Yuletide Transforms Into a Living Hell for Misophonia Sufferers.
A 23-year-old anticipates spending time with her relatives this Christmas, but says one of the only ways she'll cope is by wearing her hearing protection - notably for the main festive feast.
For the 23-year-old, Christmas is a notably tough season as the noises of family members munching, sipping loudly and sniffling cause her intense distress.
"I experience this sensation of instant dread, my whole body will just tighten and it feels like I'm in peril, and I need to somehow control these triggers."
She has suffered from misophonia from a young age and for her that renders the Christmas time "exceptionally stressful".
Misophonia is a reduced tolerance to specific noises, especially noises made by other people.
It is prevalent in the UK. Experts found nearly 20% people suffer from it.
Frequently it's noises connected to eating or drinking that cause distress, along with examples such as chewing, heavy breathing, and repetitive finger tapping.
Triggering Stress
She explains: "I face so many assorted problematic noises at the holidays and that can be stressful and make you fear it.
"My family are aware, but I'm very conscious that I don't want to upset others. It's like a constant struggle of managing my symptoms to guarantee everyone else is happy."
So it's obvious why the most wonderful time of the year can quickly turn into a stressful ordeal for sufferers.
Triggers that may appear innocuous, like someone slurping a Buck's fizz, unwrapping gifts, or enjoying festive food can cause a visceral feeling that can even result in them skipping events entirely.
The student, a young adult, who has experienced sound sensitivity since aged 10, states the approach she intends to use is to listen to music to manage the meal. Typically, she would usually isolate herself in a different room to avoid problematic noises.
She notes her condition is worse around people she's closest to, so the holidays is always "difficult".
"People assume you to socialize with family, and I wish to, but it's physically and mentally challenging.
"I feel as if this intense irritation comes over me, which can feel embarrassing, or I'll feel anxious and immediately start crying and then fight-or-flight will kick in.
"To others it appears as if I'm being unreasonable and overreacting, but it's tough to describe if you haven't felt it."
Several Strategies to Cope
If it's an issue then there are various strategies you can use to handle the situation, based on advice from experts.
- Imagine a Different Scenario: Creative thinking is essential. Attempt to link the specific noise causing distress with an unrelated image. So for example, try to envision someone's slurping is just a waterfall. This technique is to teach your brain that the sound triggering you is neutral.
- Make it a Game: Use lightheartedness and turn the annoying sound into a challenge with the person. As an example, if someone is crunching loudly try mimicking the sound. Through participation, instead of feeling like the sound is unwanted, you become an engaged person. And the game aspect should help redirect your focus and make you slightly more tolerant.
- Craft a Story: 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, maybe they are not in good health or maybe they're upset. The idea is changing the meaning of the sound. Even though the sound stays the same, your interpretation of it moves from being aggravating, to feeling a slightly more compassionate about it.
