The Holiday Season Transforms Into a Living Hell for Misophonia Sufferers.
One young woman hopes for being with her family this Christmas, but says a key strategy she'll endure is by wearing her earplugs - particularly at the main festive feast.
For the 23-year-old, the holidays can be a particularly difficult season as the auditory triggers of other people chewing, sipping loudly and breathing heavily cause her intense distress.
"There's this sensation of instant dread, my every muscle will just tighten and it as though I'm in danger, and I need to manage these noises."
The individual has lived with sound sensitivity for several years and for her that renders the holiday period "exceptionally stressful".
Misophonia is an intense sensitivity to specific noises, particularly those made by those around you.
It is prevalent amongst adults. Experts found almost one in five people suffer from it.
Frequently it's sounds connected to eating or drinking that lead to discomfort, including things like chewing, breathing, and repetitive finger tapping.
'Anxiety Inducing'
She explains: "I face so many assorted problematic noises at the holidays and that can be stressful and make you want to avoid it.
"Those close to me are supportive, but I'm very conscious that I don't want to upset others. It's like a constant struggle of sacrificing my own sanity to ensure others enjoy themselves."
So it's obvious why the traditionally happy time of the year can rapidly become a stressful ordeal for sufferers.
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 lead to them avoiding social settings altogether.
Jenna, a university student, who has experienced misophonia since aged 10, states the approach she intends to use is to listen to music to cope. On any other day, she would usually isolate herself in a separate space to avoid triggering sounds.
She notes her sensitivity is more intense around people she's most familiar with, so Christmas is always "difficult".
"There's an expectation to socialize with family, and I desire to, but it's physically and mentally challenging.
"The sensation is this intense irritation takes hold, which can feel awkward, or I'll feel anxious and begin to weep and then panic will take over.
"It may seem as if I'm being oversensitive and dramatic, but it's hard to explain if you haven't felt it."
A Few Techniques to Manage
For those affected then there are some different techniques you can try to cope the situation, as suggested by specialists.
- Visualise Something Else: Imagination is crucial. Attempt to link the triggering sound affecting you with a neutral concept. As an illustration, try to envision someone's noisy drinking is just a gentle stream. By doing this is to help your brain learn that the sound triggering you is neutral.
- Make it a Game: Have a bit of fun and make the irritating noise into a game with the culprit. For example, if someone is eating noisily 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 competition element should help shift your attention and make you a little less affected.
- Craft a Story: Another technique is to try to invent a reason about the reason someone making the noise is doing it. So if someone was sniffing, it could be that they're not in good health or maybe they're upset. The idea is re-framing the context of the sound. Even though the noise stays the same, your interpretation of it changes from being aggravating, to feeling a little more neutral about it.
