Christmas Transforms Into a Nightmare for Misophonia Sufferers.
One young woman is looking forward to being with her relatives this Christmas, but says one of the only ways she'll manage to get through it is by relying on her noise-cancelling devices - especially during the main festive feast.
For the 23-year-old, the holidays can be a notably tough period as the auditory triggers of family members munching, sipping loudly and sniffling cause her profound anxiety.
"There's this wave of instant dread, my every muscle will just tighten and it feels like I'm in a threatening situation, and I need to stop these triggers."
The individual has suffered from this condition since she was 16 and for her that renders the festive season "deeply taxing".
Misophonia is a reduced tolerance to certain sounds, notably sounds produced by other people.
It's surprisingly common amongst adults. A study discovered nearly 20% people are affected by it.
Frequently it's sounds connected to mouth, throat or facial movements that trigger a reaction, including examples such as crunching, breathing, and repetitive finger tapping.
'Anxiety Inducing'
She explains: "You encounter so many various auditory triggers at Christmas and that can be stressful and make you fear it.
"Those close to me are understanding, but I'm very conscious that I don't want to make other people feel uncomfortable. It's like a internal conflict of managing my symptoms to ensure everyone else is happy."
So it's obvious why the most wonderful period can quickly turn into a living nightmare for sufferers.
Triggers that may be considered normal, like someone sipping a beverage, opening presents, or enjoying festive food can trigger a powerful reaction that can even result in them withdrawing from gatherings.
She, a young adult, who has experienced misophonia from childhood, explains her strategy is to put her earphones in to manage the meal. Usually, she would usually isolate herself in a separate space to escape problematic noises.
She explains her misophonia is worse around people she's closest to, so the holidays is always "challenging".
"People assume you to socialize with loved ones, and I desire to, but it's physically and mentally challenging.
"It's like this sudden rage comes over me, which can feel shameful, or I'll feel panicked and immediately start crying and then the stress response will activate.
"To others it appears as if I'm being oversensitive and melodramatic, but it's difficult to convey if you haven't felt it."
A Few Techniques to Manage
For those affected then there are various strategies you can attempt to manage the situation, as suggested by clinical psychologists.
- Picture a Different Scenario: Creative thinking is key. Attempt to link the triggering sound bothering you with an unrelated image. For instance, try to picture someone's slurping is just a waterfall. This technique is to teach your brain that the sound triggering you is neutral.
- Try a Competition: Introduce playfulness and turn the annoying sound into a competition with the person. As an example, if someone is crunching loudly have a go at copying the noise. By mimicking, instead of feeling like the sound is unwanted, you become an willing part. And the challenge should help redirect your focus and make you slightly more tolerant.
- Develop a Narrative: One more method is to try to invent a reason about why the person creating the sound is having to make that sound. For example if someone was sniffing, it could be that they're not at their best or are troubled. The idea is re-framing the context of the sound. While the noise remains identical, your understanding of it changes from being irritating, to feeling a little more neutral about it.
