Yuletide Can Be a Living Hell for Those with Misophonia.
A 23-year-old hopes for spending time with her family during the festive period, but says a primary method she'll cope is by using her earplugs - especially during the main festive feast.
For her, this time of year often feels like a particularly difficult time as the noises of people eating, slurping and breathing heavily make her feel profound anxiety.
"There's this sensation of instant dread, my entire being will just freeze and it as though I'm in a threatening situation, and I need to manage these sounds."
The individual has experienced misophonia for several years and for her that causes the festive season "exceptionally stressful".
Misophonia is a decreased threshold to particular auditory triggers, especially noises coming from individuals.
The condition is widespread amongst adults. Researchers discovered a significant portion of people are affected by it.
Frequently it's sounds associated with eating or drinking that cause distress, including examples such as crunching, heavy breathing, and foot tapping.
A Source of Dread
She explains: "There are so many assorted problematic noises at Christmas and that can be stressful and make you fear it.
"My family are supportive, but I'm very conscious that I don't want to spoil the mood. It's like a really big battle of managing my symptoms to make sure the event goes smoothly."
So it's easy to understand why the most wonderful period can transform into a source of agony for sufferers.
Sounds that may appear innocuous, like someone sipping a beverage, rustling a roll of wrapping paper, or tucking into a Christmas dinner can cause a visceral feeling that can even result in them withdrawing from gatherings.
Jenna, a 21-year-old student, who has experienced misophonia for over a decade, states currently her plan is to listen to music to manage the meal. On any other day, she would usually isolate herself in a quiet area to escape triggering sounds.
She says her misophonia is worse around people she's most familiar with, so Christmas is always "challenging".
"There's an expectation to be around family, and I want to, but it's exhausting on all levels.
"The sensation is this sudden rage comes over me, which can feel embarrassing, or I'll feel stressed and begin to weep and then fight-or-flight will activate.
"To others it appears as if I'm being unreasonable and dramatic, but it's hard to explain if you haven't felt it."
A Few Techniques to Cope
If it's an issue then there are various strategies you can attempt to manage the situation, as suggested by experts.
- Picture an Alternative: Creative thinking is crucial. Try to associate the particular sound affecting you with a neutral concept. So for example, try to envision someone's slurping is just a gentle stream. This technique is to help your brain learn that the sound triggering you isn't harmful.
- Try a Competition: Use lightheartedness and turn the annoying sound into a challenge with the person. As an example, if someone is crunching loudly have a go at joining in. Through participation, rather than feeling like the sound is unwanted, you become an engaged person. And the game aspect should help shift your attention and make you somewhat less sensitive.
- Create a Scenario: One more method is to try to fabricate an explanation about the reason someone creating the sound is doing it. So if someone was sniffing, maybe they are not at their best or maybe they're upset. By doing this is altering the perception of the sound. While the sound doesn't change, your understanding of it shifts from being annoying, to feeling a slightly more compassionate towards it.
