The Holiday Season Transforms Into a Nightmare for Misophonia Sufferers.
One young woman hopes for being with her relatives during the festive period, but says one of the only ways she'll cope is by relying on her noise-cancelling devices - notably for Christmas dinner.
In her case, this time of year is a especially challenging season as the auditory triggers of people eating, sipping loudly and sniffling cause her profound anxiety.
"I get this wave of immediate anxiety, my whole body will just freeze and it seems as if I'm in a threatening situation, and I need to somehow control these noises."
Lottie has experienced misophonia since she was 16 and for her that causes the holiday period "exceptionally stressful".
Misophonia is a reduced tolerance to specific noises, particularly those coming from those around you.
It is prevalent across the population. Experts found nearly 20% people experience it.
Often it's noises linked to mouth, throat or facial movements that lead to discomfort, as well as things like chewing, breathing, and repetitive finger tapping.
A Source of Dread
She explains: "There are so many different triggering sounds at Christmas and that can be stressful and make you dread it.
"Those close to me are understanding, 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 everyone else is happy."
So it's obvious why the supposedly joyous season can rapidly become a stressful ordeal for those with the condition.
Noises that may be considered normal, like someone slurping a Buck's fizz, unwrapping gifts, or enjoying festive food can cause a visceral feeling that can even result in them skipping events entirely.
Jenna, a young adult, who has experienced misophonia since aged 10, explains her strategy is to use headphones to cope. Usually, she would frequently go in a different room to avoid problematic noises.
She notes her condition is more intense around people she's closest to, so Christmas is always "hard".
"There is pressure to spend time with family, and I wish to, but it's draining.
"I feel as if this intense irritation washes over me, which can feel awkward, or I'll feel anxious and immediately start crying and then the stress response will activate.
"To others it appears as if I'm being unreasonable and melodramatic, but it's difficult to convey without firsthand experience."
A Few Techniques to Handle It
For those affected then there are various strategies you can use to handle the situation, according to experts.
- Imagine an Alternative: Creative thinking is crucial. Try to associate the particular sound affecting you with a neutral concept. As an illustration, try to imagine someone's noisy drinking is just a gentle stream. The goal is to help your brain learn that the sound affecting you poses no threat.
- Try a Competition: Have a bit of fun and turn the annoying sound into a game with the culprit. For instance, if someone is crunching loudly try copying the noise. Through participation, rather than feeling like the sound is being imposed on you, you become an willing part. And the game aspect 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 the reason someone creating the sound is having to make that sound. Imagine if someone was sniffing, perhaps they're not at their best or could be emotional. By doing this is re-framing the context of the sound. While the sound doesn't change, your understanding of it changes from being annoying, to feeling a slightly more compassionate about it.
