Yuletide Transforms Into a Terrifying Experience for Those with Misophonia.
A 23-year-old hopes for seeing her loved ones over the holidays, but notes a primary method she'll manage to get through it is by relying on her noise-cancelling devices - notably for Christmas dinner.
For her, this time of year is a notably tough season as the sounds of people eating, sipping loudly and breathing heavily cause her intense distress.
"I experience this sensation of sudden panic, my every muscle will just tighten and it feels like I'm in a threatening situation, and I need to somehow control these sounds."
The individual has lived with sound sensitivity for several years and for her that renders the holiday period "exceptionally stressful".
Misophonia is a reduced tolerance to particular auditory triggers, especially noises produced by other people.
It is prevalent amongst adults. Researchers found almost one in five people suffer from it.
Typically it's sounds associated with eating or drinking that cause distress, as well as examples such as chewing, breathing, and repetitive finger tapping.
Triggering Stress
She explains: "I face so many different triggering sounds at Christmas and that can be stressful and make you fear 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 really big battle of managing my symptoms to ensure others enjoy themselves."
So it's easy to understand why the traditionally happy time of the year can quickly turn into a stressful ordeal for affected individuals.
Noises that may be considered normal, like someone slurping a Buck's fizz, opening presents, or tucking into a Christmas dinner can provoke a strong emotional response that can even result in them withdrawing from gatherings.
Jenna, a 21-year-old student, who has dealt with misophonia since aged 10, says currently her plan is to put her earphones in to cope. Usually, she would frequently go in a different room to minimize problematic noises.
She notes her condition is more pronounced around people she's most familiar with, so the holidays is always "difficult".
"There's an expectation to spend time with family, and I want to, but it's exhausting on all levels.
"I feel as if this uncontrollable anger takes hold, which can feel awkward, or I'll feel stressed and immediately start crying and then fight-or-flight will take over.
"It can come across as if I'm being difficult and dramatic, but it's hard to explain if you haven't felt it."
A Few Techniques to Handle It
If you suffer then there are a few methods you can attempt to manage the situation, based on advice from experts.
- Visualise a Different Scenario: Imagination is essential. Attempt to link the specific noise causing distress with something completely different. For instance, try to imagine someone's slurping is just a sink draining water. This technique is to teach your brain that the sound triggering you poses no threat.
- Try a Competition: Use lightheartedness and turn the annoying sound into a game with the culprit. For instance, if someone is eating noisily try copying the noise. By joining in, instead of feeling like the sound is an attack, you become an willing part. And the competition element should help distract your brain and make you a little less affected.
- Craft a Story: One more method is to try to fabricate an explanation about why the person making the noise is having to make that sound. For example if someone was sniffing, perhaps they're not at their best or maybe they're upset. By doing this is re-framing the context of the sound. Although the noise remains identical, your reaction of it moves from being annoying, to feeling a slightly more compassionate towards it.
