The Holiday Season Often Proves to Be a Terrifying Experience for Those with Misophonia.
One young woman hopes for being with her relatives over the holidays, but says one of the only ways she'll endure is by wearing her earplugs - especially during the main festive feast.
For her, this time of year can be a particularly difficult season as the sounds of people eating, drinking noisily and sniffling trigger intense distress.
"I get this feeling of immediate anxiety, my entire being will just freeze and it seems as if I'm in a threatening situation, and I need to somehow control these noises."
She has experienced this condition for several years and for her that makes the holiday period "deeply taxing".
Misophonia is an intense sensitivity to certain sounds, particularly those coming from other people.
It is prevalent in the UK. Researchers reported a significant portion of people suffer from it.
Often it's sounds associated with eating or drinking that trigger a reaction, including examples such as crunching, breathing, and foot tapping.
Triggering Stress
The sufferer notes: "You encounter so many different triggering sounds at Christmas 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 upset others. It's like a really big battle of managing my symptoms to make sure others enjoy themselves."
So it's clear why the most wonderful period can quickly turn into a source of agony for those with the condition.
Triggers that may be considered normal, like someone drinking champagne, unwrapping gifts, or eating the holiday meal can provoke a strong emotional response that can even cause them skipping events entirely.
The student, a 21-year-old student, who has dealt with misophonia since aged 10, says her strategy is to put her earphones in to manage the meal. Usually, she would often retreat in a separate space to escape problematic noises.
She explains her sensitivity is more intense around people she's most comfortable with, so the holidays is always "challenging".
"There's an expectation to be around loved ones, and I desire to, but it's physically and mentally challenging.
"I feel as if this sudden rage comes over me, which can feel shameful, or I'll feel stressed and immediately start crying and then the stress response will kick in.
"It can come across as if I'm being difficult and melodramatic, but it's hard to explain if you haven't felt it."
Three Ways to Manage
If you suffer then there are a few methods you can use to handle the situation, based on advice from specialists.
- Visualise a Different Scenario: Mental imagery is key. Attempt to link the particular sound affecting you with a neutral concept. For instance, try to imagine someone's slurping is just a sink draining water. By doing this is to teach your brain that the sound affecting you poses no threat.
- Make it a Game: Have a bit of fun and make the irritating noise into a challenge with the person. As an example, if someone is eating noisily try copying the noise. Through participation, rather than feeling like the sound is unwanted, you become an active participant. And the game aspect should help redirect your focus and make you slightly more tolerant.
- Develop a Narrative: A further strategy is to try to create a little story about the reason someone creating the sound is behaving that way. For example if someone was making a nasal sound, it could be that they're not in good health or maybe they're upset. The idea is changing the meaning of the sound. While the noise remains identical, your understanding of it shifts from being irritating, to feeling a slightly more compassionate about it.
