The Holiday Season Transforms Into a Living Hell for Those with Misophonia.
One young woman anticipates spending time with her loved ones this Christmas, but admits one of the only ways she'll manage to get through it is by relying on her hearing protection - especially during Christmas dinner.
In her case, Christmas often feels like a notably tough time as the noises of people eating, sipping loudly and nose-blowing cause her profound anxiety.
"I experience this feeling of instant dread, my entire being will just freeze and it as though I'm in a threatening situation, and I need to stop these triggers."
She has lived with sound sensitivity since she was 16 and for her that renders the festive season "incredibly overwhelming".
Misophonia is a reduced tolerance to certain sounds, particularly those made by those around you.
It's surprisingly common across the population. A study reported almost one in five people suffer from it.
Often it's noises associated with mouth, throat or facial movements that trigger a reaction, including examples such as crunching, breathing, and foot tapping.
'Anxiety Inducing'
The sufferer notes: "There are so many various auditory triggers at Christmas and that can be daunting and make you fear it.
"My relatives are supportive, but I'm very mindful that I don't want to make other people feel uncomfortable. It's like a really big battle of enduring my distress to ensure the event goes smoothly."
So it's clear why the traditionally happy time of the year can transform into a stressful ordeal for those with the condition.
Triggers that may appear innocuous, like someone sipping a beverage, rustling a roll of wrapping paper, or eating the holiday meal can cause a strong emotional response that can even lead to them withdrawing from gatherings.
She, a university student, who has experienced sound sensitivity since aged 10, states her strategy is to listen to music to cope. Typically, she would often retreat in a different room to minimize problematic noises.
She says her sensitivity is more intense around people she's most comfortable with, so Christmas is always "challenging".
"There's an expectation to socialize with family, and I wish to, but it's draining.
"It's like this uncontrollable anger comes over me, which can feel embarrassing, or I'll feel stressed and burst into tears and then panic will take over.
"It may seem as if I'm being oversensitive and dramatic, but it's difficult to convey if you haven't felt it."
Several Strategies to Handle It
If you suffer then there are some different techniques you can use to handle the situation, as suggested by experts.
- Visualise an Alternative: Creative thinking is essential. Work on connecting the particular sound bothering you with a neutral concept. As an illustration, try to picture someone's noisy drinking is just a gentle stream. The goal is to retrain your mind that the sound affecting you isn't harmful.
- Make it a Game: 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 mimicking, rather than feeling like the sound is unwanted, you become an willing part. And the challenge should help shift your attention and make you a little less affected.
- Develop a Narrative: A further strategy is to try to create a little story about why the person making the noise is having to make that sound. So if someone was making a nasal sound, maybe they are not at their best or are troubled. This approach is re-framing the context of the sound. Even though the noise doesn't change, your understanding of it moves from being irritating, to feeling a slightly more compassionate towards it.
