Christmas Transforms Into a Nightmare for Misophonia Sufferers.
One young woman hopes for being with her relatives during the festive period, but admits one of the only ways she'll cope is by relying on her earplugs - particularly at Christmas dinner.
In her case, the holidays often feels like a particularly difficult season as the auditory triggers of other people chewing, drinking noisily and breathing heavily trigger intense distress.
"I experience this wave of instant dread, my entire being will just tighten and it feels like I'm in peril, and I need to somehow control these sounds."
She has experienced misophonia since she was 16 and for her that renders the Christmas time "deeply taxing".
Misophonia is a reduced tolerance to specific noises, particularly those made by those around you.
The condition is widespread amongst adults. A study found almost one in five people are affected by it.
Frequently it's sounds associated with eating or drinking that trigger a reaction, along with things like chewing, heavy breathing, and repetitive finger tapping.
A Source of Dread
The sufferer notes: "You encounter so many various auditory triggers at the holidays and that can be stressful and make you fear it.
"My family are understanding, but I'm very mindful that I don't want to spoil the mood. It's like a internal conflict of sacrificing my own sanity to guarantee others enjoy themselves."
So it's obvious why the traditionally happy season can rapidly become a stressful ordeal for those with the condition.
Noises that may seem harmless, like someone drinking champagne, unwrapping gifts, or enjoying festive food can trigger a powerful reaction that can even lead to them skipping events entirely.
The student, a young adult, who has experienced sound sensitivity for over a decade, states currently her plan is to listen to music to manage the meal. Usually, she would usually isolate herself in a separate space to escape distressing triggers.
She explains her sensitivity is more intense around people she's most familiar with, so the holidays is always "challenging".
"There's an expectation to be around loved ones, and I want to, but it's draining.
"It's like this uncontrollable anger comes over me, which can feel shameful, 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 dramatic, but it's hard to explain if you haven't felt it."
Three Ways to Cope
If you suffer then there are some different techniques you can attempt to manage the situation, according to specialists.
- Visualise Something Else: Creative thinking is crucial. Work on connecting the particular sound bothering you with something completely different. So for example, try to imagine someone's slurping is just a sink draining water. The goal is to teach your brain that the sound affecting you poses no threat.
- Make it a Game: Use lightheartedness and make the irritating noise into a competition involving the source. For instance, if someone is eating noisily have a go at mimicking the sound. Through participation, instead of feeling like the sound is an attack, you become an active participant. And the competition element should help redirect your focus and make you somewhat less sensitive.
- Develop a Narrative: Another technique is to try to fabricate an explanation about the reason someone making the noise is having to make that sound. Imagine if someone was making a nasal sound, perhaps they're not feeling well or could be emotional. The idea is changing the meaning of the sound. While the sound doesn't change, your reaction of it moves from being irritating, to feeling a little more neutral towards it.
