Christmas Often Proves to Be a Terrifying Experience for Those with Misophonia.
One young woman anticipates being with her loved ones this Christmas, but notes a key strategy she'll endure is by relying on her noise-cancelling devices - particularly at the main festive feast.
For the 23-year-old, this time of year can be a especially challenging period as the noises of family members munching, slurping and nose-blowing make her feel intense distress.
"I get this feeling of immediate anxiety, my whole body will just tense up and it feels like I'm in peril, and I need to somehow control these triggers."
The individual has lived with this condition since she was 16 and for her that causes the Christmas time "exceptionally stressful".
Misophonia is an intense sensitivity to specific noises, notably sounds produced by other people.
It's surprisingly common in the UK. A study discovered a significant portion of people suffer from it.
Often it's sounds linked to eating or drinking that trigger a reaction, along with examples such as chewing, heavy breathing, and foot tapping.
'Anxiety Inducing'
She explains: "You encounter so many assorted problematic noises at Christmas and that can be daunting and make you want to avoid it.
"My family are understanding, but I'm very aware that I don't want to upset others. It's like a internal conflict of managing my symptoms to make sure others enjoy themselves."
So it's obvious why the supposedly joyous season can quickly turn into a source of agony for those with the condition.
Sounds that may be considered normal, like someone slurping a Buck's fizz, opening presents, or eating the holiday meal can cause a powerful reaction that can even cause them avoiding social settings altogether.
She, a young adult, who has experienced sound sensitivity from childhood, states her strategy is to put her earphones in to cope. On any other day, she would often retreat in a different room to escape problematic noises.
She explains her condition is more intense around people she's most comfortable with, so Christmas is always "difficult".
"People assume you to spend time with family, and I desire to, but it's exhausting on all levels.
"It's like this sudden rage washes over me, which can feel awkward, or I'll feel anxious and immediately start crying and then panic will activate.
"It may seem as if I'm being unreasonable and melodramatic, but it's tough to describe if you haven't felt it."
Several Strategies to Manage
If it's an issue then there are some different techniques you can try to cope the situation, as suggested by experts.
- Picture an Alternative: Creative thinking is key. Work on connecting the particular sound causing distress with a neutral concept. For instance, try to envision someone's slurping is just a gentle stream. This technique is to help your brain learn that the sound affecting you isn't harmful.
- Use Humor: Use lightheartedness and make the irritating noise into a competition with the person. For instance, if someone is crunching loudly try 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 distract your brain and make you somewhat less sensitive.
- Craft a Story: A further strategy is to try to invent a reason about why the person creating the sound is doing it. Imagine if someone was sniffing, it could be that they're not in good health or are troubled. This approach is re-framing the context of the sound. While the noise doesn't change, your interpretation of it shifts from being irritating, to feeling a little more neutral about it.
