Christmas Can Be a Living Hell for Misophonia Sufferers.
A 23-year-old anticipates spending time with her family during the festive period, but notes a key strategy she'll endure is by using her noise-cancelling devices - especially during the main festive feast.
In her case, the holidays often feels like a particularly difficult season as the noises of other people chewing, drinking noisily and nose-blowing make her feel profound anxiety.
"I experience this sensation of sudden panic, my entire being will just freeze and it seems as if I'm in danger, and I need to manage these triggers."
Lottie has suffered from misophonia for several years and for her that renders the Christmas time "exceptionally stressful".
Misophonia is a decreased threshold to certain sounds, notably sounds produced by those around you.
It is prevalent across the population. Researchers discovered almost one in five people are affected by it.
Often it's sounds linked to eating or drinking that trigger a reaction, as well as things like chewing, heavy breathing, and repetitive finger tapping.
A Source of Dread
She explains: "There are so many assorted problematic noises at the holidays and that can be stressful and make you want to avoid it.
"Those close to me are aware, but I'm very conscious that I don't want to upset others. It's like a really big battle of sacrificing my own sanity to make sure others enjoy themselves."
So it's easy to understand why the most wonderful period can quickly turn into a source of agony for those with the condition.
Triggers that may appear innocuous, like someone drinking champagne, opening presents, or tucking into a Christmas dinner can trigger a strong emotional response that can even lead to them avoiding social settings altogether.
Jenna, a university student, who has dealt with sound sensitivity from childhood, explains currently her plan is to use headphones to cope. On any other day, she would often retreat in a separate space to escape problematic noises.
She says her condition is more pronounced around people she's most familiar with, 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 awkward, or I'll feel panicked and begin to weep and then the stress response will activate.
"To others it appears as if I'm being difficult and dramatic, but it's hard to explain unless you've experienced it."
Three Ways to Manage
For those affected then there are some different techniques you can use to handle the situation, as suggested by specialists.
- Picture Something Else: Mental imagery is crucial. Work on connecting the specific noise bothering you with an unrelated image. For instance, try to picture someone's noisy drinking is just a waterfall. This technique is to teach your brain that the sound affecting you is neutral.
- Make it a Game: Use lightheartedness and turn the annoying sound into a game with the culprit. For instance, if someone is eating noisily try joining in. By joining in, instead of feeling like the sound is being imposed on you, you become an active participant. And the challenge should help redirect your focus and make you somewhat less sensitive.
- Craft a Story: A further strategy is to try to fabricate an explanation about why the person making the noise is having to make that sound. Imagine if someone was making a nasal sound, perhaps they're not at their best or could be emotional. This approach is changing the meaning of the sound. Although the sound stays the same, your interpretation of it shifts from being aggravating, to feeling a slightly more compassionate towards it.
