Yuletide Often Proves to Be a Living Hell for Misophonia Sufferers.
A 23-year-old anticipates seeing her relatives over the holidays, but notes a primary method she'll manage to get through it is by using her earplugs - notably for the holiday meal.
For her, Christmas is a notably tough time as the auditory triggers of people eating, slurping and breathing heavily cause her intense distress.
"I get this wave of sudden panic, my every muscle will just tense up and it seems as if I'm in danger, and I need to manage these sounds."
The individual has lived with this condition for several years and for her that renders the holiday period "deeply taxing".
Misophonia is a decreased threshold to particular auditory triggers, especially noises made by those around you.
It is prevalent amongst adults. Experts reported a significant portion of people experience it.
Typically it's sounds linked to eating or drinking that trigger a reaction, as well as examples such as crunching, breathing, and pen clicking.
'Anxiety Inducing'
The sufferer notes: "I face so many assorted problematic noises at Christmas and that can be anxiety inducing and make you want to avoid it.
"My family are supportive, but I'm very aware that I don't want to make other people feel uncomfortable. It's like a really big battle of sacrificing my own sanity to guarantee others enjoy themselves."
So it's obvious why the supposedly joyous season can transform into a stressful ordeal for sufferers.
Sounds that may seem harmless, like someone sipping a beverage, rustling a roll of wrapping paper, or enjoying festive food can trigger a strong emotional response that can even result in them avoiding social settings altogether.
Jenna, a university student, who has experienced misophonia from childhood, says the approach she intends to use is to put her earphones in to manage the meal. On any other day, she would frequently go in a different room to escape triggering sounds.
She explains her misophonia is more pronounced around people she's most comfortable with, so Christmas is always "challenging".
"There is pressure to be around loved ones, and I desire to, but it's exhausting on all levels.
"The sensation is this sudden rage comes over me, which can feel awkward, or I'll feel panicked and immediately start crying and then fight-or-flight will kick in.
"To others it appears as if I'm being difficult and overreacting, but it's hard to explain without firsthand experience."
A Few Techniques to Handle It
If you suffer then there are a few methods you can use to handle the situation, according to clinical psychologists.
- Visualise an Alternative: Mental imagery is essential. Try to associate the triggering sound bothering you with a neutral concept. As an illustration, try to envision someone's slurping is just a gentle stream. The goal is to help your brain learn that the sound triggering you isn't harmful.
- Try a Competition: Have a bit of fun and turn the annoying sound into a challenge with the culprit. For instance, if someone is eating noisily have a go at mimicking the sound. By joining in, instead of feeling like the sound is an attack, you become an willing part. And the competition element should help redirect your focus and make you a little less affected.
- Craft a Story: Another technique is to try to create a little story about why the person making the noise is behaving that way. So if someone was making a nasal sound, perhaps they're not feeling well or could be emotional. By doing this is re-framing the context of the sound. Although the sound stays the same, your interpretation of it changes from being annoying, to feeling a bit more accepting about it.
