Christmas Transforms Into a Terrifying Experience for Misophonia Sufferers.
A 23-year-old anticipates seeing her loved ones during the festive period, but says a key strategy she'll cope is by wearing her earplugs - particularly at the main festive feast.
In her case, this time of year is a particularly difficult time as the auditory triggers of people eating, slurping and sniffling make her feel extremely uncomfortable.
"I get this feeling of instant dread, my whole body will just tighten and it seems as if I'm in danger, and I need to stop these triggers."
She has suffered from this condition since she was 16 and for her that makes the festive season "exceptionally stressful".
Misophonia is an intense sensitivity to specific noises, especially noises produced by individuals.
It's surprisingly common amongst adults. Researchers found a significant portion of people suffer from it.
Typically it's noises linked to mouth, throat or facial movements that cause distress, as well as examples such as crunching, breathing, and foot tapping.
'Anxiety Inducing'
The sufferer notes: "You encounter so many assorted problematic noises at Christmas and that can be daunting and make you dread it.
"Those close to me are aware, but I'm very aware that I don't want to make other people feel uncomfortable. It's like a internal conflict of enduring my distress to ensure others enjoy themselves."
So it's clear why the supposedly joyous period can transform into a source of agony for those with the condition.
Triggers that may appear innocuous, like someone slurping a Buck's fizz, opening presents, or eating the holiday meal can cause a visceral feeling that can even cause them avoiding social settings altogether.
She, a 21-year-old student, who has struggled with sound sensitivity since aged 10, says the approach she intends to use is to put her earphones in to manage the meal. On any other day, she would often retreat in a different room to minimize distressing triggers.
She says her condition is more intense around people she's closest to, so the holidays is always "hard".
"There's an expectation to socialize with family, and I desire to, but it's draining.
"It's like this uncontrollable anger washes over me, which can feel embarrassing, or I'll feel stressed and begin to weep and then fight-or-flight will kick in.
"It may seem as if I'm being oversensitive and overreacting, but it's tough to describe without firsthand experience."
A Few Techniques to Manage
If it's an issue then there are a few methods you can use to handle the situation, as suggested by experts.
- Picture an Alternative: Creative thinking is key. Attempt to link the specific noise bothering you with a neutral concept. As an illustration, try to imagine someone's noisy drinking is just a waterfall. This technique is to help your brain learn that the sound affecting you is neutral.
- Use Humor: Have a bit of fun and turn the annoying sound into a game with the person. As an example, if someone is crunching loudly attempt copying the noise. By joining in, instead of feeling like the sound is an attack, you become an active participant. And the challenge should help redirect your focus and make you slightly more tolerant.
- Craft a Story: A further strategy is to try to invent a reason about the reason someone making the noise is doing it. Imagine if someone was sniffing, perhaps they're not feeling well or are troubled. The idea is changing the meaning of the sound. Although the noise stays the same, your reaction of it changes from being aggravating, to feeling a slightly more compassionate towards it.