Christmas Often Proves to Be a Terrifying Experience for Those with Misophonia.
One young woman anticipates seeing her relatives over the holidays, but admits a primary method she'll endure is by wearing her earplugs - notably for the main festive feast.
In her case, Christmas is a notably tough period as the auditory triggers of other people chewing, slurping and breathing heavily make her feel extremely uncomfortable.
"I get this wave of sudden panic, my every muscle will just tense up and it seems as if I'm in a threatening situation, and I need to stop these noises."
The individual has suffered from this condition for several years and for her that causes the festive season "deeply taxing".
Misophonia is a reduced tolerance to certain sounds, notably sounds made by other people.
It is prevalent amongst adults. A study discovered almost one in five people experience it.
Typically it's noises linked to eating or drinking that lead to discomfort, as well as examples such as chewing, breathing, and pen clicking.
'Anxiety Inducing'
Lottie says: "There are so many assorted problematic noises at the holidays and that can be anxiety inducing and make you want to avoid it.
"Those close to me are understanding, but I'm very aware that I don't want to spoil the mood. It's like a constant struggle of enduring my distress to make sure others enjoy themselves."
So it's clear why the supposedly joyous period can rapidly become a source of agony for sufferers.
Noises that may appear innocuous, like someone slurping a Buck's fizz, unwrapping gifts, or eating the holiday meal can cause a strong emotional response that can even lead to them avoiding social settings altogether.
Jenna, a 21-year-old student, who has dealt with sound sensitivity for over a decade, states her strategy is to use headphones to manage the meal. On any other day, she would usually isolate herself in a quiet area to minimize distressing triggers.
She explains her misophonia is more pronounced around people she's most comfortable with, so Christmas is always "difficult".
"There's an expectation to spend time with family, and I wish to, but it's exhausting on all levels.
"It's like this uncontrollable anger takes hold, which can feel shameful, or I'll feel panicked and immediately start crying and then panic will take over.
"It can come across as if I'm being unreasonable and dramatic, but it's tough to describe without firsthand experience."
Three Ways to Handle It
If it's an issue then there are a few methods you can attempt to manage the situation, based on advice from experts.
- Visualise a Different Scenario: Creative thinking is crucial. 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 retrain your mind that the sound triggering you poses no threat.
- Make it a Game: Have a bit of fun and make the irritating noise into a challenge with the culprit. For example, if someone is crunching loudly try joining in. By mimicking, instead of feeling like the sound is being imposed on you, you become an willing part. And the competition element should help distract your brain and make you a little less affected.
- Create a Scenario: A further strategy is to try to invent a reason about the reason someone making the noise is behaving that way. Imagine if someone was making a nasal sound, maybe they are not feeling well or maybe they're upset. The idea is changing the meaning of the sound. While the sound stays the same, your interpretation of it changes from being annoying, to feeling a bit more accepting about it.
