The Holiday Season Can Be a Nightmare for Those with Misophonia.
One young woman is looking forward to seeing her loved ones during the festive period, but says a key strategy she'll endure is by relying on her noise-cancelling devices - notably for the main festive feast.
For her, Christmas often feels like a especially challenging time as the sounds of people eating, sipping loudly and nose-blowing make her feel intense distress.
"I get this wave of instant dread, my every muscle will just freeze and it as though I'm in peril, and I need to manage these triggers."
The individual has suffered from this condition from a young age and for her that causes the holiday period "incredibly overwhelming".
Misophonia is an intense sensitivity to certain sounds, notably sounds coming from individuals.
It's surprisingly common in the UK. Researchers reported almost one in five people experience it.
Frequently it's noises connected to mouth, throat or facial movements that trigger a reaction, along with things like chewing, heavy breathing, and foot tapping.
'Anxiety Inducing'
The sufferer notes: "There are so many various auditory triggers at Christmas and that can be stressful and make you want to avoid it.
"My family are supportive, but I'm very aware that I don't want to upset others. It's like a internal conflict of sacrificing my own sanity to guarantee everyone else is happy."
So it's easy to understand why the traditionally happy period can transform into a living nightmare for those with the condition.
Noises that may be considered normal, like someone drinking champagne, opening presents, or eating the holiday meal can provoke a visceral feeling that can even cause them withdrawing from gatherings.
The student, a young adult, who has dealt with sound sensitivity for over a decade, says currently her plan is to put her earphones in to get through dinner. Typically, she would usually isolate herself in a different room to avoid triggering sounds.
She explains her sensitivity is more pronounced around people she's most comfortable with, so the holidays is always "hard".
"There is pressure to spend time with family, and I wish to, but it's physically and mentally challenging.
"It's like this intense irritation comes over me, which can feel embarrassing, or I'll feel anxious and immediately start crying and then fight-or-flight will activate.
"To others it appears as if I'm being oversensitive and overreacting, but it's tough to describe if you haven't felt it."
Several Strategies to Handle It
If it's an issue then there are a few methods you can use to handle the situation, as suggested by specialists.
- Imagine an Alternative: Creative thinking is crucial. Try to associate the triggering sound causing distress with a neutral concept. For instance, try to envision someone's noisy drinking is just a waterfall. The goal is to help your brain learn that the sound triggering you is neutral.
- Use Humor: Use lightheartedness and turn the annoying sound into a competition with the person. As an example, if someone is eating noisily attempt joining in. Through participation, instead of feeling like the sound is unwanted, you become an active participant. And the challenge should help shift your attention and make you a little less affected.
- Craft a Story: A further strategy is to try to create a little story about the reason someone creating the sound is having to make that sound. Imagine if someone was sniffing, perhaps they're not at their best or are troubled. By doing this is altering the perception of the sound. While the noise remains identical, your reaction of it moves from being irritating, to feeling a slightly more compassionate about it.
