Yuletide Often Proves to Be a Terrifying Experience for Those with Misophonia.
A 23-year-old is looking forward to being with her family this Christmas, but says a key strategy she'll cope is by relying on her noise-cancelling devices - particularly at the holiday meal.
For the 23-year-old, this time of year is a especially challenging period as the auditory triggers of other people chewing, slurping and breathing heavily make her feel profound anxiety.
"I experience this wave of instant dread, my every muscle will just tense up and it as though I'm in peril, and I need to manage these noises."
She has lived with this condition for several years and for her that causes the holiday period "deeply taxing".
Misophonia is a decreased threshold to certain sounds, particularly those made by those around you.
It's surprisingly common across the population. Researchers found a significant portion of people experience it.
Typically it's sounds associated with mouth, throat or facial movements that cause distress, including examples such as crunching, breathing, and repetitive finger tapping.
Triggering Stress
The sufferer notes: "There are so many assorted problematic noises at Christmas and that can be daunting and make you want to avoid it.
"Those close to me are understanding, but I'm very conscious that I don't want to make other people feel uncomfortable. It's like a really big battle of managing my symptoms to ensure everyone else is happy."
So it's clear why the traditionally happy time of the year can rapidly become a stressful ordeal for those with the condition.
Noises that may appear innocuous, like someone sipping a beverage, rustling a roll of wrapping paper, or eating the holiday meal can provoke a visceral feeling that can even cause them withdrawing from gatherings.
Jenna, a university student, who has struggled with sound sensitivity since aged 10, states the approach she intends to use is to put her earphones in to manage the meal. On any other day, she would usually isolate herself in a quiet area to escape triggering sounds.
She notes her condition is more pronounced around people she's most comfortable with, so the holidays is always "challenging".
"There is pressure to be around family, and I wish to, but it's physically and mentally challenging.
"It's like this intense irritation comes over me, which can feel shameful, or I'll feel anxious and immediately start crying and then the stress response will activate.
"It can come across as if I'm being difficult and melodramatic, but it's difficult to convey without firsthand experience."
A Few Techniques to Manage
If you suffer then there are some different techniques you can try to cope the situation, as suggested by specialists.
- Visualise a Different Scenario: Imagination is essential. Try to associate the specific noise bothering you with a neutral concept. For instance, try to imagine someone's noisy drinking 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: Use lightheartedness and make the irritating noise into a competition involving the source. For instance, if someone is eating noisily attempt mimicking the sound. By joining in, rather than feeling like the sound is being imposed on you, you become an willing part. And the competition element should help redirect your focus and make you somewhat less sensitive.
- Craft a Story: One more method is to try to create a little story about the reason someone creating the sound is behaving that way. So if someone was sniffing, it could be that they're not feeling well or could be emotional. The idea is changing the meaning of the sound. While the noise remains identical, your reaction of it shifts from being irritating, to feeling a slightly more compassionate about it.
