🔗 Share this article The Holiday Season Often Proves to Be a Terrifying Experience for Misophonia Sufferers. Over the years, people develop ways to handle their condition. One young woman hopes for being with her relatives during the festive period, but notes a primary method she'll cope is by wearing her earplugs - notably for the main festive feast. In her case, the holidays often feels like a notably tough period as the noises of other people chewing, sipping loudly and nose-blowing trigger extremely uncomfortable. "There's this feeling of immediate anxiety, my every muscle will just freeze and it feels like I'm in peril, and I need to stop these sounds." The individual has lived with this condition for several years and for her that causes the Christmas time "deeply taxing". Misophonia is an intense sensitivity to particular auditory triggers, particularly those made by individuals. It is prevalent amongst adults. A study found nearly 20% people suffer from it. Often it's noises connected to bodily functions that cause distress, including things like crunching, breathing, and pen clicking. 'Anxiety Inducing' She explains: "There are so many various auditory triggers at the holidays and that can be anxiety inducing and make you fear it. "My relatives are supportive, but I'm very mindful that I don't want to spoil the mood. It's like a internal conflict of sacrificing my own sanity to guarantee the event goes smoothly." So it's easy to understand why the traditionally happy season can quickly turn into a source of agony for sufferers. Sounds that may be considered normal, like someone slurping a Buck's fizz, rustling a roll of wrapping paper, or enjoying festive food can trigger a powerful reaction that can even lead to them avoiding social settings altogether. Another individual is considering strategies to help her during the holiday dinner. Jenna, a 21-year-old student, who has dealt with sound sensitivity since aged 10, states the approach she intends to use is to use headphones to get through dinner. Typically, she would usually isolate herself in a separate space to escape distressing triggers. She notes her sensitivity is more pronounced around people she's most familiar with, so Christmas is always "challenging". "There is pressure to socialize with loved ones, and I wish to, but it's physically and mentally challenging. "I feel as if this intense irritation washes over me, which can feel shameful, or I'll feel stressed and burst into tears and then fight-or-flight will take over. "It may seem as if I'm being unreasonable and dramatic, but it's tough to describe unless you've experienced it." Several Strategies to Cope If it's an issue then there are various strategies you can use to handle the situation, as suggested by experts. Imagine an Alternative: Imagination is crucial. Attempt to link the particular sound causing distress with an unrelated image. For instance, try to imagine someone's noisy drinking is just a waterfall. By doing this is to teach your brain that the sound triggering you poses no threat. Use Humor: Have a bit of fun and turn the annoying sound into a challenge involving the source. As an example, if someone is crunching loudly try copying the noise. By joining in, rather than feeling like the sound is being imposed on you, you become an willing part. And the game aspect should help redirect your focus and make you somewhat less sensitive. Craft a Story: A further strategy is to try to invent a reason about why the person making the noise is having to make that sound. For example if someone was sniffing, it could be that they're not feeling well or could be emotional. The idea is altering the perception of the sound. Although the sound stays the same, your interpretation of it moves from being aggravating, to feeling a slightly more compassionate towards it.
Over the years, people develop ways to handle their condition. One young woman hopes for being with her relatives during the festive period, but notes a primary method she'll cope is by wearing her earplugs - notably for the main festive feast. In her case, the holidays often feels like a notably tough period as the noises of other people chewing, sipping loudly and nose-blowing trigger extremely uncomfortable. "There's this feeling of immediate anxiety, my every muscle will just freeze and it feels like I'm in peril, and I need to stop these sounds." The individual has lived with this condition for several years and for her that causes the Christmas time "deeply taxing". Misophonia is an intense sensitivity to particular auditory triggers, particularly those made by individuals. It is prevalent amongst adults. A study found nearly 20% people suffer from it. Often it's noises connected to bodily functions that cause distress, including things like crunching, breathing, and pen clicking. 'Anxiety Inducing' She explains: "There are so many various auditory triggers at the holidays and that can be anxiety inducing and make you fear it. "My relatives are supportive, but I'm very mindful that I don't want to spoil the mood. It's like a internal conflict of sacrificing my own sanity to guarantee the event goes smoothly." So it's easy to understand why the traditionally happy season can quickly turn into a source of agony for sufferers. Sounds that may be considered normal, like someone slurping a Buck's fizz, rustling a roll of wrapping paper, or enjoying festive food can trigger a powerful reaction that can even lead to them avoiding social settings altogether. Another individual is considering strategies to help her during the holiday dinner. Jenna, a 21-year-old student, who has dealt with sound sensitivity since aged 10, states the approach she intends to use is to use headphones to get through dinner. Typically, she would usually isolate herself in a separate space to escape distressing triggers. She notes her sensitivity is more pronounced around people she's most familiar with, so Christmas is always "challenging". "There is pressure to socialize with loved ones, and I wish to, but it's physically and mentally challenging. "I feel as if this intense irritation washes over me, which can feel shameful, or I'll feel stressed and burst into tears and then fight-or-flight will take over. "It may seem as if I'm being unreasonable and dramatic, but it's tough to describe unless you've experienced it." Several Strategies to Cope If it's an issue then there are various strategies you can use to handle the situation, as suggested by experts. Imagine an Alternative: Imagination is crucial. Attempt to link the particular sound causing distress with an unrelated image. For instance, try to imagine someone's noisy drinking is just a waterfall. By doing this is to teach your brain that the sound triggering you poses no threat. Use Humor: Have a bit of fun and turn the annoying sound into a challenge involving the source. As an example, if someone is crunching loudly try copying the noise. By joining in, rather than feeling like the sound is being imposed on you, you become an willing part. And the game aspect should help redirect your focus and make you somewhat less sensitive. Craft a Story: A further strategy is to try to invent a reason about why the person making the noise is having to make that sound. For example if someone was sniffing, it could be that they're not feeling well or could be emotional. The idea is altering the perception of the sound. Although the sound stays the same, your interpretation of it moves from being aggravating, to feeling a slightly more compassionate towards it.