Yuletide Can Be a Terrifying Experience for Those with Misophonia.
One young woman is looking forward to being with her relatives during the festive period, but admits a key strategy she'll manage to get through it is by using her earplugs - especially during Christmas dinner.
For her, this time of year is a especially challenging season as the noises of other people chewing, slurping and nose-blowing cause her intense distress.
"I experience this wave of instant dread, my whole body will just tense up and it seems as if I'm in danger, and I need to stop these noises."
The individual has experienced sound sensitivity since she was 16 and for her that causes the Christmas time "deeply taxing".
Misophonia is a decreased threshold to certain sounds, notably sounds produced by other people.
It's surprisingly common in the UK. Researchers discovered a significant portion of people experience it.
Typically it's sounds associated with eating or drinking that lead to discomfort, including examples such as crunching, breathing, and repetitive finger tapping.
'Anxiety Inducing'
She explains: "I face so many various auditory triggers at Christmas and that can be stressful and make you fear it.
"My family are supportive, but I'm very conscious that I don't want to upset others. It's like a internal conflict of enduring my distress to ensure everyone else is happy."
So it's obvious why the traditionally happy period can quickly turn into a source of agony for those with the condition.
Sounds that may seem harmless, like someone drinking champagne, unwrapping gifts, or tucking into a Christmas dinner can cause a visceral feeling that can even lead to them skipping events entirely.
She, a university student, who has experienced misophonia for over a decade, states currently her plan is to put her earphones in to cope. Usually, she would usually isolate herself in a quiet area to avoid triggering sounds.
She notes her sensitivity is more pronounced around people she's most comfortable with, so Christmas is always "hard".
"There is pressure to spend time with family, and I want to, but it's physically and mentally challenging.
"The sensation is this sudden rage comes over me, which can feel awkward, or I'll feel anxious and begin to weep and then the stress response will activate.
"It may seem as if I'm being unreasonable and overreacting, but it's hard to explain unless you've experienced it."
A Few Techniques to Cope
If it's an issue then there are various strategies you can attempt to manage the situation, according to clinical psychologists.
- Imagine a Different Scenario: Imagination is crucial. Work on connecting the specific noise causing distress with an unrelated image. For instance, try to picture someone's slurping is just a waterfall. The goal is to retrain your mind that the sound affecting you isn't harmful.
- Try a Competition: Have a bit of fun and turn the annoying sound into a competition with the person. For instance, if someone is crunching loudly try joining in. By joining in, instead of feeling like the sound is an attack, you become an willing part. And the challenge should help redirect your focus and make you somewhat less sensitive.
- Create a Scenario: A further strategy is to try to fabricate an explanation about why the person making the noise is having to make that sound. For example if someone was sniffing, maybe they are not feeling well or could be emotional. By doing this is altering the perception of the sound. Even though the sound doesn't change, your interpretation of it moves from being aggravating, to feeling a slightly more compassionate towards it.
