Christmas Can Be a Living Hell for Those with Misophonia.
One young woman is looking forward to spending time with her relatives over the holidays, but notes a primary method she'll manage to get through it is by wearing her hearing protection - notably for the holiday meal.
For the 23-year-old, this time of year can be a notably tough time as the auditory triggers of other people chewing, sipping loudly and sniffling cause her profound anxiety.
"I experience this feeling of sudden panic, my entire being will just tighten and it feels like I'm in danger, and I need to manage these noises."
She has experienced misophonia for several years and for her that causes the festive season "deeply taxing".
Misophonia is a decreased threshold to certain sounds, notably sounds produced by other people.
It is prevalent amongst adults. Experts reported a significant portion of people are affected by it.
Often it's sounds connected to mouth, throat or facial movements that lead to discomfort, including things like crunching, heavy breathing, and foot tapping.
A Source of Dread
Lottie says: "You encounter so many different triggering sounds at Christmas and that can be daunting and make you dread it.
"My relatives are understanding, but I'm very aware that I don't want to spoil the mood. It's like a really big battle of enduring my distress to ensure the event goes smoothly."
So it's obvious why the traditionally happy time of the year can transform into a source of agony for affected individuals.
Noises that may appear innocuous, like someone slurping a Buck's fizz, unwrapping gifts, or eating the holiday meal can trigger a visceral feeling that can even result in them withdrawing from gatherings.
Jenna, a young adult, who has struggled with misophonia for over a decade, states her strategy is to put her earphones in to cope. On any other day, she would frequently go in a different room to minimize problematic noises.
She notes her condition is more intense around people she's closest to, so the holidays is always "hard".
"There is pressure to socialize with loved ones, and I wish to, but it's draining.
"The sensation is this sudden rage takes hold, which can feel shameful, or I'll feel panicked and immediately start crying and then fight-or-flight will kick in.
"To others it appears as if I'm being difficult and overreacting, but it's tough to describe if you haven't felt it."
A Few Techniques to Handle It
For those affected then there are a few methods you can attempt to manage the situation, according to experts.
- Picture Something Else: Imagination is crucial. Try to associate the specific noise affecting you with an unrelated image. So for example, try to picture someone's noisy drinking is just a gentle stream. The goal is to retrain your mind that the sound triggering you isn't harmful.
- Try a Competition: Use lightheartedness and make the irritating noise into a competition with the culprit. For example, if someone is eating noisily have a go at joining in. By mimicking, rather than feeling like the sound is unwanted, you become an willing part. And the game aspect should help distract your brain and make you somewhat less sensitive.
- Craft a Story: One more method is to try to fabricate an explanation about why the person creating the sound is behaving that way. Imagine if someone was making a nasal sound, maybe they are not in good health or are troubled. This approach is re-framing the context of the sound. While the sound remains identical, your reaction of it shifts from being aggravating, to feeling a bit more accepting about it.
