Christmas Can Be a Terrifying Experience for Misophonia Sufferers.
One young woman is looking forward to seeing her loved ones during the festive period, but says a primary method she'll cope is by wearing her noise-cancelling devices - notably for Christmas dinner.
For the 23-year-old, Christmas often feels like a notably tough season as the auditory triggers of other people chewing, slurping and sniffling trigger extremely uncomfortable.
"I get this sensation of immediate anxiety, my whole body will just freeze and it feels like I'm in a threatening situation, and I need to stop these noises."
The individual has lived with misophonia for several years and for her that makes the Christmas time "exceptionally stressful".
Misophonia is an intense sensitivity to certain sounds, especially noises produced by those around you.
The condition is widespread amongst adults. Experts reported nearly 20% people experience it.
Frequently it's sounds linked to bodily functions that cause distress, including things like chewing, breathing, and repetitive finger tapping.
Triggering Stress
The sufferer notes: "There are so many various auditory triggers at the holidays and that can be anxiety inducing and make you want to avoid it.
"My family are supportive, but I'm very aware that I don't want to make other people feel uncomfortable. It's like a constant struggle of managing my symptoms to ensure everyone else is happy."
So it's obvious why the traditionally happy season can quickly turn into a living nightmare for those with the condition.
Noises that may be considered normal, like someone sipping a beverage, unwrapping gifts, or enjoying festive food can provoke a powerful reaction that can even cause them skipping events entirely.
Jenna, a young adult, who has experienced sound sensitivity from childhood, explains currently her plan is to listen to music to get through dinner. On any other day, she would frequently go in a quiet area to minimize triggering sounds.
She explains her condition is more pronounced around people she's most familiar with, so the holidays is always "hard".
"People assume you to spend time with loved ones, and I want to, but it's exhausting on all levels.
"The sensation is this sudden rage washes over me, which can feel shameful, or I'll feel stressed and burst into tears and then fight-or-flight will take over.
"To others it appears as if I'm being oversensitive and melodramatic, but it's hard to explain without firsthand experience."
A Few Techniques to Manage
If you suffer then there are a few methods you can use to handle the situation, based on advice from specialists.
- Picture an Alternative: Imagination is key. Try to associate the particular sound affecting you with something completely different. For instance, try to imagine someone's noisy drinking is just a gentle stream. The goal is to teach your brain that the sound triggering you is neutral.
- Try a Competition: Have a bit of fun and turn the annoying sound into a competition with the person. As an example, if someone is eating noisily try joining in. By joining in, instead of feeling like the sound is being imposed on you, you become an willing part. And the challenge should help distract your brain and make you slightly more tolerant.
- Develop a Narrative: One more method is to try to fabricate an explanation about why the person creating the sound is behaving that way. For example if someone was making a nasal sound, it could be that they're not at their best or could be emotional. This approach is altering the perception of the sound. Even though the sound doesn't change, your understanding of it changes from being aggravating, to feeling a little more neutral towards it.
