Christmas Often Proves to Be a Nightmare for Those with Misophonia.
One young woman anticipates spending time with her relatives over the holidays, but says a primary method she'll cope is by relying on her earplugs - notably for the holiday meal.
For her, Christmas is a notably tough season as the auditory triggers of other people chewing, drinking noisily and breathing heavily trigger extremely uncomfortable.
"There's this feeling of instant dread, my whole body will just freeze and it feels like I'm in danger, and I need to somehow control these triggers."
She has lived with sound sensitivity from a young age and for her that renders the festive season "deeply taxing".
Misophonia is an intense sensitivity to particular auditory triggers, especially noises coming from individuals.
It is prevalent across the population. Researchers reported almost one in five people suffer from it.
Often it's sounds associated with eating or drinking that lead to discomfort, along with things like crunching, breathing, and foot tapping.
A Source of Dread
The sufferer notes: "You encounter so many various auditory triggers at the holidays and that can be stressful and make you fear it.
"My relatives are supportive, but I'm very conscious that I don't want to spoil the mood. It's like a really big battle of sacrificing my own sanity to guarantee the event goes smoothly."
So it's clear why the most wonderful season can transform into a source of agony for affected individuals.
Noises that may be considered normal, like someone drinking champagne, opening presents, or enjoying festive food can cause a strong emotional response that can even result in them withdrawing from gatherings.
She, a university student, who has experienced misophonia from childhood, states currently her plan is to put her earphones in to cope. Typically, she would often retreat in a separate space to avoid problematic noises.
She notes her condition is worse around people she's most comfortable with, so Christmas is always "difficult".
"People assume you to be around family, and I desire to, but it's exhausting on all levels.
"I feel as if this sudden rage washes over me, which can feel awkward, or I'll feel stressed 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 difficult to convey if you haven't felt it."
A Few Techniques to Manage
If it's an issue then there are a few methods you can use to handle the situation, as suggested by experts.
- Picture a Different Scenario: Imagination is crucial. Attempt to link the specific noise affecting you with a neutral concept. As an illustration, try to envision someone's noisy drinking is just a waterfall. The goal is to help your brain learn that the sound triggering you poses no threat.
- Use Humor: Introduce playfulness and turn the annoying sound into a game with the person. For example, if someone is eating noisily have a go at joining in. By mimicking, instead of feeling like the sound is an attack, you become an active participant. And the competition element should help distract your brain and make you slightly more tolerant.
- Craft a Story: One more method is to try to invent a reason about why the person making the noise is having to make that sound. So if someone was sniffing, perhaps they're not at their best or are troubled. The idea is re-framing the context of the sound. While the noise remains identical, your understanding of it changes from being annoying, to feeling a little more neutral towards it.
