Christmas Transforms Into a Nightmare for Misophonia Sufferers.
One young woman hopes for seeing her relatives during the festive period, but notes one of the only ways she'll endure is by wearing her hearing protection - notably for the main festive feast.
In her case, this time of year is a especially challenging period as the noises of other people chewing, slurping and nose-blowing make her feel intense distress.
"There's this sensation of immediate anxiety, my whole body will just tighten and it seems as if I'm in danger, and I need to manage these sounds."
The individual has experienced sound sensitivity for several years and for her that causes the holiday period "deeply taxing".
Misophonia is a decreased threshold to particular auditory triggers, particularly those produced by other people.
It's surprisingly common amongst adults. A study discovered nearly 20% people suffer from it.
Frequently it's noises associated with bodily functions that trigger a reaction, along with things like crunching, breathing, and foot tapping.
A Source of Dread
The sufferer notes: "You encounter so many different triggering sounds at Christmas and that can be anxiety inducing and make you fear it.
"My family are understanding, but I'm very mindful that I don't want to make other people feel uncomfortable. It's like a constant struggle of enduring my distress to ensure everyone else is happy."
So it's obvious why the traditionally happy time of the year can transform into a stressful ordeal for those with the condition.
Triggers that may be considered normal, like someone sipping a beverage, unwrapping gifts, or enjoying festive food can trigger a powerful reaction that can even result in them avoiding social settings altogether.
Jenna, a young adult, who has struggled with sound sensitivity since aged 10, says her strategy is to put her earphones in to manage the meal. Typically, she would usually isolate herself in a different room to avoid distressing triggers.
She notes her misophonia is more intense around people she's most familiar with, so the holidays is always "hard".
"There is pressure to socialize with loved ones, and I want to, but it's draining.
"It's like this intense irritation washes over me, which can feel shameful, or I'll feel stressed and begin to weep and then fight-or-flight will kick in.
"To others it appears as if I'm being difficult and overreacting, but it's tough to describe unless you've experienced it."
Several Strategies to Manage
For those affected then there are some different techniques you can use to handle the situation, according to specialists.
- Imagine an Alternative: Imagination is key. Try to associate the specific noise causing distress with something completely different. So for example, try to picture someone's slurping is just a waterfall. The goal is to teach your brain that the sound triggering you is neutral.
- Use Humor: Introduce playfulness and turn the annoying sound into a challenge with the person. For instance, if someone is eating noisily try joining in. By mimicking, rather than feeling like the sound is unwanted, you become an engaged person. And the competition element should help distract your brain and make you somewhat less sensitive.
- Craft a Story: Another technique is to try to fabricate an explanation about why the person making the noise is having to make that sound. Imagine if someone was sniffing, it could be that they're not at their best or are troubled. This approach is re-framing the context of the sound. While the noise doesn't change, your reaction of it moves from being annoying, to feeling a slightly more compassionate towards it.
