Yuletide Can Be a Living Hell for Misophonia Sufferers.
One young woman anticipates spending time with her loved ones during the festive period, but says a primary method she'll endure is by wearing her earplugs - notably for the main festive feast.
For her, Christmas often feels like a notably tough time as the sounds of people eating, sipping loudly and sniffling make her feel intense distress.
"I get this feeling of instant dread, my whole body will just tense up and it seems as if I'm in danger, and I need to stop these triggers."
The individual has experienced misophonia 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. Researchers discovered nearly 20% people are affected by it.
Often it's sounds linked to eating or drinking that lead to discomfort, along with examples such as chewing, heavy breathing, and pen clicking.
Triggering Stress
She explains: "There are so many assorted problematic noises at Christmas and that can be anxiety inducing and make you dread it.
"My family are aware, but I'm very aware that I don't want to upset others. It's like a internal conflict of managing my symptoms to ensure others enjoy themselves."
So it's easy to understand why the most wonderful time of the year can transform into a stressful ordeal for sufferers.
Triggers that may appear innocuous, like someone drinking champagne, opening presents, or enjoying festive food can cause a visceral feeling that can even lead to them withdrawing from gatherings.
Jenna, a 21-year-old student, who has experienced sound sensitivity for over a decade, says currently her plan is to listen to music to get through dinner. Typically, she would usually isolate herself in a quiet area to avoid distressing triggers.
She notes her condition is more pronounced around people she's closest to, so the holidays is always "hard".
"There is pressure to spend time with loved ones, and I wish to, but it's exhausting on all levels.
"It's like this intense irritation takes hold, which can feel awkward, or I'll feel anxious and burst into tears and then panic will kick in.
"It may seem as if I'm being oversensitive and dramatic, but it's tough to describe unless you've experienced it."
Three Ways to Handle It
If you suffer then there are a few methods you can use to handle the situation, as suggested by specialists.
- Imagine Something Else: Mental imagery is crucial. Attempt to link the specific noise affecting you with an unrelated image. For instance, try to imagine someone's slurping is just a gentle stream. The goal is to retrain your mind that the sound triggering you is neutral.
- Try a Competition: Use lightheartedness and turn the annoying sound into a challenge with the person. For instance, if someone is crunching loudly have a go at copying the noise. By mimicking, instead of feeling like the sound is being imposed on you, you become an willing part. And the challenge should help distract your brain and make you slightly more tolerant.
- Develop a Narrative: A further strategy is to try to create a little story about why the person making the noise is having to make that sound. So if someone was sniffing, maybe they are not in good health or maybe they're upset. This approach is changing the meaning of the sound. Even though the sound doesn't change, your reaction of it changes from being annoying, to feeling a bit more accepting about it.
