Yuletide Can Be a Nightmare for Misophonia Sufferers.
One young woman hopes for seeing her loved ones during the festive period, but notes one of the only ways she'll manage to get through it is by relying on her hearing protection - especially during the holiday meal.
For her, Christmas can be a especially challenging period as the sounds of people eating, sipping loudly and breathing heavily cause her extremely uncomfortable.
"I get this wave of sudden panic, my every muscle will just tighten and it seems as if I'm in a threatening situation, and I need to manage these triggers."
She has experienced this condition for several years and for her that makes the holiday period "exceptionally stressful".
Misophonia is an intense sensitivity to particular auditory triggers, notably sounds coming from individuals.
It's surprisingly common in the UK. A study found a significant portion of people are affected by it.
Frequently it's noises associated with mouth, throat or facial movements that lead to discomfort, as well as examples such as crunching, breathing, and repetitive finger tapping.
A Source of Dread
The sufferer notes: "There are so many different triggering sounds at Christmas and that can be stressful and make you fear 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 guarantee everyone else is happy."
So it's obvious why the supposedly joyous season can quickly turn into a source of agony for sufferers.
Triggers that may appear innocuous, like someone sipping a beverage, rustling a roll of wrapping paper, or enjoying festive food can trigger a visceral feeling that can even result in them skipping events entirely.
The student, a 21-year-old student, who has dealt with misophonia for over a decade, states her strategy is to use headphones to cope. On any other day, she would often retreat in a quiet area to escape triggering sounds.
She explains her condition is more intense around people she's most comfortable with, so Christmas is always "hard".
"People assume you to be around loved ones, and I want to, but it's exhausting on all levels.
"I feel as if this uncontrollable anger washes over me, which can feel awkward, or I'll feel anxious and begin to weep and then fight-or-flight will kick in.
"It can come across as if I'm being oversensitive and melodramatic, but it's tough to describe without firsthand experience."
A Few Techniques to Manage
If you suffer then there are a few methods you can attempt to manage the situation, according to experts.
- Picture Something Else: Creative thinking is essential. Attempt to link the particular sound affecting you with an unrelated image. As an illustration, try to imagine someone's slurping is just a gentle stream. This technique is to teach your brain that the sound affecting you poses no threat.
- Make it a Game: Use lightheartedness and turn the annoying sound into a game with the person. For example, if someone is crunching loudly have a go at joining in. By mimicking, rather than feeling like the sound is an attack, you become an willing part. And the game aspect should help redirect your focus and make you a little less affected.
- Craft a Story: Another technique is to try to fabricate an explanation about the reason someone making the noise is behaving that way. For example 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 reaction of it shifts from being aggravating, to feeling a slightly more compassionate towards it.
