Yuletide Transforms Into a Nightmare for Those with Misophonia.
One young woman is looking forward to seeing her loved ones this Christmas, but says a primary method she'll cope is by relying on her noise-cancelling devices - notably for the main festive feast.
In her case, Christmas is a particularly difficult season as the noises of other people chewing, sipping loudly and breathing heavily make her feel extremely uncomfortable.
"I get this wave of sudden panic, my entire being will just tighten and it as though I'm in danger, and I need to manage these sounds."
She has lived with sound sensitivity since she was 16 and for her that makes the Christmas time "exceptionally stressful".
Misophonia is an intense sensitivity to particular auditory triggers, notably sounds produced by other people.
It's surprisingly common amongst adults. A study reported almost one in five people are affected by it.
Frequently it's noises connected to mouth, throat or facial movements that cause distress, as well as things like chewing, breathing, and repetitive finger tapping.
A Source of Dread
She explains: "I face so many various auditory triggers at Christmas and that can be anxiety inducing and make you dread it.
"Those close to me are understanding, 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 ensure the event goes smoothly."
So it's easy to understand why the most wonderful time of the year can quickly turn into a stressful ordeal for affected individuals.
Sounds that may appear innocuous, like someone slurping a Buck's fizz, rustling a roll of wrapping paper, or enjoying festive food can trigger a powerful reaction that can even cause them withdrawing from gatherings.
The student, a young adult, who has dealt with sound sensitivity since aged 10, says currently her plan is to use headphones to cope. Typically, she would often retreat in a separate space to avoid problematic noises.
She says her misophonia is worse around people she's closest to, so the holidays is always "difficult".
"There's an expectation to socialize with loved ones, and I wish to, but it's physically and mentally challenging.
"It's like this intense irritation comes over me, which can feel awkward, or I'll feel panicked and immediately start crying and then the stress response will take over.
"It may seem as if I'm being difficult and overreacting, but it's tough to describe if you haven't felt it."
Three Ways to Cope
If you suffer then there are some different techniques you can attempt to manage the situation, according to experts.
- Visualise an Alternative: Creative thinking is essential. Attempt to link the specific noise affecting you with an unrelated image. So for example, try to imagine someone's noisy drinking is just a waterfall. The goal is to teach your brain that the sound affecting you is neutral.
- Try a Competition: Use lightheartedness and turn the annoying sound into a competition with the culprit. As an example, if someone is crunching loudly try copying the noise. By mimicking, instead of feeling like the sound is unwanted, you become an engaged person. And the game aspect should help shift your attention and make you a little less affected.
- Craft a Story: A further strategy is to try to fabricate an explanation about why the person making the noise is doing it. So if someone was making a nasal sound, perhaps they're not feeling well or maybe they're upset. The idea is changing the meaning of the sound. While the noise stays the same, your interpretation of it shifts from being irritating, to feeling a slightly more compassionate about it.
