Christmas Transforms Into a Nightmare for Misophonia Sufferers.
A 23-year-old hopes for being with her loved ones this Christmas, but says a primary method she'll cope is by using her earplugs - notably for the main festive feast.
In her case, the holidays is a particularly difficult period as the noises of other people chewing, sipping loudly and breathing heavily make her feel profound anxiety.
"I experience this sensation of instant dread, my whole body will just freeze and it feels like I'm in danger, and I need to manage these noises."
The individual has lived with misophonia from a young age and for her that makes the Christmas time "exceptionally stressful".
Misophonia is an intense sensitivity to particular auditory triggers, especially noises coming from other people.
It's surprisingly common across the population. Researchers discovered a significant portion of people experience it.
Frequently it's sounds linked to eating or drinking that lead to discomfort, along with examples such as chewing, breathing, and repetitive finger tapping.
A Source of Dread
She explains: "I face so many different triggering sounds at Christmas and that can be daunting and make you want to avoid it.
"My family are supportive, but I'm very mindful that I don't want to make other people feel uncomfortable. It's like a internal conflict of managing my symptoms to make sure everyone else is happy."
So it's clear why the most wonderful period can rapidly become a source of agony for affected individuals.
Triggers that may be considered normal, like someone sipping a beverage, opening presents, or eating the holiday meal can trigger a strong emotional response that can even result in them avoiding social settings altogether.
The student, a university student, who has dealt with misophonia since aged 10, says the approach she intends to use is to put her earphones in to get through dinner. Typically, she would often retreat in a different room to minimize distressing triggers.
She explains her condition is worse around people she's closest to, so Christmas is always "challenging".
"There's an expectation to spend time with family, and I want to, but it's draining.
"I feel as if this sudden rage washes over me, which can feel embarrassing, or I'll feel anxious and immediately start crying and then fight-or-flight will kick in.
"To others it appears as if I'm being oversensitive and overreacting, but it's difficult to convey without firsthand experience."
Three Ways to Manage
If it's an issue then there are a few methods you can try to cope the situation, as suggested by specialists.
- Visualise a Different Scenario: Imagination is essential. Work on connecting the specific noise causing distress with a neutral concept. So for example, try to picture someone's noisy drinking is just a waterfall. The goal is to teach your brain that the sound affecting you isn't harmful.
- Make it a Game: Use lightheartedness and turn the annoying sound into a game involving the source. For example, if someone is crunching loudly attempt copying the noise. By mimicking, rather than feeling like the sound is unwanted, you become an willing part. And the game aspect should help distract your brain and make you slightly more tolerant.
- Develop a Narrative: A further strategy is to try to invent a reason about why the person making the noise is doing it. So if someone was sniffing, it could be that they're not at their best or are troubled. This approach is altering the perception of the sound. Although the noise remains identical, your understanding of it shifts from being aggravating, to feeling a little more neutral towards it.
