Christmas Transforms Into a Nightmare for Misophonia Sufferers.
A 23-year-old is looking forward to being with her loved ones during the festive period, but admits one of the only ways she'll manage to get through it is by using her earplugs - notably for the holiday meal.
In her case, the holidays often feels like a particularly difficult season as the sounds of other people chewing, slurping and breathing heavily make her feel intense distress.
"There's this wave of immediate anxiety, my whole body will just tense up and it seems as if I'm in a threatening situation, and I need to manage these triggers."
She has suffered from this condition from a young age and for her that causes the Christmas time "incredibly overwhelming".
Misophonia is a decreased threshold to specific noises, notably sounds produced by those around you.
It's surprisingly common amongst adults. Experts found almost one in five people are affected by it.
Frequently it's sounds associated with bodily functions that trigger a reaction, along with things like chewing, heavy breathing, and repetitive finger tapping.
'Anxiety Inducing'
The sufferer notes: "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 mindful that I don't want to upset others. It's like a constant struggle of managing my symptoms to guarantee others enjoy themselves."
So it's easy to understand why the supposedly joyous time of the year can transform into a living nightmare for sufferers.
Triggers that may seem harmless, like someone drinking champagne, unwrapping gifts, or tucking into a Christmas dinner can provoke a powerful reaction that can even result in them withdrawing from gatherings.
Jenna, a university student, who has experienced sound sensitivity for over a decade, states currently her plan is to use headphones to manage the meal. Usually, she would often retreat in a quiet area to minimize triggering sounds.
She says her condition is more pronounced around people she's most comfortable with, so the holidays is always "difficult".
"There is pressure to socialize with loved ones, and I wish to, but it's draining.
"The sensation is this intense irritation takes hold, which can feel shameful, or I'll feel stressed and immediately start crying and then the stress response will take over.
"It may seem as if I'm being oversensitive and overreacting, but it's tough to describe unless you've experienced it."
Three Ways to Handle It
For those affected then there are a few methods you can try to cope the situation, according to experts.
- Imagine an Alternative: Creative thinking is key. Attempt to link the triggering sound affecting you with something completely different. As an illustration, try to imagine someone's noisy drinking is just a waterfall. The goal is to teach your brain that the sound triggering you is neutral.
- Make it a Game: Introduce playfulness and make the irritating noise into a competition involving the source. For example, if someone is eating noisily have a go at joining in. Through participation, rather than feeling like the sound is unwanted, you become an engaged person. And the competition element should help distract your brain and make you a little less affected.
- Develop a Narrative: One more method is to try to fabricate an explanation about the reason someone making the noise is having to make that sound. So if someone was sniffing, perhaps they're not feeling well or could be emotional. By doing this is changing the meaning of the sound. While the noise doesn't change, your understanding of it shifts from being aggravating, to feeling a little more neutral about it.
