🔗 Share this article Christmas Transforms Into a Nightmare for Those with Misophonia. Over the years, individuals discover methods to cope with their condition. A 23-year-old is looking forward to seeing her loved ones this Christmas, but notes a primary method she'll manage to get through it is by using her earplugs - especially during the main festive feast. In her case, the holidays often feels like a notably tough season as the noises of people eating, sipping loudly and breathing heavily trigger intense distress. "I get this sensation of immediate anxiety, my entire being will just tighten and it seems as if I'm in peril, and I need to somehow control these sounds." The individual has experienced misophonia since she was 16 and for her that makes the Christmas time "deeply taxing". Misophonia is a decreased threshold to specific noises, especially noises made by other people. It's surprisingly common across the population. Researchers found almost one in five people are affected by it. Often it's sounds associated with mouth, throat or facial movements that trigger a reaction, as well as things like chewing, breathing, and repetitive finger tapping. A Source of Dread The sufferer notes: "You encounter so many various auditory triggers at the holidays and that can be stressful and make you want to avoid it. "Those close to me are aware, but I'm very conscious that I don't want to spoil the mood. It's like a really big battle of sacrificing my own sanity to make sure others enjoy themselves." So it's clear why the supposedly joyous period can quickly turn into a stressful ordeal for affected individuals. Noises that may appear innocuous, like someone sipping a beverage, opening presents, or tucking into a Christmas dinner can trigger a visceral feeling that can even lead to them avoiding social settings altogether. Jenna is already thinking about coping mechanisms to help her during the family meal. The student, a 21-year-old student, who has struggled with sound sensitivity from childhood, explains the approach she intends to use is to put her earphones in to get through dinner. Typically, she would usually isolate herself in a separate space to minimize problematic noises. She explains her condition is worse around people she's most familiar with, so Christmas is always "hard". "People assume you to spend time with family, and I desire to, but it's physically and mentally challenging. "The sensation is this intense irritation takes hold, which can feel shameful, or I'll feel anxious and burst into tears and then fight-or-flight will take over. "It can come across as if I'm being oversensitive and overreacting, but it's hard to explain if you haven't felt it." A Few Techniques to Manage If it's an issue then there are some different techniques you can use to handle the situation, based on advice from specialists. Imagine an Alternative: Imagination is essential. Attempt to link the triggering sound causing distress with something completely different. So for example, try to envision someone's noisy drinking is just a waterfall. By doing this is to help your brain learn that the sound triggering you is neutral. Use Humor: Use lightheartedness and make the irritating noise into a challenge with the culprit. For example, if someone is crunching loudly have a go at joining in. By mimicking, rather than feeling like the sound is being imposed on you, you become an willing part. And the challenge should help shift your attention and make you slightly more tolerant. Develop a Narrative: A further strategy is to try to invent a reason about why the person making the noise is doing it. So if someone was sniffing, perhaps they're not feeling well or could be emotional. This approach is re-framing the context of the sound. While the sound doesn't change, your understanding of it changes from being annoying, to feeling a little more neutral about it.
Over the years, individuals discover methods to cope with their condition. A 23-year-old is looking forward to seeing her loved ones this Christmas, but notes a primary method she'll manage to get through it is by using her earplugs - especially during the main festive feast. In her case, the holidays often feels like a notably tough season as the noises of people eating, sipping loudly and breathing heavily trigger intense distress. "I get this sensation of immediate anxiety, my entire being will just tighten and it seems as if I'm in peril, and I need to somehow control these sounds." The individual has experienced misophonia since she was 16 and for her that makes the Christmas time "deeply taxing". Misophonia is a decreased threshold to specific noises, especially noises made by other people. It's surprisingly common across the population. Researchers found almost one in five people are affected by it. Often it's sounds associated with mouth, throat or facial movements that trigger a reaction, as well as things like chewing, breathing, and repetitive finger tapping. A Source of Dread The sufferer notes: "You encounter so many various auditory triggers at the holidays and that can be stressful and make you want to avoid it. "Those close to me are aware, but I'm very conscious that I don't want to spoil the mood. It's like a really big battle of sacrificing my own sanity to make sure others enjoy themselves." So it's clear why the supposedly joyous period can quickly turn into a stressful ordeal for affected individuals. Noises that may appear innocuous, like someone sipping a beverage, opening presents, or tucking into a Christmas dinner can trigger a visceral feeling that can even lead to them avoiding social settings altogether. Jenna is already thinking about coping mechanisms to help her during the family meal. The student, a 21-year-old student, who has struggled with sound sensitivity from childhood, explains the approach she intends to use is to put her earphones in to get through dinner. Typically, she would usually isolate herself in a separate space to minimize problematic noises. She explains her condition is worse around people she's most familiar with, so Christmas is always "hard". "People assume you to spend time with family, and I desire to, but it's physically and mentally challenging. "The sensation is this intense irritation takes hold, which can feel shameful, or I'll feel anxious and burst into tears and then fight-or-flight will take over. "It can come across as if I'm being oversensitive and overreacting, but it's hard to explain if you haven't felt it." A Few Techniques to Manage If it's an issue then there are some different techniques you can use to handle the situation, based on advice from specialists. Imagine an Alternative: Imagination is essential. Attempt to link the triggering sound causing distress with something completely different. So for example, try to envision someone's noisy drinking is just a waterfall. By doing this is to help your brain learn that the sound triggering you is neutral. Use Humor: Use lightheartedness and make the irritating noise into a challenge with the culprit. For example, if someone is crunching loudly have a go at joining in. By mimicking, rather than feeling like the sound is being imposed on you, you become an willing part. And the challenge should help shift your attention and make you slightly more tolerant. Develop a Narrative: A further strategy is to try to invent a reason about why the person making the noise is doing it. So if someone was sniffing, perhaps they're not feeling well or could be emotional. This approach is re-framing the context of the sound. While the sound doesn't change, your understanding of it changes from being annoying, to feeling a little more neutral about it.