Christmas Transforms Into a Terrifying Experience for Those with Misophonia.
One young woman anticipates spending time with her loved ones this Christmas, but says a key strategy she'll cope is by wearing her noise-cancelling devices - particularly at the main festive feast.
For the 23-year-old, the holidays often feels like a notably tough time as the noises of family members munching, sipping loudly and nose-blowing trigger profound anxiety.
"I get this wave of sudden panic, my every muscle will just tense up and it feels like I'm in danger, and I need to somehow control these sounds."
The individual has suffered from this condition from a young age and for her that causes the holiday period "exceptionally stressful".
Misophonia is a reduced tolerance to certain sounds, particularly those made by other people.
It is prevalent amongst adults. Experts discovered nearly 20% people experience it.
Typically it's sounds associated with bodily functions that lead to discomfort, along with examples such as crunching, breathing, and pen clicking.
Triggering Stress
The sufferer notes: "You encounter 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 conscious that I don't want to spoil the mood. It's like a constant struggle of enduring my distress to ensure the event goes smoothly."
So it's obvious why the supposedly joyous period can quickly turn into a stressful ordeal for those with the condition.
Triggers that may appear innocuous, like someone drinking champagne, rustling a roll of wrapping paper, or enjoying festive food can provoke a powerful reaction that can even cause them skipping events entirely.
She, a university student, who has experienced sound sensitivity from childhood, states currently her plan is to put her earphones in to get through dinner. On any other day, she would usually isolate herself in a separate space to minimize triggering sounds.
She says her condition is more intense around people she's closest to, so Christmas is always "challenging".
"People assume you to socialize with loved ones, and I desire to, but it's draining.
"The sensation is this sudden rage comes over me, which can feel shameful, or I'll feel panicked and begin to weep and then fight-or-flight will activate.
"To others it appears as if I'm being difficult and melodramatic, but it's tough to describe without firsthand experience."
A Few Techniques to Manage
For those affected then there are some different techniques you can use to handle the situation, according to experts.
- Picture a Different Scenario: Creative thinking is key. Attempt to link the particular sound affecting you with a neutral concept. As an illustration, try to imagine someone's slurping is just a waterfall. The goal is to retrain your mind that the sound triggering you isn't harmful.
- Use Humor: Introduce playfulness and turn the annoying sound into a game involving the source. For example, if someone is crunching loudly attempt copying the noise. Through participation, instead of feeling like the sound is an attack, you become an engaged person. And the challenge should help redirect your focus and make you somewhat less sensitive.
- Develop a Narrative: A further strategy is to try to create a little story about the reason someone making the noise is behaving that way. Imagine if someone was making a nasal sound, maybe they are not at their best or are troubled. The idea is re-framing the context of the sound. While the sound stays the same, your understanding of it shifts from being annoying, to feeling a bit more accepting towards it.
