The Holiday Season Can Be a Living Hell for Those with Misophonia.
One young woman anticipates seeing her family during the festive period, but notes one of the only ways she'll cope is by using her noise-cancelling devices - especially during the main festive feast.
In her case, the holidays often feels like a notably tough season as the noises of people eating, slurping and breathing heavily make her feel extremely uncomfortable.
"I get this sensation of instant dread, my entire being will just freeze and it feels like 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 causes the festive season "exceptionally stressful".
Misophonia is a reduced tolerance to certain sounds, notably sounds produced by individuals.
The condition is widespread amongst adults. A study reported a significant portion of people experience it.
Typically it's sounds associated with mouth, throat or facial movements that cause distress, as well as examples such as chewing, heavy breathing, and pen clicking.
'Anxiety Inducing'
The sufferer notes: "There are so many assorted problematic noises at the holidays and that can be anxiety inducing and make you want to avoid it.
"My relatives are aware, but I'm very conscious that I don't want to upset others. It's like a really big battle of enduring my distress to ensure everyone else is happy."
So it's obvious why the most wonderful period can transform into a stressful ordeal for those with the condition.
Triggers that may seem harmless, like someone drinking champagne, unwrapping gifts, or enjoying festive food can cause a strong emotional response that can even lead to them skipping events entirely.
The student, a university student, who has struggled with misophonia since aged 10, says currently her plan is to listen to music to cope. Typically, she would often retreat in a quiet area to minimize problematic noises.
She notes her condition is worse around people she's closest to, so Christmas is always "challenging".
"People assume you to socialize with loved ones, and I desire to, but it's exhausting on all levels.
"It's like this sudden rage comes over me, which can feel shameful, or I'll feel panicked and immediately start crying and then fight-or-flight will take over.
"To others it appears as if I'm being oversensitive and melodramatic, but it's difficult to convey unless you've experienced it."
Three Ways to Cope
If you suffer then there are a few methods you can try to cope the situation, as suggested by experts.
- Picture a Different Scenario: Creative thinking is essential. Work on connecting the triggering sound bothering you with an unrelated image. For instance, try to picture someone's slurping is just a waterfall. This technique is to retrain your mind that the sound affecting you is neutral.
- Try a Competition: Use lightheartedness and turn the annoying sound into a game with the culprit. For example, if someone is crunching loudly attempt joining in. By joining in, instead of feeling like the sound is unwanted, you become an engaged person. And the game aspect should help redirect your focus and make you somewhat less sensitive.
- Craft a Story: 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 are troubled. The idea is changing the meaning of the sound. While the noise doesn't change, your reaction of it moves from being annoying, to feeling a bit more accepting about it.
