Christmas Often Proves to Be a Nightmare for Those with Misophonia.
A 23-year-old anticipates seeing her relatives over the holidays, but says a primary method she'll manage to get through it is by wearing her noise-cancelling devices - especially during the main festive feast.
For her, Christmas is a particularly difficult time as the auditory triggers of other people chewing, slurping and breathing heavily cause her intense distress.
"I get this wave of immediate anxiety, my entire being will just tighten and it as though I'm in peril, and I need to somehow control these triggers."
The individual has suffered from sound sensitivity from a young age and for her that causes the Christmas time "incredibly overwhelming".
Misophonia is a reduced tolerance to particular auditory triggers, especially noises made by other people.
The condition is widespread across the population. Researchers reported a significant portion of people suffer from it.
Frequently it's noises associated with eating or drinking that lead to discomfort, including examples such as chewing, heavy breathing, and repetitive finger tapping.
A Source of Dread
The sufferer notes: "I face so many various auditory triggers at Christmas and that can be anxiety inducing and make you dread it.
"My family are supportive, but I'm very mindful that I don't want to upset others. It's like a constant struggle of sacrificing my own sanity to ensure the event goes smoothly."
So it's obvious why the most wonderful season can quickly turn into a source of agony for affected individuals.
Triggers that may be considered normal, like someone slurping a Buck's fizz, unwrapping gifts, or eating the holiday meal can provoke a strong emotional response that can even cause them avoiding social settings altogether.
She, a young adult, who has experienced misophonia from childhood, says her strategy is to put her earphones in to get through dinner. Typically, she would usually isolate herself in a different room to minimize distressing triggers.
She notes her sensitivity is more intense around people she's closest to, so Christmas is always "challenging".
"People assume you to spend time with loved ones, and I wish to, but it's draining.
"It's like this sudden rage takes hold, which can feel shameful, or I'll feel panicked and begin to weep and then fight-or-flight will take over.
"It may seem as if I'm being difficult and melodramatic, but it's tough to describe without firsthand experience."
A Few Techniques to Handle It
If you suffer then there are a few methods you can use to handle the situation, based on advice from specialists.
- Picture Something Else: Imagination is essential. Attempt to link the triggering sound bothering you with something completely different. For instance, try to envision someone's noisy drinking is just a gentle stream. By doing this is to teach your brain that the sound affecting you poses no threat.
- Make it a Game: Have a bit of fun and make the irritating noise into a game with the culprit. For example, if someone is crunching loudly have a go at copying the noise. By mimicking, rather than feeling like the sound is unwanted, you become an engaged person. And the competition element should help redirect your focus and make you a little less affected.
- Develop a Narrative: A further strategy is to try to fabricate an explanation about why the person creating the sound is doing it. For example if someone was sniffing, perhaps they're not at their best or are troubled. The idea is changing the meaning of the sound. Although the sound stays the same, your interpretation of it changes from being aggravating, to feeling a slightly more compassionate towards it.
