Christmas Can Be a Nightmare for Those with Misophonia.
One young woman hopes for being with her relatives this Christmas, but admits a primary method she'll endure is by using her hearing protection - notably for the holiday meal.
For her, Christmas can be a particularly difficult time as the sounds of family members munching, drinking noisily and nose-blowing cause her intense distress.
"I experience this wave of sudden panic, my entire being will just freeze and it as though I'm in danger, and I need to stop these triggers."
The individual has lived with sound sensitivity for several years and for her that renders the festive season "deeply taxing".
Misophonia is a decreased threshold to specific noises, particularly those produced by other people.
It is prevalent across the population. Researchers found almost one in five people experience it.
Often it's noises linked to mouth, throat or facial movements that trigger a reaction, including examples such as crunching, breathing, and pen clicking.
'Anxiety Inducing'
She explains: "I face so many different triggering sounds at Christmas and that can be stressful and make you want to avoid it.
"Those close to me are understanding, but I'm very mindful that I don't want to spoil the mood. It's like a constant struggle of managing my symptoms to make sure everyone else is happy."
So it's obvious why the supposedly joyous season can quickly turn into a living nightmare for sufferers.
Sounds that may seem harmless, like someone sipping a beverage, unwrapping gifts, or tucking into a Christmas dinner can trigger a strong emotional response that can even lead to them avoiding social settings altogether.
Jenna, a 21-year-old student, who has experienced sound sensitivity from childhood, says her strategy is to put her earphones in to manage the meal. On any other day, she would frequently go in a separate space to avoid problematic noises.
She explains her sensitivity is more pronounced around people she's closest to, so the holidays is always "hard".
"There is pressure to socialize with loved ones, and I desire to, but it's draining.
"The sensation is this sudden rage washes over me, which can feel awkward, or I'll feel stressed and burst into tears and then fight-or-flight will activate.
"It can come across as if I'm being oversensitive and overreacting, but it's difficult to convey if you haven't felt it."
Several Strategies to Handle It
If it's an issue then there are a few methods you can use to handle the situation, as suggested by experts.
- Picture an Alternative: Imagination is crucial. Try to associate the triggering sound bothering you with a neutral concept. As an illustration, try to envision someone's slurping is just a gentle stream. This technique is to retrain your mind that the sound triggering you is neutral.
- Make it a Game: Introduce playfulness and turn the annoying sound into a competition with the person. For example, if someone is crunching loudly have a go at mimicking the sound. By mimicking, instead of feeling like the sound is being imposed on you, you become an willing part. And the challenge should help shift your attention and make you a little less affected.
- Craft a Story: A further strategy is to try to create a little story about the reason someone making the noise is having to make that sound. So if someone was sniffing, perhaps they're not in good health or are troubled. By doing this is altering the perception of the sound. Even though the sound remains identical, your interpretation of it moves from being aggravating, to feeling a slightly more compassionate about it.
