The Holiday Season Can Be a Nightmare for Those with Misophonia.
One young woman is looking forward to spending time with her relatives over the holidays, but admits a primary method she'll cope is by relying on her hearing protection - particularly at the main festive feast.
In her case, the holidays can be a particularly difficult period as the noises of people eating, sipping loudly and nose-blowing trigger intense distress.
"I experience this feeling of sudden panic, my every muscle will just tense up and it seems as if I'm in danger, and I need to somehow control these noises."
The individual has suffered from sound sensitivity since she was 16 and for her that makes the holiday period "exceptionally stressful".
Misophonia is a decreased threshold to certain sounds, especially noises produced by individuals.
It is prevalent in the UK. Experts discovered nearly 20% people are affected by it.
Typically it's noises connected to mouth, throat or facial movements that trigger a reaction, as well as examples such as chewing, heavy breathing, and foot tapping.
A Source of Dread
She explains: "There are so many assorted problematic noises at Christmas and that can be daunting and make you fear it.
"My relatives are aware, but I'm very conscious that I don't want to spoil the mood. It's like a really big battle of enduring my distress to make sure others enjoy themselves."
So it's easy to understand why the supposedly joyous period can rapidly become a living nightmare for sufferers.
Triggers that may be considered normal, like someone slurping a Buck's fizz, rustling a roll of wrapping paper, or eating the holiday meal can provoke a strong emotional response that can even cause them avoiding social settings altogether.
She, a young adult, who has experienced sound sensitivity from childhood, explains currently her plan is to use headphones to cope. Usually, she would usually isolate herself in a different room to escape triggering sounds.
She says her condition 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 desire to, but it's exhausting on all levels.
"The sensation is this sudden rage takes hold, which can feel shameful, or I'll feel anxious and begin to weep and then panic will activate.
"It may seem as if I'm being unreasonable and overreacting, but it's hard to explain if you haven't felt it."
A Few Techniques to Manage
For those affected then there are some different techniques you can attempt to manage the situation, based on advice from specialists.
- Visualise an Alternative: Creative thinking is key. Try to associate the specific noise affecting you with a neutral concept. For instance, try to envision someone's noisy drinking is just a waterfall. The goal is to help your brain learn that the sound affecting you isn't harmful.
- Try a Competition: Have a bit of fun and turn the annoying sound into a game 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 challenge should help distract your brain and make you somewhat less sensitive.
- Develop a Narrative: Another technique is to try to fabricate an explanation about the reason someone creating the sound is having to make that sound. Imagine if someone was sniffing, perhaps they're not feeling well or are troubled. The idea is re-framing the context of the sound. Even though the sound doesn't change, your interpretation of it moves from being annoying, to feeling a little more neutral towards it.
