Yuletide Can Be a Nightmare for Misophonia Sufferers.
A 23-year-old anticipates seeing her relatives over the holidays, but says one of the only ways she'll cope is by relying on her hearing protection - particularly at the main festive feast.
For her, this time of year often feels like a especially challenging time as the sounds of other people chewing, slurping and sniffling trigger profound anxiety.
"There's this wave of immediate anxiety, my every muscle will just tighten and it feels like I'm in a threatening situation, and I need to somehow control these triggers."
The individual has experienced misophonia since she was 16 and for her that causes the holiday period "deeply taxing".
Misophonia is a decreased threshold to particular auditory triggers, notably sounds coming from other people.
It's surprisingly common amongst adults. Researchers found a significant portion of people are affected by it.
Frequently it's noises linked to mouth, throat or facial movements that trigger a reaction, along with examples such as chewing, heavy breathing, and repetitive finger tapping.
A Source of Dread
The sufferer notes: "There are so many assorted problematic noises at the holidays and that can be daunting and make you dread it.
"My family are aware, but I'm very conscious that I don't want to upset others. It's like a really big battle of sacrificing my own sanity to ensure the event goes smoothly."
So it's clear why the most wonderful season can rapidly become a source of agony for those with the condition.
Triggers that may seem harmless, like someone drinking champagne, unwrapping gifts, or eating the holiday meal can trigger a visceral feeling that can even cause them skipping events entirely.
Jenna, a 21-year-old student, who has experienced sound sensitivity for over a decade, states the approach she intends to use is to put her earphones in to get through dinner. Typically, she would frequently go in a quiet area to escape distressing triggers.
She notes her condition is worse around people she's most familiar with, so the holidays is always "hard".
"There is pressure to spend time with family, and I want to, but it's exhausting on all levels.
"I feel as if this uncontrollable anger washes over me, which can feel embarrassing, or I'll feel stressed and begin to weep and then the stress response will kick in.
"It may seem as if I'm being oversensitive and overreacting, but it's difficult to convey unless you've experienced it."
Several Strategies to Handle It
If it's an issue then there are various strategies you can use to handle the situation, as suggested by experts.
- Imagine a Different Scenario: Mental imagery is essential. Work on connecting the particular sound affecting you with a neutral concept. As an illustration, try to imagine someone's slurping is just a gentle stream. The goal is to help your brain learn that the sound affecting you is neutral.
- Make it a Game: Use lightheartedness and turn the annoying sound into a competition with the person. For instance, if someone is eating noisily try joining in. By mimicking, instead of feeling like the sound is unwanted, you become an active participant. And the challenge should help shift your attention and make you slightly more tolerant.
- Craft a Story: Another technique is to try to create a little story about the reason someone making the noise is doing it. So if someone was sniffing, it could be that they're not feeling well or maybe they're upset. This approach is altering the perception of the sound. Although the noise remains identical, your reaction of it changes from being irritating, to feeling a bit more accepting about it.
