The Holiday Season Can Be a Nightmare for Misophonia Sufferers.
One young woman anticipates being with her loved ones this Christmas, but notes a primary method she'll cope is by using her noise-cancelling devices - notably for the main festive feast.
For the 23-year-old, the holidays can be a particularly difficult period as the noises of people eating, sipping loudly and sniffling make her feel extremely uncomfortable.
"I get this feeling of immediate anxiety, my every muscle will just tighten and it as though 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 Christmas time "deeply taxing".
Misophonia is a decreased threshold to certain sounds, notably sounds coming from individuals.
It's surprisingly common amongst adults. A study reported nearly 20% people experience it.
Frequently it's noises linked to bodily functions that cause distress, along with examples such as crunching, breathing, and repetitive finger tapping.
Triggering Stress
She explains: "There are so many assorted problematic noises at the holidays and that can be daunting and make you want to avoid it.
"Those close to me are aware, but I'm very conscious that I don't want to make other people feel uncomfortable. It's like a really big battle of enduring my distress to guarantee everyone else is happy."
So it's easy to understand why the supposedly joyous season can rapidly become a stressful ordeal for affected individuals.
Noises that may seem harmless, like someone slurping a Buck's fizz, rustling a roll of wrapping paper, or enjoying festive food can cause a strong emotional response that can even lead to them withdrawing from gatherings.
She, a university student, who has dealt with sound sensitivity since aged 10, says her strategy is to put her earphones in to get through dinner. Usually, she would frequently go in a separate space to avoid triggering sounds.
She says her condition is worse around people she's most comfortable with, so Christmas is always "difficult".
"There is pressure to socialize with loved ones, and I wish to, but it's draining.
"The sensation is this uncontrollable anger comes over me, which can feel shameful, or I'll feel anxious and begin to weep and then the stress response will kick in.
"It can come across as if I'm being unreasonable and dramatic, but it's difficult to convey unless you've experienced it."
Three Ways to Cope
If you suffer then there are some different techniques you can attempt to manage the situation, according to experts.
- Visualise a Different Scenario: Imagination is essential. Attempt to link the specific noise affecting you with a neutral concept. For instance, try to picture someone's slurping is just a gentle stream. By doing this is to teach your brain that the sound affecting you poses no threat.
- Use Humor: Use lightheartedness and make the irritating noise into a game with the person. For example, if someone is eating noisily attempt copying the noise. By mimicking, rather than feeling like the sound is being imposed on you, you become an active participant. And the game aspect should help shift your attention and make you somewhat less sensitive.
- Create a Scenario: A further strategy is to try to fabricate an explanation about the reason someone making the noise is having to make that sound. Imagine if someone was sniffing, perhaps they're not feeling well or are troubled. This approach is changing the meaning of the sound. Even though the noise remains identical, your interpretation of it changes from being aggravating, to feeling a bit more accepting towards it.
