🔗 Share this article Yuletide Transforms Into a Living Hell for Those with Misophonia. Over the years, sufferers develop ways to try to better manage their misophonia. One young woman is looking forward to seeing her family this Christmas, but says one of the only ways she'll cope is by relying on her earplugs - especially during the main festive feast. For the 23-year-old, this time of year is a notably tough time as the sounds of family members munching, sipping loudly and sniffling make her feel extremely uncomfortable. "I get this sensation of instant dread, my whole body will just freeze and it seems as if I'm in peril, and I need to stop these sounds." She has suffered from misophonia from a young age and for her that renders the festive season "incredibly overwhelming". Misophonia is an intense sensitivity to certain sounds, particularly those coming from other people. The condition is widespread amongst adults. Experts found almost one in five people are affected by it. Typically it's sounds connected to mouth, throat or facial movements that cause distress, as well as things like chewing, breathing, and repetitive finger tapping. 'Anxiety Inducing' The sufferer notes: "I face so many various auditory triggers at Christmas and that can be daunting and make you dread it. "Those close to me are aware, but I'm very mindful that I don't want to make other people feel uncomfortable. It's like a really big battle of sacrificing my own sanity to guarantee the event goes smoothly." So it's obvious why the most wonderful time of the year can quickly turn into a source of agony for affected individuals. Triggers that may be considered normal, like someone slurping a Buck's fizz, unwrapping gifts, or tucking into a Christmas dinner can provoke a powerful reaction that can even result in them withdrawing from gatherings. A 21-year-old student is already thinking about coping mechanisms to get her through the family meal. Jenna, a young adult, who has struggled with sound sensitivity from childhood, states her strategy is to listen to music to cope. Usually, she would often retreat in a separate space to escape triggering sounds. She explains her sensitivity is worse around people she's closest to, so the holidays is always "hard". "There is pressure to spend time with family, and I want to, but it's exhausting on all levels. "I feel as if this intense irritation comes over me, which can feel embarrassing, or I'll feel anxious and burst into tears and then fight-or-flight will activate. "It may seem as if I'm being oversensitive and dramatic, but it's difficult to convey without firsthand experience." Three Ways to Cope If it's an issue then there are a few methods you can try to cope the situation, according to clinical psychologists. Visualise a Different Scenario: Imagination is crucial. Try to associate the triggering sound affecting you with something completely different. So for example, try to envision someone's noisy drinking is just a waterfall. This technique is to teach your brain that the sound affecting you is neutral. Use Humor: Introduce playfulness and make the irritating noise into a challenge with the culprit. For instance, if someone is crunching loudly have a go at joining in. Through participation, instead of feeling like the sound is being imposed on you, you become an active participant. And the challenge should help shift your attention and make you somewhat less sensitive. Create a Scenario: Another technique is to try to create a little story about why the person making the noise is behaving that way. Imagine if someone was sniffing, perhaps they're not feeling well or could be emotional. By doing this is altering the perception of the sound. Even though the noise remains identical, your understanding of it shifts from being annoying, to feeling a slightly more compassionate towards it.
Over the years, sufferers develop ways to try to better manage their misophonia. One young woman is looking forward to seeing her family this Christmas, but says one of the only ways she'll cope is by relying on her earplugs - especially during the main festive feast. For the 23-year-old, this time of year is a notably tough time as the sounds of family members munching, sipping loudly and sniffling make her feel extremely uncomfortable. "I get this sensation of instant dread, my whole body will just freeze and it seems as if I'm in peril, and I need to stop these sounds." She has suffered from misophonia from a young age and for her that renders the festive season "incredibly overwhelming". Misophonia is an intense sensitivity to certain sounds, particularly those coming from other people. The condition is widespread amongst adults. Experts found almost one in five people are affected by it. Typically it's sounds connected to mouth, throat or facial movements that cause distress, as well as things like chewing, breathing, and repetitive finger tapping. 'Anxiety Inducing' The sufferer notes: "I face so many various auditory triggers at Christmas and that can be daunting and make you dread it. "Those close to me are aware, but I'm very mindful that I don't want to make other people feel uncomfortable. It's like a really big battle of sacrificing my own sanity to guarantee the event goes smoothly." So it's obvious why the most wonderful time of the year can quickly turn into a source of agony for affected individuals. Triggers that may be considered normal, like someone slurping a Buck's fizz, unwrapping gifts, or tucking into a Christmas dinner can provoke a powerful reaction that can even result in them withdrawing from gatherings. A 21-year-old student is already thinking about coping mechanisms to get her through the family meal. Jenna, a young adult, who has struggled with sound sensitivity from childhood, states her strategy is to listen to music to cope. Usually, she would often retreat in a separate space to escape triggering sounds. She explains her sensitivity is worse around people she's closest to, so the holidays is always "hard". "There is pressure to spend time with family, and I want to, but it's exhausting on all levels. "I feel as if this intense irritation comes over me, which can feel embarrassing, or I'll feel anxious and burst into tears and then fight-or-flight will activate. "It may seem as if I'm being oversensitive and dramatic, but it's difficult to convey without firsthand experience." Three Ways to Cope If it's an issue then there are a few methods you can try to cope the situation, according to clinical psychologists. Visualise a Different Scenario: Imagination is crucial. Try to associate the triggering sound affecting you with something completely different. So for example, try to envision someone's noisy drinking is just a waterfall. This technique is to teach your brain that the sound affecting you is neutral. Use Humor: Introduce playfulness and make the irritating noise into a challenge with the culprit. For instance, if someone is crunching loudly have a go at joining in. Through participation, instead of feeling like the sound is being imposed on you, you become an active participant. And the challenge should help shift your attention and make you somewhat less sensitive. Create a Scenario: Another technique is to try to create a little story about why the person making the noise is behaving that way. Imagine if someone was sniffing, perhaps they're not feeling well or could be emotional. By doing this is altering the perception of the sound. Even though the noise remains identical, your understanding of it shifts from being annoying, to feeling a slightly more compassionate towards it.