The Holiday Season Transforms Into a Nightmare for Those with Misophonia.
One young woman anticipates spending time with her loved ones this Christmas, but says a key strategy she'll manage to get through it is by wearing her earplugs - particularly at Christmas dinner.
For the 23-year-old, the holidays is a particularly difficult season as the auditory triggers of family members munching, slurping and sniffling cause her intense distress.
"There's this feeling of immediate anxiety, my every muscle will just freeze and it seems as if I'm in peril, and I need to manage these noises."
She has lived with this condition since she was 16 and for her that causes the holiday period "exceptionally stressful".
Misophonia is a decreased threshold to particular auditory triggers, particularly those made by other people.
It is prevalent in the UK. Experts found nearly 20% people experience it.
Typically it's sounds linked to mouth, throat or facial movements that trigger a reaction, including examples such as chewing, heavy breathing, and foot tapping.
'Anxiety Inducing'
The sufferer notes: "I face so many different triggering sounds at Christmas and that can be stressful and make you want to avoid it.
"My family are understanding, but I'm very mindful that I don't want to spoil the mood. It's like a internal conflict of enduring my distress to guarantee everyone else is happy."
So it's obvious why the supposedly joyous time of the year can transform into a stressful ordeal for those with the condition.
Noises that may seem harmless, like someone sipping a beverage, opening presents, or eating the holiday meal can cause a powerful reaction that can even cause them withdrawing from gatherings.
The student, a young adult, who has dealt with misophonia since aged 10, explains currently her plan is to use headphones to cope. On any other day, she would frequently go in a different room to escape distressing triggers.
She explains her condition is more pronounced around people she's most comfortable with, so Christmas is always "difficult".
"There is pressure to be around loved ones, and I want to, but it's exhausting on all levels.
"It's like this intense irritation comes over me, which can feel awkward, or I'll feel anxious and burst into tears and then the stress response will take over.
"To others it appears as if I'm being unreasonable and melodramatic, but it's difficult to convey without firsthand experience."
Several Strategies to Manage
If it's an issue then there are some different techniques you can attempt to manage the situation, according to specialists.
- Visualise an Alternative: Creative thinking is crucial. Attempt to link the particular sound affecting you with an unrelated image. As an illustration, try to envision someone's slurping is just a waterfall. This technique is to help your brain learn that the sound triggering you is neutral.
- Use Humor: Use lightheartedness and turn the annoying sound into a competition involving the source. As an example, if someone is crunching loudly attempt joining in. Through participation, instead of feeling like the sound is unwanted, you become an willing part. And the competition element should help distract your brain and make you slightly more tolerant.
- Craft a Story: Another technique is to try to create a little story about why the person making the noise is behaving that way. For example if someone was making a nasal sound, it could be that they're not at their best or are troubled. The idea is altering the perception of the sound. Even though the noise stays the same, your reaction of it changes from being aggravating, to feeling a little more neutral towards it.
