving the source. For instance, if someone is crunching loudly have a go at mimicking the sound. Through participation, instead of feeling like the sound is being imposed on you, you become an willing part. And the competition element should help shift your attention and make you a little less affected. Craft a Story: Another technique is to try to create a little story about the reason someone creating the sound is doing it. For example if someone was sniffing, maybe they are not in good health or could be emotional. The idea is changing the meaning of the sound. Even though the noise remains identical, your understanding of it shifts from being aggravating, to feeling a bit more accepting about it.