The Holiday Season Often Proves to Be a Terrifying Experience for Those with Misophonia.
A 23-year-old anticipates seeing her family over the holidays, but says a primary method she'll cope is by wearing her hearing protection - especially during the holiday meal.
For the 23-year-old, this time of year can be a particularly difficult period as the auditory triggers of family members munching, drinking noisily and sniffling cause her profound anxiety.
"I experience this wave of instant dread, my entire being will just tighten and it as though I'm in a threatening situation, and I need to manage these sounds."
Lottie has experienced sound sensitivity from a young age and for her that makes the Christmas time "exceptionally stressful".
Misophonia is a decreased threshold to certain sounds, especially noises produced by those around you.
It's surprisingly common in the UK. Researchers discovered nearly 20% people experience it.
Often it's sounds connected to bodily functions that trigger a reaction, along with examples such as chewing, breathing, and foot tapping.
A Source of Dread
She explains: "There are so many assorted problematic noises at Christmas and that can be anxiety inducing and make you want to avoid it.
"My family are aware, but I'm very mindful that I don't want to spoil the mood. It's like a constant struggle of enduring my distress to ensure the event goes smoothly."
So it's easy to understand why the supposedly joyous season can transform into a source of agony for those with the condition.
Noises that may be considered normal, like someone sipping a beverage, rustling a roll of wrapping paper, or enjoying festive food can cause a powerful reaction that can even result in them skipping events entirely.
Jenna, a university student, who has experienced misophonia for over a decade, states currently her plan is to put her earphones in to manage the meal. On any other day, she would frequently go in a different room to avoid problematic noises.
She notes her condition is more pronounced around people she's closest to, so Christmas is always "challenging".
"There is pressure to be around loved ones, and I wish to, but it's physically and mentally challenging.
"I feel as if this sudden rage washes over me, which can feel embarrassing, or I'll feel anxious and burst into tears and then the stress response will activate.
"To others it appears as if I'm being unreasonable and dramatic, but it's hard to explain unless you've experienced it."
Several Strategies to Manage
If you suffer then there are some different techniques you can try to cope the situation, as suggested by specialists.
- Imagine Something Else: Creative thinking is essential. Attempt to link the particular sound bothering you with a neutral concept. So for example, try to envision someone's slurping is just a waterfall. The goal is to retrain your mind that the sound affecting you poses no threat.
- Use Humor: Use lightheartedness and turn the annoying sound into a challenge with the person. As an example, if someone is crunching loudly have a go at joining in. By mimicking, instead of feeling like the sound is an attack, you become an engaged person. And the game aspect should help distract your brain and make you a little less affected.
- Craft a Story: A further strategy is to try to invent a reason about the reason someone creating the sound is behaving that way. For example if someone was making a nasal sound, perhaps they're not at their best or could be emotional. The idea is re-framing the context of the sound. Even though the noise stays the same, your reaction of it shifts from being aggravating, to feeling a little more neutral towards it.
