Yuletide Can Be a Nightmare for Misophonia Sufferers.
A 23-year-old is looking forward to being with her family this Christmas, but admits one of the only ways she'll cope is by wearing her earplugs - especially during Christmas dinner.
In her case, this time of year is a notably tough season as the noises of other people chewing, slurping and sniffling trigger extremely uncomfortable.
"I experience this sensation of sudden panic, my whole body will just tighten and it seems as if I'm in peril, and I need to stop these noises."
The individual has suffered from misophonia from a young age and for her that renders the holiday period "exceptionally stressful".
Misophonia is a reduced tolerance to specific noises, particularly those coming from those around you.
The condition is widespread in the UK. Experts found almost one in five people suffer from it.
Typically it's sounds connected to mouth, throat or facial movements that trigger a reaction, along with examples such as crunching, breathing, and repetitive finger tapping.
A Source of Dread
The sufferer notes: "You encounter so many assorted problematic noises at the holidays and that can be stressful and make you dread it.
"Those close to me are aware, but I'm very conscious that I don't want to upset others. It's like a really big battle of managing my symptoms to make sure the event goes smoothly."
So it's clear why the most wonderful period can quickly turn into a source of agony for those with the condition.
Sounds that may be considered normal, like someone slurping a Buck's fizz, rustling a roll of wrapping paper, or eating the holiday meal can trigger a visceral feeling that can even result in them avoiding social settings altogether.
Jenna, a 21-year-old student, who has experienced misophonia for over a decade, states currently her plan is to listen to music to cope. Usually, she would frequently go in a quiet area to escape triggering sounds.
She notes her sensitivity is more intense around people she's most familiar with, so the holidays is always "challenging".
"People assume you to be around family, and I desire to, but it's physically and mentally challenging.
"The sensation is this intense irritation comes over me, which can feel embarrassing, or I'll feel stressed and burst into tears and then the stress response will take over.
"To others it appears as if I'm being difficult and melodramatic, but it's hard to explain without firsthand experience."
A Few Techniques to Cope
If you suffer then there are various strategies you can try to cope the situation, as suggested by specialists.
- Picture an Alternative: Imagination is essential. Try to associate the triggering sound causing distress with a neutral concept. For instance, try to envision someone's noisy drinking is just a waterfall. The goal is to help your brain learn that the sound affecting you is neutral.
- Use Humor: Have a bit of fun and make the irritating noise into a competition with the person. For example, if someone is eating noisily attempt joining in. By mimicking, 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: One more method is to try to invent a reason about the reason someone creating the sound is doing it. Imagine if someone was making a nasal sound, it could be that they're not feeling well or are troubled. The idea is changing the meaning of the sound. Even though the noise remains identical, your understanding of it moves from being aggravating, to feeling a bit more accepting towards it.
