Yuletide Can Be a Terrifying Experience for Misophonia Sufferers.
A 23-year-old anticipates seeing her relatives over the holidays, but says one of the only ways she'll manage to get through it is by relying on her earplugs - especially during Christmas dinner.
For the 23-year-old, Christmas can be a particularly difficult time as the sounds of people eating, drinking noisily and nose-blowing make her feel intense distress.
"There's this wave of sudden panic, my whole body will just tense up and it seems as if I'm in peril, and I need to manage these triggers."
She has experienced sound sensitivity from a young age and for her that makes the Christmas time "incredibly overwhelming".
Misophonia is an intense sensitivity to certain sounds, particularly those coming from individuals.
It is prevalent across the population. A study found a significant portion of people suffer from it.
Typically it's sounds connected to bodily functions that trigger a reaction, as well as things like crunching, heavy breathing, and repetitive finger tapping.
Triggering Stress
The sufferer notes: "You encounter so many various auditory triggers at Christmas and that can be stressful and make you dread it.
"My relatives are supportive, but I'm very aware that I don't want to spoil the mood. It's like a really big battle of sacrificing my own sanity to make sure the event goes smoothly."
So it's clear why the traditionally happy time of the year can quickly turn into a stressful ordeal for sufferers.
Noises that may be considered normal, like someone drinking champagne, opening presents, or eating the holiday meal can provoke a visceral feeling that can even lead to them avoiding social settings altogether.
The student, a 21-year-old student, who has experienced misophonia for over a decade, says her strategy is to use headphones to get through dinner. Typically, she would often retreat in a separate space to escape triggering sounds.
She says her sensitivity is more pronounced around people she's most comfortable with, so the holidays is always "challenging".
"There's an expectation to be around family, and I wish to, but it's draining.
"The sensation is this sudden rage washes over me, which can feel shameful, or I'll feel anxious and begin to weep and then panic will take over.
"It can come across as if I'm being unreasonable and overreacting, but it's tough to describe unless you've experienced it."
Three Ways to Cope
If you suffer then there are some different techniques you can attempt to manage the situation, as suggested by clinical psychologists.
- Visualise a Different Scenario: Mental imagery is key. Try to associate the specific noise affecting you with an unrelated image. For instance, try to imagine someone's slurping is just a sink draining water. The goal is to retrain your mind that the sound affecting you is neutral.
- Try a Competition: Use lightheartedness and turn the annoying sound into a challenge with the culprit. As an example, if someone is eating noisily attempt joining in. By mimicking, rather than feeling like the sound is being imposed on you, you become an active participant. And the challenge should help redirect your focus and make you slightly more tolerant.
- Craft a Story: Another technique is to try to fabricate an explanation about the reason someone making the noise is behaving that way. So if someone was making a nasal sound, it could be that they're not feeling well or maybe they're upset. The idea is altering the perception of the sound. While the sound stays the same, your understanding of it shifts from being annoying, to feeling a slightly more compassionate towards it.
