Christmas Often Proves to Be a Terrifying Experience for Those with Misophonia.
A 23-year-old anticipates seeing her family this Christmas, but notes a key strategy she'll manage to get through it is by using her hearing protection - notably for Christmas dinner.
For her, this time of year can be a particularly difficult time as the auditory triggers of family members munching, sipping loudly and breathing heavily make her feel intense distress.
"I experience this sensation of immediate anxiety, my whole body will just freeze and it feels like I'm in danger, and I need to stop these sounds."
The individual has lived with this condition for several years and for her that makes the Christmas time "exceptionally stressful".
Misophonia is an intense sensitivity to specific noises, especially noises coming from other people.
The condition is widespread across the population. Experts reported nearly 20% people are affected by it.
Frequently it's sounds connected to bodily functions that trigger a reaction, including things like chewing, heavy breathing, and foot tapping.
'Anxiety Inducing'
The sufferer notes: "I face so many various auditory triggers at Christmas and that can be daunting and make you dread it.
"My relatives are aware, but I'm very mindful that I don't want to spoil the mood. It's like a constant struggle of managing my symptoms to ensure the event goes smoothly."
So it's clear why the supposedly joyous period can quickly turn into a source of agony for those with the condition.
Sounds that may appear innocuous, like someone drinking champagne, unwrapping gifts, or enjoying festive food can trigger a strong emotional response that can even cause them withdrawing from gatherings.
She, a 21-year-old student, who has dealt with sound sensitivity from childhood, states currently her plan is to listen to music to cope. Usually, she would frequently go in a separate space to avoid problematic noises.
She explains her condition is worse around people she's most comfortable with, so Christmas is always "challenging".
"There's an expectation to be around family, and I desire to, but it's draining.
"The sensation is this intense irritation washes over me, which can feel embarrassing, or I'll feel panicked and immediately start crying and then the stress response will kick in.
"It may seem as if I'm being unreasonable and melodramatic, but it's tough to describe without firsthand experience."
A Few Techniques to Manage
For those affected then there are various strategies you can try to cope the situation, based on advice from specialists.
- Picture an Alternative: Mental imagery is key. Work on connecting the specific noise bothering you with something completely different. As an illustration, try to imagine someone's slurping is just a gentle stream. By doing this is to help your brain learn that the sound affecting you isn't harmful.
- Try a Competition: Use lightheartedness and turn the annoying sound into a competition with the culprit. For example, if someone is eating noisily try joining in. By joining in, rather than feeling like the sound is an attack, you become an willing part. And the challenge should help distract your brain and make you slightly more tolerant.
- Develop a Narrative: One more method is to try to fabricate an explanation about the reason someone creating the sound is doing it. Imagine if someone was sniffing, perhaps they're not in good health or are troubled. This approach is re-framing the context of the sound. Although the sound remains identical, your interpretation of it shifts from being aggravating, to feeling a bit more accepting towards it.
