Christmas Can Be a Living Hell for Those with Misophonia.
One young woman anticipates being with her relatives this Christmas, but says one of the only ways she'll endure is by wearing her hearing protection - notably for the holiday meal.
For the 23-year-old, the holidays can be a especially challenging time as the sounds of family members munching, slurping and sniffling make her feel extremely uncomfortable.
"There's this sensation of sudden panic, my whole body will just tense up and it as though I'm in danger, and I need to manage these triggers."
She has experienced this condition from a young age and for her that makes the holiday period "incredibly overwhelming".
Misophonia is a decreased threshold to certain sounds, especially noises coming from other people.
The condition is widespread in the UK. A study discovered nearly 20% people experience it.
Typically it's noises connected to bodily functions that trigger a reaction, including examples such as chewing, breathing, and pen clicking.
A Source of Dread
She explains: "I face so many various auditory triggers at the holidays and that can be stressful and make you dread it.
"Those close to me are understanding, but I'm very aware that I don't want to upset others. It's like a constant struggle of managing my symptoms to guarantee everyone else is happy."
So it's easy to understand why the most wonderful time of the year can quickly turn into a stressful ordeal for sufferers.
Triggers that may be considered normal, like someone drinking champagne, unwrapping gifts, or enjoying festive food can provoke a visceral feeling that can even lead to them withdrawing from gatherings.
The student, a 21-year-old student, who has dealt with misophonia from childhood, says currently her plan is to use headphones to manage the meal. Typically, she would often retreat in a different room to avoid triggering sounds.
She explains her sensitivity is more pronounced around people she's most comfortable with, so the holidays is always "challenging".
"There's an expectation to socialize with family, and I desire to, but it's exhausting on all levels.
"I feel as if this intense irritation comes over me, which can feel awkward, or I'll feel stressed and immediately start crying and then panic will take over.
"It can come across as if I'm being oversensitive and dramatic, but it's difficult to convey without firsthand experience."
Three Ways to Handle It
If it's an issue then there are some different techniques you can attempt to manage the situation, according to clinical psychologists.
- Picture a Different Scenario: Mental imagery is key. Attempt to link the specific noise bothering you with something completely different. For instance, try to envision someone's slurping is just a waterfall. The goal is to teach your brain that the sound affecting you isn't harmful.
- Try a Competition: Use lightheartedness and turn the annoying sound into a challenge involving the source. As an example, if someone is crunching loudly attempt copying the noise. By mimicking, rather than feeling like the sound is an attack, you become an willing part. And the game aspect should help shift your attention and make you slightly more tolerant.
- Craft a Story: A further strategy is to try to invent a reason about why the person making the noise is doing it. So if someone was making a nasal sound, it could be that they're not feeling well or maybe they're upset. This approach is changing the meaning of the sound. While the sound doesn't change, your understanding of it shifts from being irritating, to feeling a bit more accepting towards it.
