Yuletide Can Be a Terrifying Experience for Those with Misophonia.
A 23-year-old anticipates spending time with her loved ones during the festive period, but says one of the only ways she'll manage to get through it is by using her noise-cancelling devices - especially during Christmas dinner.
For the 23-year-old, this time of year can be a particularly difficult season as the noises of other people chewing, sipping loudly and breathing heavily cause her profound anxiety.
"I experience this wave of instant dread, my whole body will just tighten and it feels like I'm in peril, and I need to stop these sounds."
She has lived with misophonia from a young age and for her that causes the holiday period "exceptionally stressful".
Misophonia is an intense sensitivity to specific noises, especially noises coming from other people.
It's surprisingly common in the UK. Researchers found almost one in five people experience it.
Typically it's sounds associated with bodily functions that lead to discomfort, as well as examples such as crunching, heavy breathing, and pen clicking.
A Source of Dread
She explains: "I face so many various auditory triggers at Christmas and that can be anxiety inducing and make you want to avoid it.
"Those close to me are understanding, but I'm very mindful that I don't want to spoil the mood. It's like a really big battle of managing my symptoms to make sure everyone else is happy."
So it's obvious why the most wonderful time of the year can quickly turn into a stressful ordeal for affected individuals.
Sounds that may be considered normal, like someone slurping a Buck's fizz, unwrapping gifts, or enjoying festive food can trigger a strong emotional response that can even result in them avoiding social settings altogether.
The student, a 21-year-old student, who has struggled with sound sensitivity from childhood, explains her strategy is to put her earphones in to get through dinner. On any other day, she would usually isolate herself in a quiet area to avoid distressing triggers.
She says her condition is more pronounced around people she's closest to, so Christmas is always "challenging".
"People assume you to socialize with loved ones, and I wish to, but it's draining.
"I feel as if this uncontrollable anger washes over me, which can feel awkward, or I'll feel anxious and immediately start crying and then fight-or-flight will take over.
"It may seem as if I'm being difficult and melodramatic, but it's hard to explain if you haven't felt it."
Several Strategies to Cope
If you suffer then there are a few methods you can use to handle the situation, according to specialists.
- Visualise an Alternative: Creative thinking is essential. Work on connecting the triggering sound bothering you with a neutral concept. For instance, try to picture someone's slurping is just a waterfall. By doing this is to teach your brain that the sound triggering 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 crunching loudly try copying the noise. Through participation, instead of feeling like the sound is an attack, you become an active participant. And the game aspect should help distract your brain and make you somewhat less sensitive.
- Develop a Narrative: Another technique is to try to invent a reason about the reason someone making the noise is behaving that way. Imagine if someone was making a nasal sound, perhaps they're not at their best or are troubled. By doing this is altering the perception of the sound. Even though the noise remains identical, your understanding of it changes from being irritating, to feeling a bit more accepting about it.