Christmas Transforms Into a Nightmare for Those with Misophonia.
One young woman anticipates being with her loved ones during the festive period, but says a primary method she'll cope is by relying on her hearing protection - particularly at the main festive feast.
In her case, the holidays can be a especially challenging period as the noises of other people chewing, drinking noisily and breathing heavily cause her profound anxiety.
"I get this feeling of instant dread, my whole body will just freeze and it as though I'm in a threatening situation, and I need to stop these noises."
Lottie has suffered from misophonia since she was 16 and for her that causes the festive season "incredibly overwhelming".
Misophonia is an intense sensitivity to particular auditory triggers, especially noises produced by those around you.
It's surprisingly common across the population. A study reported nearly 20% people experience it.
Frequently it's sounds linked to bodily functions that lead to discomfort, including things like chewing, breathing, and repetitive finger tapping.
'Anxiety Inducing'
Lottie says: "I face so many different triggering sounds at the holidays and that can be stressful and make you fear it.
"Those close to me are aware, but I'm very aware 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 everyone else is happy."
So it's obvious why the supposedly joyous season can quickly turn into a stressful ordeal for affected individuals.
Sounds that may seem harmless, like someone sipping a beverage, unwrapping gifts, or tucking into a Christmas dinner can provoke a visceral feeling that can even result in them withdrawing from gatherings.
She, a 21-year-old student, who has struggled with misophonia for over a decade, says the approach she intends to use is to put her earphones in to get through dinner. On any other day, she would often retreat in a separate space to avoid triggering sounds.
She says her sensitivity is more intense around people she's closest to, so Christmas is always "hard".
"There's an expectation to socialize with loved ones, and I desire to, but it's draining.
"The sensation is this uncontrollable anger takes hold, which can feel shameful, or I'll feel anxious and begin to weep and then panic will kick in.
"It may seem as if I'm being difficult and dramatic, but it's tough to describe without firsthand experience."
Several Strategies to Handle It
For those affected then there are some different techniques you can try to cope the situation, as suggested by specialists.
- Visualise an Alternative: Mental imagery is crucial. Try to associate the specific noise affecting you with a neutral concept. As an illustration, try to picture someone's slurping is just a waterfall. The goal is to retrain your mind that the sound triggering you is neutral.
- Try a Competition: Introduce playfulness and turn the annoying sound into a game with the person. As an example, if someone is eating noisily try joining in. By mimicking, instead of feeling like the sound is an attack, you become an willing part. And the game aspect should help redirect your focus and make you a little less affected.
- Develop a Narrative: Another technique is to try to invent a reason about the reason someone creating the sound is doing it. Imagine if someone was making a nasal sound, it could be that they're not at their best or maybe they're upset. This approach is re-framing the context of the sound. Even though the noise remains identical, your understanding of it moves from being irritating, to feeling a bit more accepting towards it.
