Christmas Often Proves to Be a Nightmare for Those with Misophonia.
One young woman anticipates seeing her loved ones during the festive period, but admits one of the only ways she'll cope is by relying on her earplugs - notably for the holiday meal.
For the 23-year-old, this time of year is a notably tough period as the sounds of other people chewing, sipping loudly and nose-blowing make her feel extremely uncomfortable.
"I experience this sensation of sudden panic, my whole body will just tighten and it feels like I'm in danger, and I need to manage these sounds."
She has experienced this condition for several years and for her that causes the holiday period "exceptionally stressful".
Misophonia is an intense sensitivity to certain sounds, notably sounds produced by individuals.
It's surprisingly common across the population. A study discovered a significant portion of people are affected by it.
Frequently it's noises connected to bodily functions that lead to discomfort, along with examples such as chewing, heavy breathing, and repetitive finger tapping.
'Anxiety Inducing'
The sufferer notes: "You encounter so many different triggering sounds at Christmas and that can be daunting and make you want to avoid it.
"Those close to me are aware, but I'm very mindful that I don't want to spoil the mood. It's like a constant struggle of sacrificing my own sanity to ensure the event goes smoothly."
So it's easy to understand why the traditionally happy period can rapidly become a living nightmare for affected individuals.
Noises that may appear innocuous, like someone slurping a Buck's fizz, opening presents, or eating the holiday meal can cause a visceral feeling that can even lead to them avoiding social settings altogether.
The student, a young adult, who has dealt with misophonia for over a decade, states currently her plan is to use headphones to get through dinner. Typically, she would often retreat in a quiet area to avoid triggering sounds.
She says her misophonia is worse 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 shameful, or I'll feel stressed and burst into tears and then fight-or-flight will activate.
"It may seem as if I'm being unreasonable and melodramatic, but it's tough to describe unless you've experienced it."
Several Strategies to Cope
If it's an issue then there are a few methods you can attempt to manage the situation, based on advice from experts.
- Picture a Different Scenario: Mental imagery is key. Try to associate the triggering sound bothering you with a neutral concept. For instance, try to envision someone's noisy drinking is just a waterfall. This technique is to help your brain learn that the sound triggering you is neutral.
- Try a Competition: Use lightheartedness and turn the annoying sound into a challenge with the culprit. As an example, if someone is crunching loudly have a go at copying the noise. By joining in, instead of feeling like the sound is an attack, you become an engaged person. And the challenge should help distract your brain and make you somewhat less sensitive.
- Create a Scenario: Another technique is to try to invent a reason about why the person making the noise is doing it. For example if someone was making a nasal sound, it could be that they're not feeling well or maybe they're upset. This approach is altering the perception of the sound. Although the sound remains identical, your interpretation of it moves from being annoying, to feeling a slightly more compassionate about it.
