The Holiday Season Often Proves to Be a Terrifying Experience for Those with Misophonia.
One young woman hopes for being with her loved ones during the festive period, but admits one of the only ways she'll endure is by using her noise-cancelling devices - especially during the main festive feast.
For the 23-year-old, the holidays can be a especially challenging period as the auditory triggers of people eating, slurping and nose-blowing cause her intense distress.
"I experience this wave of sudden panic, my entire being will just tighten and it as though I'm in peril, and I need to stop these sounds."
The individual has lived with this condition from a young age and for her that renders the festive season "incredibly overwhelming".
Misophonia is an intense sensitivity to specific noises, especially noises made by those around you.
It's surprisingly common in the UK. A study discovered nearly 20% people experience it.
Frequently it's sounds linked to eating or drinking that trigger a reaction, as well as things like chewing, heavy breathing, and repetitive finger tapping.
A Source of Dread
The sufferer notes: "I face so many different triggering sounds at the holidays and that can be anxiety inducing and make you fear it.
"Those close to me are understanding, but I'm very mindful that I don't want to upset others. It's like a constant struggle of managing my symptoms to guarantee others enjoy themselves."
So it's clear why the supposedly joyous time of the year can quickly turn into a living nightmare for those with the condition.
Sounds that may be considered normal, like someone slurping a Buck's fizz, rustling a roll of wrapping paper, or enjoying festive food can provoke a visceral feeling that can even result in them skipping events entirely.
She, a 21-year-old student, who has struggled with sound sensitivity since aged 10, states the approach she intends to use is to listen to music to cope. On any other day, she would often retreat in a quiet area to avoid triggering sounds.
She says her condition is more intense around people she's closest to, so Christmas is always "hard".
"There's an expectation to socialize with loved ones, and I want to, but it's physically and mentally challenging.
"I feel as if this intense irritation washes over me, which can feel embarrassing, or I'll feel panicked and immediately start crying and then panic will kick in.
"To others it appears as if I'm being oversensitive and overreacting, but it's difficult to convey unless you've experienced it."
Several Strategies to Manage
If you suffer then there are a few methods you can use to handle the situation, according to specialists.
- Picture a Different Scenario: Imagination is crucial. Attempt to link the specific noise causing distress with something completely different. As an illustration, try to envision someone's noisy drinking is just a sink draining water. This technique is to retrain your mind that the sound triggering you isn't harmful.
- Use Humor: Have a bit of fun and turn the annoying sound into a competition with the culprit. As an example, if someone is eating noisily attempt joining in. By joining in, instead of feeling like the sound is an attack, you become an active participant. And the competition element should help distract your brain and make you somewhat less sensitive.
- Craft a Story: A further strategy is to try to invent a reason about why the person creating the sound is behaving that way. Imagine if someone was making a nasal sound, maybe they are not in good health or are troubled. This approach is altering the perception of the sound. While the sound stays the same, your reaction of it shifts from being irritating, to feeling a slightly more compassionate about it.
