The Holiday Season Can Be a Living Hell for Misophonia Sufferers.
A 23-year-old hopes for being with her family this Christmas, but says one of the only ways she'll manage to get through it is by using her earplugs - notably for the main festive feast.
In her case, Christmas can be a especially challenging season as the sounds of people eating, sipping loudly and sniffling trigger extremely uncomfortable.
"I experience this sensation of immediate anxiety, my whole body will just tense up and it seems as if I'm in peril, and I need to somehow control these triggers."
The individual has experienced this condition since she was 16 and for her that causes the festive season "deeply taxing".
Misophonia is a decreased threshold to certain sounds, particularly those coming from individuals.
The condition is widespread amongst adults. A study discovered a significant portion of people experience it.
Frequently it's noises linked to bodily functions that trigger a reaction, along with things like chewing, breathing, and foot tapping.
'Anxiety Inducing'
She explains: "There are so many assorted problematic noises at the holidays and that can be anxiety inducing and make you fear it.
"My family are aware, but I'm very mindful that I don't want to make other people feel uncomfortable. It's like a constant struggle of sacrificing my own sanity to ensure everyone else is happy."
So it's easy to understand why the most wonderful season can rapidly become a source of agony for those with the condition.
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 visceral feeling that can even cause them withdrawing from gatherings.
Jenna, a 21-year-old student, who has struggled with misophonia since aged 10, says the approach she intends to use is to listen to music to get through dinner. Usually, she would often retreat in a different room to escape distressing triggers.
She explains her sensitivity is worse around people she's most comfortable with, so the holidays is always "challenging".
"There's an expectation to socialize with loved ones, and I wish to, but it's physically and mentally challenging.
"The sensation is this uncontrollable anger washes over me, which can feel embarrassing, or I'll feel anxious and begin to weep and then the stress response will activate.
"It can come across as if I'm being difficult and melodramatic, but it's difficult to convey if you haven't felt it."
Three Ways to Cope
If you suffer then there are various strategies you can try to cope the situation, as suggested by experts.
- Visualise an Alternative: Creative thinking is crucial. Work on connecting the triggering sound affecting you with something completely different. For instance, try to picture someone's slurping is just a sink draining water. The goal is to help your brain learn that the sound triggering you poses no threat.
- Try a Competition: Use lightheartedness and make the irritating noise into a challenge with the person. For instance, if someone is crunching loudly try copying the noise. Through participation, rather than feeling like the sound is unwanted, you become an willing part. And the game aspect should help redirect your focus and make you a little less affected.
- Create a Scenario: Another technique is to try to fabricate an explanation about the reason someone making the noise is doing it. Imagine if someone was making a nasal sound, maybe they are not in good health or maybe they're upset. The idea is re-framing the context of the sound. Although the sound stays the same, your interpretation of it moves from being annoying, to feeling a little more neutral about it.
