đź”— Share this article Christmas Transforms Into a Terrifying Experience for Misophonia Sufferers. Through experience, people discover methods to try to better manage their condition. A 23-year-old hopes for seeing her relatives during the festive period, but admits a primary method she'll cope is by relying on her hearing protection - especially during the main festive feast. For her, this time of year often feels like a particularly difficult season as the noises of other people chewing, sipping loudly and nose-blowing make her feel extremely uncomfortable. "I get this feeling of sudden panic, my every muscle will just tighten and it as though I'm in peril, and I need to manage these triggers." Lottie has suffered from misophonia since she was 16 and for her that renders the holiday period "exceptionally stressful". Misophonia is an intense sensitivity to specific noises, particularly those made by individuals. It's surprisingly common amongst adults. Researchers found nearly 20% people experience it. Frequently it's noises linked to bodily functions that cause distress, as well as examples such as chewing, heavy breathing, and pen clicking. A Source of Dread Lottie says: "You encounter so many various auditory triggers at the holidays and that can be anxiety inducing and make you dread it. "Those close to me are supportive, but I'm very aware that I don't want to upset others. It's like a internal conflict of sacrificing my own sanity to ensure the event goes smoothly." So it's obvious why the traditionally happy time of the year can rapidly become a stressful ordeal for sufferers. Triggers that may be considered normal, like someone sipping a beverage, rustling a roll of wrapping paper, or enjoying festive food can provoke a powerful reaction that can even lead to them avoiding social settings altogether. Jenna is planning strategies to get her through the family meal. Jenna, a young adult, who has struggled with sound sensitivity from childhood, explains currently her plan is to listen to music to manage the meal. Typically, she would often retreat in a separate space to minimize problematic noises. She notes her misophonia is more pronounced around people she's closest to, so Christmas is always "difficult". "People assume you to spend time with family, and I desire to, but it's exhausting on all levels. "I feel as if this uncontrollable anger washes over me, which can feel embarrassing, or I'll feel anxious and burst into tears and then panic will take over. "It can come across as if I'm being oversensitive and overreacting, but it's hard to explain unless you've experienced it." Several Strategies to Manage For those affected then there are various strategies you can use to handle the situation, as suggested by specialists. Visualise an Alternative: Imagination is essential. Attempt to link the triggering sound causing distress with a neutral concept. For instance, try to imagine someone's slurping is just a gentle stream. By doing this is to help your brain learn that the sound triggering you poses no threat. Use Humor: Use lightheartedness and make the irritating noise into a challenge with the culprit. As an example, if someone is eating noisily have a go at joining in. Through participation, instead of feeling like the sound is unwanted, you become an willing part. And the challenge should help redirect your focus and make you a little less affected. Craft a Story: A further strategy is to try to fabricate an explanation about the reason someone creating the sound is behaving that way. So if someone was sniffing, maybe they are not at their best or are troubled. This approach is altering the perception of the sound. Although the sound remains identical, your reaction of it moves from being irritating, to feeling a slightly more compassionate towards it.
Through experience, people discover methods to try to better manage their condition. A 23-year-old hopes for seeing her relatives during the festive period, but admits a primary method she'll cope is by relying on her hearing protection - especially during the main festive feast. For her, this time of year often feels like a particularly difficult season as the noises of other people chewing, sipping loudly and nose-blowing make her feel extremely uncomfortable. "I get this feeling of sudden panic, my every muscle will just tighten and it as though I'm in peril, and I need to manage these triggers." Lottie has suffered from misophonia since she was 16 and for her that renders the holiday period "exceptionally stressful". Misophonia is an intense sensitivity to specific noises, particularly those made by individuals. It's surprisingly common amongst adults. Researchers found nearly 20% people experience it. Frequently it's noises linked to bodily functions that cause distress, as well as examples such as chewing, heavy breathing, and pen clicking. A Source of Dread Lottie says: "You encounter so many various auditory triggers at the holidays and that can be anxiety inducing and make you dread it. "Those close to me are supportive, but I'm very aware that I don't want to upset others. It's like a internal conflict of sacrificing my own sanity to ensure the event goes smoothly." So it's obvious why the traditionally happy time of the year can rapidly become a stressful ordeal for sufferers. Triggers that may be considered normal, like someone sipping a beverage, rustling a roll of wrapping paper, or enjoying festive food can provoke a powerful reaction that can even lead to them avoiding social settings altogether. Jenna is planning strategies to get her through the family meal. Jenna, a young adult, who has struggled with sound sensitivity from childhood, explains currently her plan is to listen to music to manage the meal. Typically, she would often retreat in a separate space to minimize problematic noises. She notes her misophonia is more pronounced around people she's closest to, so Christmas is always "difficult". "People assume you to spend time with family, and I desire to, but it's exhausting on all levels. "I feel as if this uncontrollable anger washes over me, which can feel embarrassing, or I'll feel anxious and burst into tears and then panic will take over. "It can come across as if I'm being oversensitive and overreacting, but it's hard to explain unless you've experienced it." Several Strategies to Manage For those affected then there are various strategies you can use to handle the situation, as suggested by specialists. Visualise an Alternative: Imagination is essential. Attempt to link the triggering sound causing distress with a neutral concept. For instance, try to imagine someone's slurping is just a gentle stream. By doing this is to help your brain learn that the sound triggering you poses no threat. Use Humor: Use lightheartedness and make the irritating noise into a challenge with the culprit. As an example, if someone is eating noisily have a go at joining in. Through participation, instead of feeling like the sound is unwanted, you become an willing part. And the challenge should help redirect your focus and make you a little less affected. Craft a Story: A further strategy is to try to fabricate an explanation about the reason someone creating the sound is behaving that way. So if someone was sniffing, maybe they are not at their best or are troubled. This approach is altering the perception of the sound. Although the sound remains identical, your reaction of it moves from being irritating, to feeling a slightly more compassionate towards it.