Yuletide Transforms Into a Nightmare for Those with Misophonia.
A 23-year-old is looking forward to seeing her relatives during the festive period, but says a primary method she'll manage to get through it is by wearing her earplugs - notably for the main festive feast.
For the 23-year-old, the holidays is a notably tough season as the auditory triggers of people eating, sipping loudly and breathing heavily cause her profound anxiety.
"I get this wave of immediate anxiety, my every muscle will just tense up and it feels like I'm in a threatening situation, and I need to somehow control these noises."
The individual has lived with sound sensitivity for several years and for her that renders the festive season "deeply taxing".
Misophonia is a reduced tolerance to specific noises, notably sounds produced by other people.
It is prevalent amongst adults. A study found nearly 20% people suffer from it.
Often it's sounds connected to eating or drinking that trigger a reaction, along with examples such as crunching, breathing, and foot tapping.
'Anxiety Inducing'
The sufferer notes: "You encounter so many various auditory triggers at the holidays and that can be daunting and make you want to avoid it.
"My family are supportive, but I'm very conscious that I don't want to spoil the mood. It's like a internal conflict of sacrificing my own sanity to ensure the event goes smoothly."
So it's easy to understand why the traditionally happy time of the year can transform into a source of agony for sufferers.
Triggers that may appear innocuous, like someone drinking champagne, unwrapping gifts, or tucking into a Christmas dinner can trigger a visceral feeling that can even lead to them avoiding social settings altogether.
The student, a young adult, who has dealt with sound sensitivity since aged 10, states her strategy is to listen to music to get through dinner. Typically, she would usually isolate herself in a separate space to escape distressing triggers.
She says her misophonia is more intense around people she's closest to, so Christmas is always "challenging".
"People assume you to spend time with family, and I wish to, but it's exhausting on all levels.
"I feel as if this intense irritation takes hold, which can feel awkward, or I'll feel anxious and begin to weep and then the stress response will kick in.
"It may seem as if I'm being oversensitive and dramatic, but it's hard to explain if you haven't felt it."
Several Strategies to Manage
If you suffer then there are various strategies you can try to cope the situation, according to experts.
- Imagine a Different Scenario: Imagination is key. Work on connecting the triggering sound bothering you with an unrelated image. So for example, try to imagine someone's slurping is just a gentle stream. The goal is to help your brain learn that the sound triggering you is neutral.
- Make it a Game: Have a bit of fun and turn the annoying sound into a competition with the culprit. For instance, if someone is crunching loudly have a go at copying the noise. By joining in, rather than feeling like the sound is unwanted, you become an engaged person. And the challenge should help distract your brain and make you slightly more tolerant.
- Develop a Narrative: One more method is to try to invent a reason about why the person creating the sound is doing it. For example if someone was sniffing, perhaps they're not feeling well or maybe they're upset. The idea is changing the meaning of the sound. Although the noise stays the same, your reaction of it changes from being aggravating, to feeling a slightly more compassionate towards it.