Christmas Transforms Into a Nightmare for Those with Misophonia.
One young woman anticipates seeing her loved ones over the holidays, but notes a key strategy she'll endure is by relying on her hearing protection - particularly at the holiday meal.
For her, this time of year often feels like a especially challenging time as the auditory triggers of people eating, sipping loudly and sniffling cause her extremely uncomfortable.
"There's this wave of instant dread, my whole body will just freeze and it as though I'm in a threatening situation, and I need to stop these noises."
She has experienced misophonia from a young age and for her that makes the holiday period "incredibly overwhelming".
Misophonia is an intense sensitivity to certain sounds, particularly those coming from individuals.
It's surprisingly common across the population. A study discovered almost one in five people are affected by it.
Often it's sounds linked to bodily functions that lead to discomfort, along with things like crunching, heavy breathing, and pen clicking.
A Source of Dread
The sufferer notes: "I face so many assorted problematic noises at the holidays and that can be daunting and make you want to avoid it.
"My relatives are aware, but I'm very aware that I don't want to spoil the mood. It's like a internal conflict of managing my symptoms to make sure the event goes smoothly."
So it's easy to understand why the traditionally happy period can quickly turn into a source of agony for affected individuals.
Triggers that may appear innocuous, like someone drinking champagne, opening presents, or enjoying festive food can trigger a powerful reaction that can even lead to them withdrawing from gatherings.
She, a young adult, who has dealt with sound sensitivity for over a decade, says her strategy is to listen to music to get through dinner. On any other day, she would often retreat in a separate space to escape distressing triggers.
She notes her condition is more intense around people she's most comfortable with, so the holidays is always "challenging".
"There is pressure to spend time with loved ones, and I desire to, but it's draining.
"It's like this intense irritation washes over me, which can feel embarrassing, or I'll feel stressed and begin to weep and then panic will kick in.
"It may seem as if I'm being oversensitive and melodramatic, but it's hard to explain unless you've experienced it."
A Few Techniques to Manage
For those affected then there are some different techniques you can use to handle the situation, as suggested by specialists.
- Imagine an Alternative: Imagination is crucial. Attempt to link the particular sound bothering you with something completely different. So for example, try to envision someone's slurping is just a sink draining water. This technique is to help your brain learn that the sound affecting you is neutral.
- Make it a Game: Have a bit of fun and turn the annoying sound into a challenge with the person. As an example, if someone is crunching loudly try copying the noise. By joining in, instead of feeling like the sound is an attack, you become an engaged person. And the game aspect should help shift your attention and make you slightly more tolerant.
- Develop a Narrative: A further strategy is to try to invent a reason about why the person creating the sound is doing it. Imagine if someone was sniffing, maybe they are not feeling well or maybe they're upset. This approach is re-framing the context of the sound. While the noise remains identical, your reaction of it shifts from being annoying, to feeling a little more neutral about it.
