Yuletide Often Proves to Be a Living Hell for Misophonia Sufferers.
One young woman hopes for being with her family over the holidays, but notes a primary method she'll endure is by relying on her earplugs - particularly at the holiday meal.
In her case, Christmas can be a notably tough period as the noises of other people chewing, slurping and breathing heavily trigger extremely uncomfortable.
"I experience this sensation of immediate anxiety, my entire being will just tense up and it seems as if I'm in danger, and I need to manage these noises."
She has lived with this condition since she was 16 and for her that causes the holiday period "incredibly overwhelming".
Misophonia is a decreased threshold to specific noises, particularly those made by other people.
It is prevalent amongst adults. Researchers found nearly 20% people suffer from it.
Frequently it's sounds connected to mouth, throat or facial movements that trigger a reaction, including examples such as chewing, heavy breathing, and foot tapping.
Triggering Stress
She explains: "You encounter so many different triggering sounds at the holidays and that can be anxiety inducing and make you fear 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 internal conflict of managing my symptoms to make sure everyone else is happy."
So it's easy to understand why the supposedly joyous period can transform into a source of agony for affected individuals.
Triggers that may seem harmless, like someone slurping a Buck's fizz, rustling a roll of wrapping paper, or tucking into a Christmas dinner can cause a powerful reaction that can even lead to them skipping events entirely.
The student, a 21-year-old student, who has struggled with sound sensitivity since aged 10, states her strategy is to listen to music to cope. Usually, she would often retreat in a quiet area to minimize distressing triggers.
She notes her misophonia is more intense around people she's most comfortable with, so the holidays is always "challenging".
"There's an expectation to spend time with loved ones, and I desire to, but it's physically and mentally challenging.
"The sensation is this sudden rage comes over me, which can feel embarrassing, or I'll feel panicked and burst into tears and then panic will take over.
"It may seem as if I'm being unreasonable and dramatic, but it's difficult to convey without firsthand experience."
A Few Techniques to Manage
If it's an issue then there are a few methods you can try to cope the situation, based on advice from experts.
- Visualise Something Else: Imagination is essential. Attempt to link the triggering sound affecting you with an unrelated image. As an illustration, try to picture someone's noisy drinking is just a gentle stream. The goal is to teach your brain that the sound triggering you isn't harmful.
- Make it a Game: Use lightheartedness and turn the annoying sound into a challenge with the culprit. For instance, if someone is eating noisily have a go at joining in. By mimicking, instead of feeling like the sound is unwanted, you become an willing part. And the challenge should help redirect your focus and make you a little less affected.
- Craft a Story: A further strategy is to try to fabricate an explanation about the reason someone making the noise is behaving that way. Imagine if someone was making a nasal sound, it could be that they're not at their best or maybe they're upset. The idea is altering the perception of the sound. While the noise remains identical, your understanding of it moves from being irritating, to feeling a bit more accepting about it.
