The Holiday Season Often Proves to Be a Nightmare for Those with Misophonia.
One young woman anticipates being with her loved ones over the holidays, but notes one of the only ways she'll manage to get through it is by using her earplugs - notably for the holiday meal.
In her case, the holidays often feels like a especially challenging time as the auditory triggers of family members munching, sipping loudly and sniffling trigger intense distress.
"There's this wave of sudden panic, my whole body will just tense up and it as though I'm in peril, and I need to stop these noises."
The individual has lived with this condition since she was 16 and for her that renders the festive season "deeply taxing".
Misophonia is a decreased threshold to specific noises, especially noises coming from individuals.
The condition is widespread across the population. Experts discovered almost one in five people are affected by it.
Typically it's sounds connected to mouth, throat or facial movements that cause distress, including things like chewing, breathing, and pen clicking.
Triggering Stress
The sufferer notes: "You encounter so many different triggering sounds at the holidays and that can be daunting and make you want to avoid it.
"Those close to me are supportive, but I'm very mindful that I don't want to spoil the mood. It's like a constant struggle of enduring my distress to ensure the event goes smoothly."
So it's obvious why the supposedly joyous period can transform into a stressful ordeal for affected individuals.
Sounds that may seem harmless, like someone slurping a Buck's fizz, opening presents, or eating the holiday meal can cause a strong emotional response that can even lead to them withdrawing from gatherings.
The student, a 21-year-old student, who has dealt with sound sensitivity from childhood, explains currently her plan is to use headphones to manage the meal. Typically, she would frequently go in a different room to minimize problematic noises.
She notes her misophonia is more pronounced around people she's closest to, so Christmas is always "hard".
"There is pressure to spend time with loved ones, and I desire to, but it's exhausting on all levels.
"It's like this sudden rage washes over me, which can feel embarrassing, or I'll feel anxious and immediately start crying and then panic will kick in.
"To others it appears as if I'm being unreasonable and melodramatic, but it's tough to describe if you haven't felt it."
Several Strategies to Manage
If it's an issue then there are a few methods you can attempt to manage the situation, according to experts.
- Imagine an Alternative: Mental imagery is crucial. Try to associate the triggering sound bothering you with a neutral concept. For instance, try to envision someone's slurping is just a gentle stream. The goal is to help your brain learn that the sound affecting you poses no threat.
- Make it a Game: Have a bit of fun and turn the annoying sound into a challenge involving the source. For instance, if someone is crunching loudly try copying the noise. By joining in, rather than feeling like the sound is unwanted, you become an engaged person. And the competition element should help redirect your focus and make you slightly more tolerant.
- Create a Scenario: Another technique is to try to invent a reason about why the person creating the sound is doing it. So if someone was making a nasal sound, maybe they are not at their best or could be emotional. By doing this is changing the meaning of the sound. Even though the noise doesn't change, your reaction of it moves from being irritating, to feeling a slightly more compassionate about it.
