Yuletide Can Be a Nightmare for Those with Misophonia.
One young woman is looking forward to seeing her relatives during the festive period, but notes a key strategy she'll cope is by relying on her earplugs - especially during the main festive feast.
In her case, the holidays can be a notably tough time as the auditory triggers of people eating, slurping and nose-blowing trigger intense distress.
"I experience this wave of instant dread, my entire being will just tighten and it seems as if I'm in a threatening situation, and I need to somehow control these sounds."
The individual has experienced this condition from a young age and for her that renders the Christmas time "exceptionally stressful".
Misophonia is a reduced tolerance to specific noises, especially noises produced by individuals.
It is prevalent across the population. Experts discovered nearly 20% people are affected by it.
Often it's sounds linked to bodily functions that lead to discomfort, as well as things like crunching, heavy breathing, and foot tapping.
'Anxiety Inducing'
The sufferer notes: "There are so many various auditory triggers at Christmas and that can be daunting and make you dread it.
"My family are aware, but I'm very mindful that I don't want to upset others. It's like a internal conflict of managing my symptoms to ensure others enjoy themselves."
So it's obvious why the traditionally happy season can rapidly become a stressful ordeal for those with the condition.
Sounds that may seem harmless, like someone sipping a beverage, opening presents, or eating the holiday meal can cause a strong emotional response that can even cause them skipping events entirely.
Jenna, a young adult, who has struggled with misophonia since aged 10, says her strategy is to listen to music to get through dinner. On any other day, she would frequently go in a quiet area to avoid distressing triggers.
She explains her condition is more pronounced around people she's most familiar with, so the holidays is always "hard".
"There is pressure to be around family, and I wish to, but it's exhausting on all levels.
"It's like this sudden rage takes hold, which can feel shameful, or I'll feel panicked and immediately start crying and then fight-or-flight will take over.
"It may seem as if I'm being oversensitive and dramatic, but it's hard to explain unless you've experienced it."
Several Strategies to Handle It
If it's an issue then there are various strategies you can use to handle the situation, according to experts.
- Imagine Something Else: Creative thinking is key. Work on connecting the triggering sound causing distress with an unrelated image. So for example, try to imagine someone's noisy drinking is just a gentle stream. By doing this is to help your brain learn that the sound affecting you is neutral.
- Make it a Game: Introduce playfulness and make the irritating noise into a competition with the culprit. As an example, if someone is crunching loudly attempt mimicking the sound. Through participation, rather than feeling like the sound is being imposed on you, you become an willing part. And the competition element should help redirect your focus and make you somewhat less sensitive.
- Develop a Narrative: A further strategy is to try to fabricate an explanation about the reason someone making the noise is doing it. For example if someone was making a nasal sound, it could be that they're not at their best or maybe they're upset. The idea is altering the perception of the sound. While the sound remains identical, your interpretation of it shifts from being annoying, to feeling a bit more accepting towards it.