The Holiday Season Transforms Into a Nightmare for Misophonia Sufferers.
One young woman hopes for being with her loved ones this Christmas, but says one of the only ways she'll cope is by wearing her earplugs - especially during the main festive feast.
In her case, this time of year is a especially challenging season as the noises of people eating, slurping and breathing heavily make her feel extremely uncomfortable.
"I get this feeling of sudden panic, my every muscle will just tighten and it seems as if I'm in peril, and I need to somehow control these triggers."
She has experienced misophonia since she was 16 and for her that renders the holiday period "incredibly overwhelming".
Misophonia is a reduced tolerance to certain sounds, particularly those made by individuals.
It's surprisingly common amongst adults. Experts discovered a significant portion of people are affected by it.
Frequently it's sounds linked to mouth, throat or facial movements that trigger a reaction, as well as examples such as crunching, breathing, and repetitive finger tapping.
'Anxiety Inducing'
She explains: "I face so many different triggering sounds at the holidays and that can be stressful and make you want to avoid it.
"My family are supportive, but I'm very conscious that I don't want to make other people feel uncomfortable. It's like a really big battle of enduring my distress to ensure everyone else is happy."
So it's obvious why the most wonderful time of the year can transform into a source of agony for sufferers.
Sounds that may seem harmless, like someone sipping a beverage, opening presents, or tucking into a Christmas dinner can trigger a powerful reaction that can even cause them skipping events entirely.
She, a 21-year-old student, who has experienced sound sensitivity for over a decade, explains the approach she intends to use is to listen to music to manage the meal. On any other day, she would usually isolate herself in a different room to avoid triggering sounds.
She notes her sensitivity is more pronounced around people she's most familiar with, so the holidays is always "difficult".
"There's an expectation to be around loved ones, and I wish to, but it's draining.
"The sensation is this intense irritation washes over me, which can feel embarrassing, or I'll feel stressed and immediately start crying and then the stress response will activate.
"It may seem as if I'm being difficult and overreacting, but it's tough to describe unless you've experienced it."
A Few Techniques to Handle It
If you suffer then there are a few methods you can use to handle the situation, according to experts.
- Imagine an Alternative: Mental imagery is essential. Attempt to link the triggering sound causing distress with a neutral concept. For instance, try to imagine someone's noisy drinking is just a gentle stream. This technique is to help your brain learn that the sound affecting you poses no threat.
- Make it a Game: Introduce playfulness and make the irritating noise into a challenge with the culprit. For instance, if someone is crunching loudly have a go at copying the noise. By mimicking, instead of feeling like the sound is unwanted, you become an engaged person. And the game aspect should help redirect your focus and make you slightly more tolerant.
- Create a Scenario: A further strategy is to try to create a little story about the reason someone making the noise is behaving that way. Imagine if someone was sniffing, maybe they are not in good health or maybe they're upset. The idea is re-framing the context of the sound. While the noise doesn't change, your understanding of it changes from being irritating, to feeling a bit more accepting towards it.
