Christmas Transforms Into a Living Hell for Misophonia Sufferers.
One young woman anticipates spending time with her relatives during the festive period, but notes a key strategy she'll endure is by wearing her earplugs - notably for the holiday meal.
For her, the holidays can be a particularly difficult time as the auditory triggers of people eating, slurping and sniffling trigger intense distress.
"I experience this feeling of immediate anxiety, my entire being will just freeze and it as though I'm in danger, and I need to somehow control these noises."
She has experienced sound sensitivity since she was 16 and for her that makes the festive season "exceptionally stressful".
Misophonia is a decreased threshold to certain sounds, particularly those made by those around you.
It's surprisingly common in the UK. Experts discovered a significant portion of people suffer from it.
Often it's noises connected to mouth, throat or facial movements that lead to discomfort, along with things like chewing, breathing, and foot tapping.
'Anxiety Inducing'
She explains: "There are so many different triggering sounds at the holidays and that can be daunting and make you fear it.
"My family are aware, but I'm very aware that I don't want to make other people feel uncomfortable. It's like a really big battle of sacrificing my own sanity to make sure the event goes smoothly."
So it's clear why the most wonderful period can rapidly become a source of agony for affected individuals.
Triggers that may appear innocuous, like someone drinking champagne, opening presents, or tucking into a Christmas dinner can provoke a strong emotional response that can even result in them avoiding social settings altogether.
The student, a young adult, who has experienced sound sensitivity from childhood, states her strategy is to listen to music to get through dinner. Usually, she would frequently go in a separate space to escape triggering sounds.
She explains her condition is worse around people she's most comfortable with, so Christmas is always "hard".
"There is pressure to be around family, and I want to, but it's draining.
"I feel as if this sudden rage washes over me, which can feel embarrassing, or I'll feel anxious and immediately start crying and then panic will take over.
"It can come across as if I'm being oversensitive and melodramatic, but it's difficult to convey unless you've experienced it."
Three Ways to Handle It
For those affected then there are some different techniques you can use to handle the situation, according to experts.
- Visualise Something Else: Imagination is key. Attempt to link the triggering sound causing distress with an unrelated image. For instance, try to imagine someone's slurping is just a sink draining water. This technique is to retrain your mind that the sound triggering you poses no threat.
- Try a Competition: Use lightheartedness and make the irritating noise into a game with the person. For example, if someone is crunching loudly have a go at mimicking the sound. By joining in, instead of feeling like the sound is being imposed on you, you become an willing part. And the game aspect should help redirect your focus and make you a little less affected.
- Develop a Narrative: Another technique is to try to fabricate an explanation about the reason someone creating the sound is having to make that sound. For example if someone was sniffing, perhaps they're not in good health or are troubled. The idea is altering the perception of the sound. While the sound doesn't change, your interpretation of it shifts from being aggravating, to feeling a little more neutral towards it.
