Yuletide Can Be a Nightmare for Those with Misophonia.
A 23-year-old is looking forward to seeing her relatives this Christmas, but says a key strategy she'll cope is by using her hearing protection - notably for Christmas dinner.
For her, this time of year often feels like a notably tough period as the sounds of people eating, sipping loudly and breathing heavily trigger intense distress.
"There's this feeling of immediate anxiety, my entire being will just tighten and it as though I'm in peril, and I need to stop these noises."
She has experienced this condition for several years and for her that makes the Christmas time "incredibly overwhelming".
Misophonia is a reduced tolerance to particular auditory triggers, notably sounds made by individuals.
It's surprisingly common across the population. Researchers reported almost one in five people experience it.
Frequently it's noises associated with bodily functions that cause distress, as well as things like crunching, breathing, and foot tapping.
Triggering Stress
The sufferer notes: "You encounter so many assorted problematic noises at Christmas and that can be daunting and make you fear it.
"My relatives are supportive, but I'm very conscious that I don't want to spoil the mood. It's like a constant struggle of managing my symptoms to make sure others enjoy themselves."
So it's obvious why the most wonderful period can quickly turn into a living nightmare for those with the condition.
Noises that may appear innocuous, like someone drinking champagne, unwrapping gifts, or eating the holiday meal can trigger a strong emotional response that can even cause them skipping events entirely.
The student, a 21-year-old student, who has experienced sound sensitivity for over a decade, says her strategy is to use headphones to cope. Usually, she would often retreat in a separate space to minimize problematic noises.
She explains her misophonia is more pronounced around people she's closest to, so the holidays is always "difficult".
"People assume you to spend time with family, and I wish to, but it's exhausting on all levels.
"I feel as if this sudden rage washes over me, which can feel awkward, or I'll feel stressed and burst into tears and then panic will kick in.
"It may seem as if I'm being difficult and melodramatic, but it's hard to explain if you haven't felt it."
Several Strategies to Cope
If it's an issue then there are some different techniques you can try to cope the situation, as suggested by experts.
- Imagine a Different Scenario: Creative thinking is crucial. Try to associate the particular sound affecting you with an unrelated image. As an illustration, try to imagine someone's noisy drinking is just a gentle stream. The goal is to retrain your mind that the sound affecting you isn't harmful.
- Make it a Game: Have a bit of fun and turn the annoying sound into a challenge with the culprit. As an example, if someone is crunching loudly try joining in. By mimicking, rather than feeling like the sound is unwanted, you become an active participant. And the competition element should help redirect your focus and make you a little less affected.
- Develop a Narrative: One more method is to try to fabricate an explanation about why the person making the noise is having to make that sound. So if someone was making a nasal sound, it could be that they're not in good health or maybe they're upset. By doing this is altering the perception of the sound. While the sound remains identical, your interpretation of it shifts from being annoying, to feeling a slightly more compassionate about it.
