The Holiday Season Transforms Into a Nightmare for Those with Misophonia.
One young woman anticipates being with her family this Christmas, but says one of the only ways she'll cope is by relying on her hearing protection - particularly at the main festive feast.
For her, Christmas often feels like a especially challenging season as the auditory triggers of other people chewing, slurping and nose-blowing make her feel profound anxiety.
"I experience this sensation of sudden panic, my entire being will just tighten and it seems as if I'm in a threatening situation, and I need to somehow control these sounds."
Lottie has lived with misophonia from a young age and for her that causes the festive season "deeply taxing".
Misophonia is an intense sensitivity to certain sounds, particularly those coming from other people.
It's surprisingly common across the population. Researchers found a significant portion of people experience it.
Frequently it's noises connected to bodily functions that trigger a reaction, including examples such as crunching, breathing, and pen clicking.
Triggering Stress
The sufferer notes: "You encounter so many various auditory triggers at the holidays and that can be stressful and make you fear it.
"Those close to me are supportive, but I'm very aware that I don't want to upset others. It's like a constant struggle of managing my symptoms to guarantee others enjoy themselves."
So it's obvious why the most wonderful time of the year can transform into a stressful ordeal for those with the condition.
Noises that may appear innocuous, like someone drinking champagne, opening presents, or tucking into a Christmas dinner can trigger a powerful reaction that can even result in them withdrawing from gatherings.
The student, a university student, who has struggled with sound sensitivity since aged 10, explains the approach she intends to use is to use headphones to cope. Usually, she would usually isolate herself in a different room to avoid triggering sounds.
She explains her condition is more intense around people she's closest to, so Christmas is always "difficult".
"There is pressure to be around loved ones, and I desire to, but it's draining.
"I feel as if this sudden rage comes over me, which can feel embarrassing, or I'll feel panicked and begin to weep and then panic will activate.
"To others it appears as if I'm being unreasonable and dramatic, but it's difficult to convey without firsthand experience."
A Few Techniques to Handle It
For those affected then there are some different techniques you can use to handle the situation, as suggested by specialists.
- Picture a Different Scenario: Mental imagery is key. Try to associate the specific noise affecting you with a neutral concept. For instance, try to envision someone's slurping is just a sink draining water. The goal is to help your brain learn that the sound triggering you isn't harmful.
- Try a Competition: Have a bit of fun and turn the annoying sound into a competition involving the source. As an example, if someone is crunching loudly have a go at copying the noise. Through participation, instead of feeling like the sound is unwanted, you become an willing part. And the challenge should help distract your brain and make you a little less affected.
- Craft a Story: One more method 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 at their best or maybe they're upset. By doing this is changing the meaning of the sound. Although the sound stays the same, your understanding of it changes from being annoying, to feeling a bit more accepting about it.
