Christmas Transforms Into a Terrifying Experience for Those with Misophonia.
One young woman anticipates being with her relatives during the festive period, but notes one of the only ways she'll endure is by using her hearing protection - especially during the holiday meal.
In her case, Christmas is a notably tough period as the sounds of people eating, sipping loudly and sniffling cause her intense distress.
"I experience this wave of instant dread, my entire being will just tighten and it feels like I'm in peril, and I need to manage these noises."
She has experienced this condition from a young age and for her that makes the holiday period "deeply taxing".
Misophonia is a reduced tolerance to specific noises, notably sounds coming from other people.
The condition is widespread in the UK. A study reported a significant portion of people are affected by it.
Often it's noises associated with mouth, throat or facial movements that trigger a reaction, including things like crunching, heavy breathing, and pen clicking.
A Source of Dread
She explains: "I face so many assorted problematic noises at Christmas and that can be anxiety inducing and make you dread it.
"Those close to me are supportive, but I'm very conscious that I don't want to make other people feel uncomfortable. It's like a constant struggle of enduring my distress to make sure others enjoy themselves."
So it's clear why the supposedly joyous season can quickly turn into a living nightmare for sufferers.
Sounds that may be considered normal, like someone drinking champagne, opening presents, or eating the holiday meal can provoke a powerful reaction that can even lead to them withdrawing from gatherings.
She, a 21-year-old student, who has struggled with misophonia since aged 10, explains the approach she intends to use is to put her earphones in to manage the meal. Typically, she would usually isolate herself in a different room to minimize triggering sounds.
She says her condition is more intense around people she's most comfortable with, so Christmas is always "hard".
"There is pressure to socialize with loved ones, and I wish to, but it's physically and mentally challenging.
"The sensation is this uncontrollable anger washes over me, which can feel embarrassing, or I'll feel anxious and begin to weep and then the stress response will kick in.
"It may seem as if I'm being difficult and dramatic, but it's hard to explain if you haven't felt it."
Three Ways to Cope
If you suffer then there are various strategies you can use to handle the situation, as suggested by experts.
- Imagine Something Else: Imagination is key. Work on connecting the particular sound bothering you with something completely different. So for example, try to imagine someone's noisy drinking is just a gentle stream. By doing this is to teach your brain that the sound triggering you poses no threat.
- Make it a Game: Introduce playfulness and turn the annoying sound into a game with the culprit. For example, if someone is crunching loudly have a go at copying the noise. Through participation, rather than feeling like the sound is an attack, you become an active participant. And the game aspect should help redirect your focus and make you slightly more tolerant.
- Craft a Story: One more method is to try to fabricate an explanation about the reason someone creating the sound is having to make that sound. So if someone was making a nasal sound, it could be that they're not feeling well or could be emotional. By doing this is changing the meaning of the sound. Although the noise stays the same, your interpretation of it changes from being irritating, to feeling a slightly more compassionate about it.
