đź”— Share this article Christmas Transforms Into a Nightmare for Individuals Living with Sound Sensitivity. Over the years, individuals develop methods to handle their sound sensitivity. One young woman anticipates seeing her family during the festive period, but notes a primary method she'll cope is by wearing her earplugs - especially during the holiday meal. In her case, this time of year can be a especially challenging time as the noises of other people chewing, slurping and nose-blowing trigger extremely uncomfortable. "I experience this sensation of immediate anxiety, my every muscle will just tense up and it feels like I'm in peril, and I need to manage these sounds." She has experienced misophonia for several years and for her that makes the holiday period "exceptionally stressful". Misophonia is a decreased threshold to specific noises, notably sounds coming from those around you. It is prevalent amongst adults. Experts found almost one in five people are affected by it. Frequently it's sounds associated with bodily functions that trigger a reaction, along with things like crunching, breathing, and foot tapping. 'Anxiety Inducing' The sufferer notes: "You encounter so many different triggering sounds at the holidays and that can be anxiety inducing and make you want to avoid it. "Those close to me are supportive, but I'm very aware that I don't want to spoil the mood. It's like a internal conflict of enduring my distress to make sure the event goes smoothly." So it's obvious why the supposedly joyous season can rapidly become a source of agony for affected individuals. Triggers that may be considered normal, like someone drinking champagne, rustling a roll of wrapping paper, or enjoying festive food can provoke a visceral feeling that can even result in them withdrawing from gatherings. Another individual is already thinking about coping mechanisms to manage the holiday dinner. She, a young adult, who has dealt with misophonia from childhood, states currently her plan is to use headphones to manage the meal. On any other day, she would often retreat in a quiet area to avoid problematic noises. She says her condition is more pronounced around people she's most comfortable with, so Christmas is always "challenging". "There is pressure to socialize with family, and I wish to, but it's physically and mentally challenging. "It's like this intense irritation washes over me, which can feel awkward, or I'll feel panicked and immediately start crying and then fight-or-flight will kick in. "To others it appears as if I'm being unreasonable and overreacting, but it's difficult to convey if you haven't felt it." Several Strategies to Manage For those affected then there are various strategies you can try to cope the situation, according to experts. Picture a Different Scenario: Creative thinking is key. Attempt to link the particular sound causing distress with something completely different. For instance, try to imagine someone's slurping is just a gentle stream. By doing this is to help your brain learn that the sound triggering you isn't harmful. Make it a Game: Introduce playfulness and make the irritating noise into a game involving the source. For example, if someone is crunching loudly attempt mimicking the sound. Through participation, instead of feeling like the sound is being imposed on you, you become an active participant. And the competition element should help shift your attention and make you somewhat less sensitive. Develop a Narrative: A further strategy is to try to create a little story about why the person creating the sound is behaving that way. Imagine if someone was making a nasal sound, perhaps they're not at their best or could be emotional. The idea is changing the meaning of the sound. Even though the sound stays the same, your reaction of it shifts from being aggravating, to feeling a slightly more compassionate towards it.
Over the years, individuals develop methods to handle their sound sensitivity. One young woman anticipates seeing her family during the festive period, but notes a primary method she'll cope is by wearing her earplugs - especially during the holiday meal. In her case, this time of year can be a especially challenging time as the noises of other people chewing, slurping and nose-blowing trigger extremely uncomfortable. "I experience this sensation of immediate anxiety, my every muscle will just tense up and it feels like I'm in peril, and I need to manage these sounds." She has experienced misophonia for several years and for her that makes the holiday period "exceptionally stressful". Misophonia is a decreased threshold to specific noises, notably sounds coming from those around you. It is prevalent amongst adults. Experts found almost one in five people are affected by it. Frequently it's sounds associated with bodily functions that trigger a reaction, along with things like crunching, breathing, and foot tapping. 'Anxiety Inducing' The sufferer notes: "You encounter so many different triggering sounds at the holidays and that can be anxiety inducing and make you want to avoid it. "Those close to me are supportive, but I'm very aware that I don't want to spoil the mood. It's like a internal conflict of enduring my distress to make sure the event goes smoothly." So it's obvious why the supposedly joyous season can rapidly become a source of agony for affected individuals. Triggers that may be considered normal, like someone drinking champagne, rustling a roll of wrapping paper, or enjoying festive food can provoke a visceral feeling that can even result in them withdrawing from gatherings. Another individual is already thinking about coping mechanisms to manage the holiday dinner. She, a young adult, who has dealt with misophonia from childhood, states currently her plan is to use headphones to manage the meal. On any other day, she would often retreat in a quiet area to avoid problematic noises. She says her condition is more pronounced around people she's most comfortable with, so Christmas is always "challenging". "There is pressure to socialize with family, and I wish to, but it's physically and mentally challenging. "It's like this intense irritation washes over me, which can feel awkward, or I'll feel panicked and immediately start crying and then fight-or-flight will kick in. "To others it appears as if I'm being unreasonable and overreacting, but it's difficult to convey if you haven't felt it." Several Strategies to Manage For those affected then there are various strategies you can try to cope the situation, according to experts. Picture a Different Scenario: Creative thinking is key. Attempt to link the particular sound causing distress with something completely different. For instance, try to imagine someone's slurping is just a gentle stream. By doing this is to help your brain learn that the sound triggering you isn't harmful. Make it a Game: Introduce playfulness and make the irritating noise into a game involving the source. For example, if someone is crunching loudly attempt mimicking the sound. Through participation, instead of feeling like the sound is being imposed on you, you become an active participant. And the competition element should help shift your attention and make you somewhat less sensitive. Develop a Narrative: A further strategy is to try to create a little story about why the person creating the sound is behaving that way. Imagine if someone was making a nasal sound, perhaps they're not at their best or could be emotional. The idea is changing the meaning of the sound. Even though the sound stays the same, your reaction of it shifts from being aggravating, to feeling a slightly more compassionate towards it.