The Holiday Season Can Be a Nightmare for Those with Misophonia.
One young woman anticipates being with her loved ones during the festive period, but notes a primary method she'll cope is by relying on her hearing protection - especially during Christmas dinner.
For the 23-year-old, the holidays often feels like a notably tough season as the auditory triggers of other people chewing, slurping and sniffling trigger intense distress.
"I experience this wave of sudden panic, my whole body will just tighten and it as though I'm in peril, and I need to somehow control these noises."
The individual has lived with this condition for several years and for her that causes the Christmas time "incredibly overwhelming".
Misophonia is an intense sensitivity to certain sounds, particularly those made by other people.
The condition is widespread in the UK. A study found almost one in five people experience it.
Typically it's noises connected to bodily functions that cause distress, as well as examples such as crunching, breathing, and repetitive finger tapping.
Triggering Stress
She explains: "I face so many various auditory triggers at Christmas and that can be anxiety inducing and make you fear it.
"My family are understanding, but I'm very aware that I don't want to upset others. It's like a internal conflict of managing my symptoms to guarantee everyone else is happy."
So it's obvious why the most wonderful season can rapidly become a source of agony for sufferers.
Noises that may be considered normal, like someone drinking champagne, unwrapping gifts, or tucking into a Christmas dinner can trigger a powerful reaction that can even cause them withdrawing from gatherings.
She, a young adult, who has struggled with sound sensitivity for over a decade, explains currently her plan is to use headphones to manage the meal. Typically, she would usually isolate herself in a separate space to avoid triggering sounds.
She says her misophonia is more pronounced around people she's most comfortable with, so Christmas is always "difficult".
"People assume you to be around loved ones, and I desire to, but it's draining.
"I feel as if this intense irritation takes hold, which can feel awkward, or I'll feel anxious and immediately start crying and then panic will take over.
"It can come across as if I'm being oversensitive and dramatic, but it's hard to explain unless you've experienced it."
Three Ways to Manage
If it's an issue then there are a few methods you can try to cope the situation, as suggested by clinical psychologists.
- Visualise an Alternative: Mental imagery is crucial. Attempt to link the triggering sound affecting you with a neutral concept. So for example, try to imagine someone's noisy drinking is just a gentle stream. By doing this is to retrain your mind that the sound triggering you poses no threat.
- Make it a Game: Introduce playfulness and turn the annoying sound into a game involving the source. As an example, if someone is eating noisily try copying the noise. By joining in, rather than feeling like the sound is unwanted, you become an engaged person. And the game aspect should help distract your brain and make you slightly more tolerant.
- Develop a Narrative: A further strategy is to try to create a little story about the reason someone making the noise is doing it. Imagine if someone was sniffing, perhaps they're not in good health or are troubled. By doing this is changing the meaning of the sound. Although the sound remains identical, your interpretation of it changes from being irritating, to feeling a little more neutral about it.
