Yuletide Transforms Into a Living Hell for Those with Misophonia.
One young woman hopes for seeing her family over the holidays, but says a key strategy she'll endure is by using her hearing protection - especially during Christmas dinner.
In her case, the holidays often feels like a notably tough period as the noises of other people chewing, sipping loudly and breathing heavily trigger profound anxiety.
"I get this sensation of instant dread, my every muscle will just freeze and it seems as if I'm in danger, and I need to stop these triggers."
The individual has suffered from this condition for several years and for her that makes the festive season "exceptionally stressful".
Misophonia is a decreased threshold to certain sounds, particularly those coming from those around you.
The condition is widespread across the population. Researchers reported a significant portion of people experience it.
Frequently it's sounds connected to eating or drinking that cause distress, as well as things like chewing, breathing, and foot tapping.
'Anxiety Inducing'
The sufferer notes: "I face so many different triggering sounds at Christmas and that can be stressful and make you fear it.
"My relatives are aware, but I'm very aware that I don't want to spoil the mood. It's like a internal conflict of enduring my distress to ensure everyone else is happy."
So it's easy to understand why the traditionally happy time of the year can rapidly become a stressful ordeal for affected individuals.
Sounds that may seem harmless, like someone sipping a beverage, unwrapping gifts, or eating the holiday meal can trigger a strong emotional response that can even cause them skipping events entirely.
She, a 21-year-old student, who has struggled with sound sensitivity from childhood, states her strategy is to put her earphones in to get through dinner. Usually, she would often retreat in a different room to escape distressing triggers.
She explains her misophonia is more pronounced around people she's closest to, so Christmas is always "difficult".
"There's an expectation to spend time with loved ones, and I want to, but it's exhausting on all levels.
"The sensation is this intense irritation comes over me, which can feel shameful, or I'll feel anxious and begin to weep and then fight-or-flight will kick in.
"It may seem as if I'm being difficult and dramatic, but it's tough to describe without firsthand experience."
Three Ways to Cope
If it's an issue then there are various strategies you can attempt to manage the situation, according to experts.
- Picture Something Else: Imagination is key. Attempt to link the specific noise bothering you with an unrelated image. So for example, try to imagine someone's noisy drinking is just a gentle stream. By doing this is to teach your brain that the sound triggering you poses no threat.
- Use Humor: Have a bit of fun and turn the annoying sound into a challenge with the person. For instance, if someone is eating noisily try mimicking the sound. By joining in, instead of feeling like the sound is unwanted, you become an willing part. And the competition element should help distract your brain and make you somewhat less sensitive.
- Craft a Story: One more method is to try to fabricate an explanation about the reason someone making the noise is behaving that way. For example if someone was making a nasal sound, perhaps they're not feeling well or could be emotional. By doing this is re-framing the context of the sound. While the noise doesn't change, your understanding of it moves from being irritating, to feeling a bit more accepting about it.
