Yuletide Can Be a Terrifying Experience for Misophonia Sufferers.
A 23-year-old hopes for being with her relatives during the festive period, but admits a primary method she'll cope is by using her noise-cancelling devices - notably for Christmas dinner.
In her case, the holidays is a particularly difficult time as the auditory triggers of people eating, slurping and breathing heavily make her feel extremely uncomfortable.
"I get this sensation of sudden panic, my every muscle will just freeze and it seems as if I'm in peril, and I need to stop these triggers."
She has suffered from sound sensitivity from a young age and for her that makes the Christmas time "incredibly overwhelming".
Misophonia is a decreased threshold to certain sounds, especially noises made by individuals.
It's surprisingly common amongst adults. Researchers reported almost one in five people suffer from it.
Frequently it's sounds linked to mouth, throat or facial movements that lead to discomfort, as well as things like crunching, heavy breathing, and pen clicking.
'Anxiety Inducing'
The sufferer notes: "I face so many various auditory triggers at Christmas and that can be daunting and make you fear it.
"Those close to me are understanding, but I'm very conscious that I don't want to make other people feel uncomfortable. It's like a constant struggle of managing my symptoms to make sure others enjoy themselves."
So it's clear why the most wonderful period can quickly turn into a living nightmare for those with the condition.
Noises that may seem harmless, like someone slurping a Buck's fizz, unwrapping gifts, or eating the holiday meal can provoke a visceral feeling that can even cause them skipping events entirely.
Jenna, a young adult, who has experienced misophonia for over a decade, says currently her plan is to listen to music to get through dinner. Typically, she would frequently go in a different room to escape triggering sounds.
She notes her sensitivity is worse around people she's most familiar with, so Christmas is always "difficult".
"There is pressure to socialize with family, and I desire to, but it's exhausting on all levels.
"I feel as if this intense irritation takes hold, which can feel shameful, or I'll feel panicked and burst into tears and then fight-or-flight will take over.
"It can come across as if I'm being oversensitive and melodramatic, but it's hard to explain if you haven't felt it."
Three Ways to Handle It
If you suffer then there are a few methods you can attempt to manage the situation, as suggested by experts.
- Visualise an Alternative: Creative thinking is key. Try to associate the specific noise bothering you with a neutral concept. For instance, try to picture someone's noisy drinking is just a waterfall. This technique is to retrain your mind that the sound affecting you isn't harmful.
- Try a Competition: Have a bit of fun and make the irritating noise into a game with the person. For example, if someone is eating noisily try joining in. Through participation, instead of feeling like the sound is unwanted, you become an willing part. And the game aspect should help shift your attention and make you somewhat less sensitive.
- Craft a Story: One more method is to try to create a little story about the reason someone making the noise is doing it. For example if someone was sniffing, it could be that they're not at their best or maybe they're upset. By doing this is re-framing the context of the sound. While the sound remains identical, your interpretation of it moves from being annoying, to feeling a bit more accepting about it.
