Christmas Transforms Into a Terrifying Experience for Misophonia Sufferers.
A 23-year-old is looking forward to being with her relatives during the festive period, but says one of the only ways she'll endure is by using her noise-cancelling devices - especially during the main festive feast.
In her case, this time of year is a particularly difficult time as the auditory triggers of people eating, slurping and sniffling cause her profound anxiety.
"I experience this sensation of immediate anxiety, my every muscle will just tense up and it feels like I'm in peril, and I need to stop these noises."
Lottie has lived with this condition for several years and for her that renders the holiday period "deeply taxing".
Misophonia is a reduced tolerance to certain sounds, especially noises coming from those around you.
It is prevalent across the population. A study discovered nearly 20% people are affected by it.
Frequently it's sounds linked to mouth, throat or facial movements that trigger a reaction, including things like crunching, breathing, and repetitive finger tapping.
Triggering Stress
Lottie says: "You encounter so many assorted problematic noises at the holidays and that can be anxiety inducing and make you dread it.
"My relatives are supportive, but I'm very mindful that I don't want to spoil the mood. It's like a really big battle of managing my symptoms to make sure everyone else is happy."
So it's clear why the supposedly joyous period can transform into a source of agony for affected individuals.
Triggers that may appear innocuous, like someone sipping a beverage, unwrapping gifts, or enjoying festive food can cause a visceral feeling that can even lead to them withdrawing from gatherings.
The student, a young adult, who has struggled with misophonia from childhood, explains currently her plan is to put her earphones in to manage the meal. Typically, she would usually isolate herself in a different room to avoid triggering sounds.
She says her sensitivity is worse around people she's most familiar with, so the holidays is always "challenging".
"There's an expectation to be around loved ones, and I wish to, but it's physically and mentally challenging.
"I feel as if this intense irritation takes hold, which can feel shameful, or I'll feel panicked and begin to weep and then the stress response will take over.
"It may seem as if I'm being oversensitive and overreacting, but it's tough to describe unless you've experienced it."
Several Strategies to Cope
If you suffer then there are some different techniques you can attempt to manage the situation, as suggested by experts.
- Picture Something Else: Creative thinking is crucial. Work on connecting the triggering sound causing distress with a neutral concept. For instance, try to imagine someone's noisy drinking is just a gentle stream. By doing this is to teach your brain that the sound affecting you isn't harmful.
- Use Humor: Have a bit of fun and make the irritating noise into a competition involving the source. For example, if someone is crunching loudly try copying the noise. By joining in, rather than feeling like the sound is unwanted, you become an engaged person. And the challenge should help redirect your focus and make you somewhat less sensitive.
- Develop a Narrative: One more method is to try to create a little story about the reason someone creating the sound is doing it. So if someone was making a nasal sound, it could be that they're not in good health or could be emotional. This approach is changing the meaning of the sound. While the sound remains identical, your understanding of it changes from being aggravating, to feeling a bit more accepting towards it.
