The Holiday Season Often Proves to Be a Terrifying Experience for Misophonia Sufferers.
A 23-year-old is looking forward to being with her relatives this Christmas, but says one of the only ways she'll cope is by using her earplugs - particularly at Christmas dinner.
For the 23-year-old, this time of year often feels like a particularly difficult time as the noises of family members munching, slurping and breathing heavily trigger profound anxiety.
"I get this sensation of sudden panic, my entire being will just tense up and it as though I'm in peril, and I need to manage these noises."
She has suffered from misophonia from a young age and for her that makes the Christmas time "exceptionally stressful".
Misophonia is a reduced tolerance to certain sounds, notably sounds coming from other people.
It's surprisingly common amongst adults. Researchers discovered nearly 20% people suffer from it.
Typically it's sounds connected to eating or drinking that lead to discomfort, including things like chewing, breathing, and foot tapping.
A Source of Dread
The sufferer notes: "There are so many different triggering sounds at Christmas and that can be daunting and make you dread 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 enduring my distress to ensure others enjoy themselves."
So it's clear why the supposedly joyous period can rapidly become a living nightmare for those with the condition.
Triggers that may seem harmless, like someone drinking champagne, opening presents, or tucking into a Christmas dinner can trigger a strong emotional response that can even result in them skipping events entirely.
She, a young adult, who has dealt with misophonia 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 frequently go in a different room to escape problematic noises.
She notes her condition is worse around people she's closest to, so Christmas is always "challenging".
"There's an expectation to spend time with loved ones, and I wish to, but it's exhausting on all levels.
"I feel as if this uncontrollable anger comes over me, which can feel awkward, or I'll feel anxious and burst into tears and then fight-or-flight will take over.
"It can come across as if I'm being oversensitive and overreacting, but it's difficult to convey if you haven't felt it."
A Few Techniques to Handle It
If you suffer then there are a few methods you can attempt to manage the situation, as suggested by experts.
- Visualise a Different Scenario: Imagination is crucial. Try to associate the particular sound bothering you with something completely different. As an illustration, try to envision someone's noisy drinking is just a sink draining water. This technique is to help your brain learn that the sound affecting you poses no threat.
- Make it a Game: Use lightheartedness and make the irritating noise into a game with the person. For instance, if someone is crunching loudly try joining in. Through participation, rather than feeling like the sound is an attack, you become an engaged person. And the challenge should help distract your brain and make you slightly more tolerant.
- Create a Scenario: One more method is to try to fabricate an explanation about why the person making the noise is doing it. So if someone was making a nasal sound, maybe they are not feeling well or could be emotional. This approach is changing the meaning of the sound. Although the noise doesn't change, your understanding of it shifts from being irritating, to feeling a bit more accepting about it.
